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Commando: The Autobiography of Johnny Ramone Hardcover – Illustrated, April 2, 2012
| Johnny Ramone (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
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Praise for Commando:
“Amazing book . . . dense and throbbing with character—enough to bring this departed New York icon barking back to life.” —New York Daily News
"Johnny's delightful, sadly posthumous autobiography, Commando, is just like its author—as punk as it gets." —Wall Street Journal
“Ramone memoir reveals charming, grumpy punk icon.” —Reuters
“There's no grand confessional to end Commando, just a nod of gratitude toward family, friends, and fans. Its characteristic succinctness rings genuine.” —Austin Chronicle
- Print length176 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarry N. Abrams
- Publication dateApril 2, 2012
- Grade levelPreschool and up
- Dimensions7.25 x 0.74 x 9.25 inches
- ISBN-10081099660X
- ISBN-13978-0810996601
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Product details
- Publisher : Harry N. Abrams; Illustrated edition (April 2, 2012)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 176 pages
- ISBN-10 : 081099660X
- ISBN-13 : 978-0810996601
- Grade level : Preschool and up
- Item Weight : 1.43 pounds
- Dimensions : 7.25 x 0.74 x 9.25 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #107,135 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #30 in Punk Musician Biographies
- #31 in Punk Music (Books)
- #275 in Rock Music (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonReviewed in the United States on September 7, 2012
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This book reads like a conversation. You can tell Johnny's life and passion was all about his hobbies, like horror movies, Baseball and Rock n Roll. An unlikely prospect for a Rockstar when he suddenly lost his job due to affirmative action, he made the best of gis chance and helped change the sound and direction of Rock n Roll and we are all the better off for it.
This was the first Ramones book i've read. I dont care about the journalists point of view, i only read memoirs from the ones who lived it, and this seems like as close to the truth as your ever going to get, although not as detailed as many would hope. One thing i wish is that overviews of the albums would habe been more detailed. Johnny just rushes thru the later part of the 80's like he just doesnt care about those albums. Doesnt even mention the drummer drama, and Richie Ramone was my favorite drummer. Very excellent photos! The Christmas card that Joey sent him in 1990 brought a tear to my eye. They really were family! This book makes me wish they were still here.
-- Johnny is honest with what he thinks and feels
-- the pictures in the book are really good
-- the book covers just about everything a fan would want
Let's face it, Johnny was the only really sane one in the band who stuck it out till the end. No offense to the other guys The only other Ramones book I would have an interest in reading is by their road manager Monte Melnick "On the Road with the Ramones". I had a good time reading this book and learning more about the Ramones and the music scene during their career. It was ridiculous that MTV and record labels/radio never gave this band the exposure they deserved.
OK, some of the things I did not like or I had a problem with: Johnny complains about the band not getting national exposure and at the same time he refuses to do Saturday Night Live in late 1977, I still cannot believe he made that decision. It also came out later that Johnny never informed Joey or Dee Dee that they had the invite to get excellent national exposure. Wow. Also, I would have liked him to discuss MTV and the band's relationship there. If you never got exposure on MTV just tell us why.
Some of the other reviewers have mentioned that Johnny seemed angry and negative and I wanted to comment on that. Look at it this way, this guy busted his ass for over 20 years and saved money like crazy only to find out he had terminal cancer less than a year after they called it quits. He had no time to really enjjoy the free time he'd worked for. How would you feel??? Dealing with Dee Dee, Joey, and Marky on an almost daily basis was no picnic---give the guy a break, and give him more respect.
I knew of Johnny being an authoritarian and bully keeping the band in line, but reading just what he went through to do so is an incredible reach into a great.mind with a singular focus. Yeah he had hobbies, but the Ramones were his passion even if he didn't get along well with his band mates.
His voice comes out great in this book. I can only say I wish I had the chance to have met him.
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The jacket design for one is very original..a nice image of Johnny on the front.
The cover is like two pieces of thick cardboard..attached to I guess a soft cover.
The content is interesting...very down to earth..you get the JOHNNYside of the Ramones.
A tale of UPS and
Downs
..of good albums and bad, "stolen" girlfriends and.....baseball. Some pretty honest comments about himself and the other ramones...but I wouldn't be offended by anything said.
Johnny certainly was "Friend of the Stars"..some nice pictures spanning the ramones career...and his intriguing range of celebrity friends.....which I guess goes to show what far reaching effect the band and Johnny had on folks.
Johnny included an honest write up and grading of the catalogue of releases...and I guess we all agree that the last GREAT Ramones Studio album was "Road To Ruin"...The others were "patchy".
But what a fantastic live band they were...recommended reading for Ramones and Ramonas everywhere.
Lest we forget..............
Ok ...you should also read..
Hey Ho Let's Go: The Story of the "Ramones": The Story of the "Ramones"
I Slept With Joey Ramone
Poison Heart: Surviving the Ramones
On the Road with The Ramones (revised edition) paperbackThe Ramones
Ramones' (33 1/3)
But I am a FAN.........Anorakaway Beach
This book gives us such a unique insight into the self proclaimed 'drill sergent' of the band. Johnny's strict disciplinarian attitude and give-it-all work ethic was undoubtabley one of the reasons why the band survived for 22 years, playing over 2260 shows from 1974-1996. The book is also laced with many never before seen photos of Johnny and his peers. The novel goes into detail about his early days growing up in Forest Hills, Queens, and describes his time as the guitarist in the band. I was surprisingly moved by the last chapters of the book, that describes his problems with prostate cancer graphically which he developed in 1997 and eventually took his life in 2005.
This is a MUST read for any fan of rock and roll.
RIP Johnny, Joey and Dee Dee.
Dee Dee,s book, Poison Heart is much the better of the two written by band members, having said that the best of the bunch is "I slept with Joey Ramone" written by Joey's brother who was also part of the bands road crew. Easier still would just be to buy "Please Kill Me" by Legs McNiell, Punk magazine founder and right where the action was in early 1970's Noo York.










