Ramones Musings

I just finished reading an article about the death of Tommy Ramone in "Slate."  Since before I could drive a car, I've loved what I see as the authenticity of punk.  The DIY aesthetic.  The political frenzy or absurdity of punk lyrics...  The way the music fills me with emotion and consumes me.  The way the music makes me think.

 While praising The Ramones, though, the article raises the question of: why should The Ramones be equated with authenticity?  The author notes the band's decision for its members to adopt the same leather jackets, ripped and faded jeans, haircuts and last names.  As the legend goes, the Ramones never read sheet music, but still delivered bullet-speed bounce in their music.

The Ramones seem so cool, so it's easy to overlook their gimmick.  I haven't dwelled much on the meaning of their packaging. I hate to hear that Dee Dee Ramone complained before his death that the other members forced him to get a "Ramones" hairstyle as a prerequisite to joining the band.   I've made fun of pop music that focuses more on physical appeal and publicity stunts than on musical integrity... Et tu, my Beloved Punk?  No, at least not entirely.  The main selling point of The Ramones is their music. Unlike whatever comes out of an overly choreographed boy band, the music of The Ramones breaks ground. The music of The Ramones demands the listener's attention.  The music of The Ramones is Spontaneous and Sassy. That's how the music makes me feel.  Plus, they aren't about pandering.

The Ramones took a comic-book approach to a lot of things.  Their irreverence is all in good fun as they request sedation or that brats get beaten with baseball bats.  The band starred in the movie "Rock-and-Roll High School," in which their music makes mice explode and they glorify pizza.  Maybe The Ramones looked at a band seeking musical authenticity like the Monty Python cast seeking the Holy Grail, spoof the quest The Ramones recognized that playing publicly means a band is playing for an audience. Being self-aware isn't a sin.

The Slate writer brushes off calling The Ramones "performance artists" at the same time that he talks about the "unity" of the Ramone's image and their "monolithic, unified roar." You know, maybe they were performance artists.  I mean, performance art is simply creating interdisciplinary art while being aware of your audience. Potentially, you can even shock your audience members into reassessing their concepts of art.  So, what does it mean for a band to plan an image?   A band considering different dimensions of its performance isn't always just punk for profit.

Discuss.