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| Godfathers....Image from http://www.theworldsbestever.com/2014/07/12/ ramones-dead-long-live-ramones/ |
RIP Tommy Ramone and the Ramones
On July 11, 2014, the last last surviving member of the Ramones, Tommy Ramone passed away leaving the world a much darker place than it was. Much more than their music, the legacy of the Ramones remains and that is their whole-hearted embrace of the ethos of DIY, the idea to make something out of nothing and to pursue it as relentlessly and as passionately as you can, no matter how stupid or useless it may seem to others. Yan ung attitude na palaging sinasabi ng karamihan pero a few really do live up to.
I remember cutting my teeth on guitars to most of their tunes, as probably most of you who've ever handled a guitar, because number 1, the songs are really easy to figure out and number 2, they don't get you all confused that you eventually quit playing. Pero, the ironic thing is, it's really hard ( in a physical sense ) to play Ramones guitar, if you're not used to it. Just try playing along to one of their albums straight up without stopping and you'll see what I mean.
And I would have to presume na ganun din for people learning the drums. Or the bass. Or just people who like the idea of having a band of their own and making something out of it. You don't have to be a Hendrix clone, a Page acolyte, a Bonham enthusiast, or whoever genius instrumentalist or vocalist. Hey, if these guys can do it....
The beauty is in the simplicity. It's not in the mind-boggling guitar virtuosity, it's not in the jaw-dropping, 20 minute, drum solos. It's not in the mesmerizing bass lines, it's not in the awe-inspiring vocal acrobatics and dynamics. It's not in the neatness of your clothes, it's not in the appeal of your looks. HEY HO! It's not even in the deepness of the lyrics. It's in the heart and soul where rock 'n roll truly lives, where we find the meaning of it all. And that's where it should count. All you just really need is the guts to count to four... LET'S GO!!!!
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| Ramones no more...from http://riseabovetheanchor.com/tommy-ramone-dead/ |
"It wasn't just music in The Ramones: it was an idea.
It was bringing back a whole feel that was missing in rock music –
it was a whole push outwards to say something new and different.
Originally it was just an artistic type of thing;
finally I felt it was something that was good enough for everybody." -
Tommy Ramone, 1978
