Marky Ramone – The Studio December 1, 2017

4

 

First we had CJ Ramone, then Richie Ramone. Now finally, the true torchbearer of the Ramones’ legacy, Marky Ramone has come to Auckland. While the previous two former Ramones were fine, Marky, who was the band’s longest-serving drummer, put on a show that was closest to seeing the real thing.

For those who might not be aware, Marky Ramone, aka Marc Bell, already had a pretty good run when he replaced original drummer Tommy Ramone in 1978. He had been one of Richard Hell’s Voidoids, playing on the classic punk anthem Blank Generation, and before that recorded a couple of albums with hard rock band Dust.

But it’s his work with The Ramones that Marky is most proud, and well he should be. His first session was for I Wanna Be Sedated, and he was there at the end for Adios Amigos!

The Studio was full of punk rockers young and old, ready to revel in the legacy of Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy.

The lights went down and the PA blared out the theme song to the Perry Mason Show, an American TV courtroom drama from the 50s and 60s.

Marky then strolled out to the centre stage, said “hello”, then, “I want everyone to go ‘hey ho, let’s go’.” Of course the response was immediate.

“That’s music to my ears”, he said, and then headed back to his drum kit.

The rest of the band took the stage…sorry, no one was introduced, so I have no names. Perhaps that’s part of the act…it’s easier to imagine it’s the actual Ramones if they are anonymous.

It certainly was easy if you closed your eyes and just listened. These guys had the sound down pat, with Marky’s thunderous drums high in the mix.

The lead singer, while much younger than Joey would be, and with much shorter hair, managed to emulate the late singer’s NYC sneer without sounding like an impersonator.

The bassist dutifully counted in the songs, just as Dee Dee did.

And what a set of songs it was! An almost non-stop barrage of hard and fast Ramones classics, with barely time to breath between them.

They opened with Rockaway Beach, then Teenage Lobotomy, then Psycho Therapy, then Do You Wanna Dance, then I Don’t Care…and that was just the first ten minutes!

By the time they were done, they had crammed 36 songs into just under 80 minutes, and that includes leaving time for two encores.

Check out the set list below and you’ll see just what an awesome show these guys put on.

Long live The Ramones!

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Ivan Karczewski:

Marky Ramone set list:

  1. Rockaway Beach
  2. Teenage Lobotomy
  3. Psycho Therapy
  4. Do You Wanna Dance?
  5. I Don’t Care
  6. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
  7. Havana Affair
  8. Commando
  9. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
  10. Beat On The Brat
  11. 53rd & 3rd
  12. Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue
  13. Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment
  14. Rock & Roll High School
  15. Oh Oh I Love Her So
  16. Let’s Dance
  17. Surfin’ Bird
  18. Judy Is A Punk
  19. I Believe In Miracles
  20. The KKK Took My Baby Away
  21. Pet Cematary
  22. Chinese Rocks
  23. I Wanna Be Sedated
  24. I Don’t Wanna Walk Around With You
  25. Pinhead
  26. I Just Want To Have Something To Do
  27. Do You Remember Rock & Roll Radio?
  28. Needles & Pins
  29. She’s The One
  30. Cretin Hop
  31. Spiderman
  32. R.A.M.O.N.E.S.
  33. California Sun
  34. Have You Ever Seen The Rain?
  35. What A Wonderful World
  36. Blitzkrieg Bop

 

Marty Duda
Latest posts by Marty Duda (see all)