Ramones

The stage of CBGB, in downtown Manhattan, was their first home. There, they shared the bill with bands like Patti Smith or Television, but the Ramones didn’t fit into any mold. Their songs—like Blitzkrieg Bop or I Wanna Be Sedated—didn’t need more than ninety seconds to make their message clear. They recorded quickly, in borrowed studios, and although sales never became massive, their influence grew among those looking for something different. In 1988, the compilation Ramones Mania went gold, their only direct commercial recognition. But the real prize was something else: having given punk an DNA that is still heard today in every band that decides to play without filters.

The story of the Ramones is also the story of its members. Joey, with his nasal voice and blonde mane, sang until the end. Johnny, the shaved-head guitarist with his guitar always in tune, kept the band’s sound intact for two decades. Dee Dee, with his distorted bass and chaotic energy, wrote many of their most remembered songs. Tommy, the drummer who first brought them on stage, left in 1978 to produce records. He was replaced by Marky Ramone, and others followed, but the core was always the same: four guys who decided rock didn’t have to be perfect, just authentic.

In 1996, after playing at Lollapalooza and an endless tour, they gave their last concert in Los Angeles. By then, they were already legends. In 2002, the four original members—along with Marky—were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2011, they received a Grammy for their lifetime achievement. But the most curious thing is that, despite everything, they were never stars in life. Their success came later, when the world understood that punk wasn’t just a genre, but a way of living. Today, when someone plays a three-chord song and screams until they’re hoarse, they’re repeating the legacy of four New Yorkers who in the 70s decided rock could be something else.