Unveiling Johnny Ramone's Guitar Origins

Discover the story of Johnny Ramone, the legendary guitarist of The Ramones who revolutionized the punk rock scene. From his iconic downpicking style to his wild stage presence, we'll delve into the life and legacy of this influential musician.
Join us as we explore the early days of The Ramones, their rise to fame, and the impact they had on the music industry. From Joey Ramone's unique vocals to Dee Dee Ramone's rebellious lyrics, we'll cover it all in this tribute to one of punk rock's greatest bands.

[@ikeyschultz4969]

Joey, Dee Dee, Johnny, and Tommy, the original four, all gone 😢. I still get bummed thinking about it. What an epic band.

[@AlmostReady504]

100% agree. We were all young once And Mick was always right 🎶what a drag it is getting old🎶 but they didn't get the chance

[@seansullivan7928]

You do know its 2024. How old do want them to be before your satisfied they die

[@grimmertwin2148]

I thought New Yorkers were tough? How'd they get David Attenborough to narrate this. A I?

[@colbyshea5915]

Me too 😢 So tough especially losing 3 of them in such a short space of time Soon after Joey died I passed a petrol station and someone had spray painted “Oh no, don’t go” ❤️‍🩹

[@JohnBrennan-pt9kg]

Saying I get bummed must mean something totally different in the US to the UK 😂😂 just as saying Im a punk is an invitation to violent sodomy in the US but an expression of musical interest in the UK

[@paul.WATP.Ramones_1234]

My Favourite Band from 1976 to present day. I was lucky enough to see the Ramones live many times over the years and still say they are the Best live band I’ve ever seen.. We had a Punk band back in early 80’s and did mostly Ramones covers. To this day , at age 58, I still thoroughly enjoy playing my guitar along to Ramones live gigs and backing tracks .. RAMONES FOREVER 🎸❤️

[@kathleenhaspel2273]

Me too!

[@paul.WATP.Ramones_1234]

Great to hear 👌🎸❤️

[@MetalMayhem1978]

Comment/Story of the year!! Ramones for Life Sir !!!

[@davidh.-realestatebroker1515]

Nothing can ever compare to a RAMONES show yup

[@terrybueneman9269]

I saw the Ramones on Don Kirschner’s Rock Concert in 1977. It changed my life forever. They played live with a small audience and they just blew me away. Playing songs about beating on brats and sniffing glue and some new weird dance called the Blitzkrieg Bop and wearing jeans, t-shirts, sneaker and for part of the show, leather jackets, their presence was unlike any other bands of that time who wore flairs and fancy, shiny clothes. Just raw, stripped down rock and roll. It made profound effect on me. I realized that music could become a part of your life and who you are and not just background noise on the radio by bands and groups that were so unattainable and living lives so far away from anything that you experienced. Nothing but respect and deep admiration for all the Ramones did.

[@terrybueneman9269]

Nothing left but the drummers and…CJ!

[@idoguitarstuff]

that is extremely cool man. do you by chance remember the set list for that show? there’s a video of the tv broadcast on youtube out there and there’s speculation that there’s more of it… we know there’s at least one song not shown but not sure of the entire set list

[@christophernaples1315]

Well said

[@bongmistify]

10 points for most uses of the word "crucible" in a 30 minute documentary

[@Gabingus69]

Is this narrated by AI?

[@flonkplonk1649]

@@crackawoodit's basically the same nowadays

[@flonkplonk1649]

And 0 points for not playing any music...

[@michelemontague8485]

@@Gabingus69 Definitely AI, just listen to the way he says, "D" pause "D" for Dee Dee.

[@ciaran3629]

Can we redeem said points at a kiosk?

[@iaingeddes4288]

The ‘ Attenborough ‘ narration is genius. Good work fella

[@user-ff9xi6vf8l]

I immediately thought David Attenborough!

[@TheGibby3340]

Well rounded fella that “Attenborough”. 🤣

[@vicesquadpunk]

Is the Attenborough voice created by A.I ??

[@barryclay9084]

AI.

[@coast_2coast]

Sames

[@markwhite2207]

Nice narration from Sir David Attenborough

[@nonservitium]

He's been my main influence for 30+ years

[@LibertwinsBR]

Absolutely amazing. Thanks for sharing. Beautiful

[@gmotionedc5412]

Can’t believe they are all gone now😢

[@MartyMcFly88]

CJ and Marky are still alive. I know they’re not original members, but it’s better than nothing. I met Marky 20 years ago.

[@baronoflivonia.3512]

To me, the 1970's were the best decade of my life.

[@brentlohr3394]

The Dee Dee King LP is a riot. I recommend it

[@briantomcollins]

That's halarious... non-stop bangers, top to bottom.

[@Resurrected-Silverbeard]

Dee Dee's a funky man . . 🤷🏻

[@markbrooks4471]

Absolutely, it has a weird charm that never lets you gp.

[@mjh5437]

I think he was just ripping the piss put of how awful rap is.

[@clydekimsey7503]

I got to interview them 3 times😊

[@kookadams85]

This is a good mini bio but needed more emphasis on the Rocket to russia & Pleasant Dreams albums & how revolutionary those 2 were. Also the influence of the Beach Boys should ALWAYS be mentioned. 🎶🇺🇲

[@gentelmanjunkie542]

Johnny Ramone & James Hetfield's downpicking & some jumper cables could power a small country.

[@thestrum71]

Thank you for this video sir! Great work! Ramones forever!!

[@paulvassallo3317]

Excellent!!!!

[@tboysrocknroll9252]

So let me get this straight, out of the THOUSANDS of bands that The Ramones inspired, they show a clip of the Toilet Boys???...a band that I've only heard of in this video.... unreal...

[@michaelr.4878]

Lifelong Ramones fan here. While they weren't the best band of all time, one can make the arguement that they are/were, without a doubt, one of the most important and influential bands of all time. Modern rock wouldn't exist as it does if they hadn't come along. They didn't only popularize a certain sound and approach, but they made it 'okay' to be musical minimalists. Johnny is probably respsonsible for more young ppl picking up the guitar than any other guitar player..next to maybe the Beatles as a whole...after the Ed Sullivan Show. To people who want to get into this type of music, but know nothing about it...I always recommend the first 4 Ramones albums to them. They are essentially well written, sped up, oldies. Incredible, incredible stuff.

[@BoxTunnel]

Good post but for one thing, they actually were the "Best Band Of All Time". Onetwofreefour...!

[@LeahDyson-kq4bd]

Stooges and ramones most important

[@christophernaples1315]

Well done ,Thank You . GABBA GABBA HEY ! Long live Ramones

[@hirampriggott1689]

I feel like I'm listening to a David Attenborough docu.

[@marcusgraf4510]

Grate documentary. Thank you

[@JohnSmith-iv5wy]

Viva La Ramones

[@bullfrog62m]

I saw them early eighties. Kansas city, Wichita met Joey and Dee Dee in bathroom at Catillian. Got autographs after concert but not Joey’s. Greatest live show on earth

[@smoothforreal4242]

The synth sound in the background the whole time made it seem like a missing persons case 😆

[@flonkplonk1649]

Yes it's completely annoying and misplaced.. why no music of the music band this video is about? It's beyond me..

[@mmotorhead]

Was expecting any song of the band at any time... and in the end... nothing.

[@SirMikeyD]

"AI-tenborough" is great, but so are the research and writing here. A suspicious amount of rare, unusually specific details - for example, more than one photo of Johnny in military school! Wow. Props for going extra deep!

[@diegoc2631]

It'a all AI ..those rare pictures are AI made

[@h.markhorton8188]

Good work sir.🎉

[@MartyMcFly88]

I still remember the day he died…. RIP Johnny!!!

[@Mirellarecords]

Nice work❤

[@timdogdawg4099]

I actually really love the fact that it's Sir David Attenborough narrating this, even if it is AI! 😁👍 Very well done ❤

[@jimbo1959]

That picture sure isn't Johnny that you have to click on to watch this!!! Nice WIG Mark!

[@andreroswell1561]

Johnny would not be impressed.

[@littlemark01]

Greatest band of my entire youth. Saw them 6 times and talked to Marky twice.

[@rickyhiemstra9993]

ANY REFERENCE TO THE RAMONES & THE BEST OF TIMES. IS APPRECIATED. THANKS!!👍🏻

[@maximilianogonzalez3043]

Además de ser uno de los músicos de rock más influyentes de la historia del rock al día de hoy,eso abarca músicos de todo tipo de género musical fue un exelente guitarrista rítmico,un estilo único de darle a las cuerdas siempre para abajo rapidísimo y siempre de la sexta a la primera cuerda.. además tocaba una guitarra rarita que éso también lo diferenció del resto de músicos de su momento,en aquellos tiempos casi nadie conocía las mosrite.un guitarrista con un estilo y personalidad única.

[@partridr]

well presented

[@stephenedgecock]

Johnny Ramone wasn't a construction worker from 1972 "for 5 years". The Ramones were formed in 1974 and by 1977 were a national touring act.

[@LeahDyson-kq4bd]

👍

[@tomservo5607]

Johnny also was pretty straight laced when it came to drugs, I don’t think he was ever into the drug scene.

[@JoeMarchi]

What's with the creepy AI Johnny pic?

[@colinmason9974]

😂 I was thinking the exact same thing. If anything, the AI Johnny actually looks like the singer in Marky’s Blitzkrieg lol

[@satansalley6526]

Great footage of old nyc.

[@indiangiver]

Awesome band and awesome work. Good Job!

[@eancurtis9333]

Legend !

[@pjpj2639]

Great perspective, when I saw them a couple of times in the late 70s they weren’t very popular with my friends….ffunny how now they are….

[@followingnazarene]

The guy who wrote the narration is actually amazing.

[@IsmJism]

Johnny Ramone was FOCUSED; A very no BS down to Earth person; *Correction: He did not write any songs at home and bring the cassette to rehearsals.

[@AlonRozenblit]

The AI upscaled photos are a horror show. Aside from that, great video!

[@dundergod]

A.I forever my robots! The Attenborough narration almost make Johnny feels like a one of a kind species. The now out dead species of Johnny Ramonesicus, one of the branches of The Ramonesicus family tree and the Homo Sapiens "Rock and Rollius" branch. I`m sitting here waiting for a mating call, like: Johnny..., who is a Alpha male rockstar, a top predator. Begins his hunt in the early evening, searching for groupies amongst the crowd..... Really funny !!!

[@griffhenshaw5631]

I was called to cut a base for a monument at hollywood as the service was tbe next day. After cutting it I was invited to the service. It was Johnny's. Ironic as I was a fan and a west coast punk when younger. A guitarist. I was ushered inside the outside ropes.....but not invited to the inside ropes. An experience IL. Not forget. Nice dd got upgraded drom a 28" flat grass marker to a proper monument. Johnny made mosrite guitars cool. Nice piece

[@jg2627]

Dude got Atten-bro working for him 🔥

[@FactsBeFacts]

3 of them wiped out between 2000 & 2005.. Damn brah.

[@stoner36s]

Down pick for the win.

[@marcusnolte7476]

"It's Alive" is one of the all time Double Live Rock Albums (bonus question: how many of the 28 songs were counted in by Dee Dee? Answer: all of them 😄)

[@Yeviscount]

No. Surfing bird and Were a Happy family weren't. Pretty sure Cretin Hop as well.

[@marcusnolte7476]

damn, you're right! I stand corrected. 😅👍

[@jlutie2943]

World's best garage band

[@andrew.l.5493]

Saw the Ramones play once back in the day. Totally hard out rock and roll and the best live band ever.

[@BeesWaxMinder]

What's with the music? Can't wait for the raucous incidental backing you've got lined up for your Shoegaze documentary! Seriously though it's a nice video and I subscribed👍

[@peterklonwurst7483]

Johnny was cool, but i adored Joey!

[@stargazer4625]

Saw them around 1997. the full band. They put on a excellent set. It was a outdoor show at a local bar. such a great memory.

[@Slammerworm1]

They split in 1996. Final show 6th August.

[@stargazer4625]

@@Slammerworm1 it might have been in 96. Outdoor show at masquerade in atlanta. It was around the time of the olympics

[@stargazer4625]

@@Slammerworm1 just looked it up. The show I saw was on may 25th 1996. I actually didnt know I saw one of their last shows. That's kinda wild

[@Slammerworm1]

@@stargazer4625 At least you got to see them! I saw them way back in 1980 in New Zealand; right in front of Dee Dee all night...

[@stargazer4625]

@@Slammerworm1 Auckland Wellington and Christchurch were the three shows they played that year. That was a busy year for them. They did a world tour like no other that year. I'm looking on wikipedia for my info . They got a list and every show they ever played on it

[@rawgab4439]

THE BEST !!!

[@mlwsf]

"leaving only their drummers behind." Poor CJ. Brother can get no respect. lol

[@BoxTunnel]

Excellent vid and kind of wierd as I'm trying to paint Dee Dee (I am old and play BASS because of Dee Dee) in watercolour whilst surfing youtube when I found this. Onetwofreefour...!

[@c.chelseathedog7987]

I love the old England voice of the speaker ! I imagine him cutting insanities in the same tone ,a cup of tea in hand with the little finger in the air….

[@DavidkSeger-sn6nf]

I interacted with Johnny quite a few time ...very serious and one of the greatest since the Beatles ,just ask him .he could be quite abrasive.!

[@reijerlincoln]

Hats off to Sir David.

[@chazworm3]

I want this guy to read my eulogy to make my life sound a lot more interesting than what it really was.

[@Longeno55]

Johnny Ramone has not received nearly the critical praise that he deserved. An innovator, a passionate musician and a gifted guitarist he was indeed!

[@thepagecollective]

He was no glossy hero. This is a real puff piece, and you can't post anything about punk without a wave of people coming in to praise them to the skies. The Ramones have been more celebrated by critics than any punk band than the Clash. They were cute and safe and made pop punk which critics dressed up as rebellious.

[@1985cactus]

​@@thepagecollectiveThe Ramones safe?

[@thepagecollective]

@@1985cactus Oh, god, so safe. In the 1980s, heavy metal bands were feared across the South connected to Satanism and one poor guy was jailed in Arkansas falsely for a murder mostly because he was a metal fan. Metal was blamed for all sorts of things. In the UK, Johnny Rotten was stabbed by a gang of nationalist skinheads for "God Save The Queen" Anarchy for the UK went to the top of the charts in spite of the fact that the BBC refused to play it. It was blacked out from charts so that it could not be seen. The Sex Pistols were banned from playing across the UK. Meanwhile, The Ramones were just this adorable pop cartoon that offended no one and whose members tried desperately for a hit for years.

[@1985cactus]

@@thepagecollective All those cartoonish heavy metal bands look like a big joke compared to The Ramones. They were from the streets of NY. You are confusing a great ear for melody with safeness

[@gmantramp404]

😂😂😂😂 Gifted 🤣🤣🤣 lol

[@OOdhamhorde]

This is awesome. Johnny Ramone #1! He's the reason i learned downstrokes! No disrespect to Marky, but Tommy is the best!

[@fleecingsheep9498]

Richie was the best IMO.

[@LeahDyson-kq4bd]

Love Tommy I wanna be your boyfriend always my favorite

[@gentelmanjunkie542]

Ramones. Bruh. 🤟🤟🤟🤟

[@MrMikeabcd1]

I dont think Johnny could care less about what people think of him today, he's forever etched in history as one of the greatest punk guitarists of all time. Rolling Stone has him in the top 30 guitarists of all time.

[@deez9460]

Factual

[@j.d.youngstein1648]

17:30 -- The narrator says that around the time of the recording of their second album "Johnny would write the songs alone in his apartment" and bring tapes to band practice for the rest of the guys to learn the songs. It's well documented that Dee Dee was the primary songwriter, with Joey contributing many of his own songs as well. The first 3 albums didn't list individual songwriting credits, so that's a little murky. Apparently there was a more collaborative environment while Tommy was in the band. With "Road to Ruin" we can begin to see who was responsible for the bulk of the songwriting duties. For my money, after Dee Dee left the band, the best Ramones songs of their post-Dee Dee era were still songs written by Dee Dee ("Poison Heart," "It's Not For Me To Know," "Makin' Monsters For My Friends," "Main Man," "Born To Die In Berlin," etc.). I love Johnny's guitar style but this is kind of a strange Johnny-centric documentary. By the way, those solo Dee Dee Ramone albums he made after he left the band ("Zonked," "I Hate Freaks Like You," and "Jump Around") are fantastic! If you're a Ramones fan and you haven't heard them, check them out A.S.A.P

[@stephaniegriffiths251]

Narrators pronunciation is sometimes amusing but the footage is worth seeing. I liked this.

[@stevehurl298]

13:23 I was there at the Ramones' 1975 performance at the Palace Theatre in Waterbury, CT. They were "snuck" onto the bill between headliner Johnny Winter and an opening act called "Storm," which included future Fabulous Thunderbirds member Jimmie Vaughan (Stevie's older brother). It was a mis-match. They weren't introduced; they just shambled out & played for maybe 25 min. A few cups were thrown at the stage. I thought for a minute, "Are these guys The Dictators?" but no, 'cuz the Dictators could play pretty well. 8 months later I open up a rock fanzine and there "The Ramones" with their classic look.

[@johnnyscarecrow71]

Why does the photo leading this video resemble Jeff Beck more than it does John?

[@davidmiller571]

Because AI

[@diegoc2631]

AI is crazy here..those pictures are class

[@wretch1]

Playing really fast with a down stroke only is really hard to do. He slung his guitar really low to make it easier to pull off, but even so it's a difficult technique. One has to resist playing up strokes even though that is what is intuitive. A perfect example of 'less is more'.

[@eugeneeasthon5906]

There's a balance with the strap length. It has to be low enough to keep your strumming arm straight, so only your wrist moves, and not too low that your grip arm cramps up. It's a recipe for carpal tunnel.

[@ikeyschultz4969]

I think i read he adopted the low slung guitar because he liked how it looked (like carrying a machine gun). Really early video shows him holding it completely different. Have to say he made the right decision. Looked badass.

[@eugeneeasthon5906]

@@ikeyschultz4969 the machine gun thing was why he played so high prior to the Ramones. He also had gorilla arms, so it had to be extra low to straighten out his arm.

[@brianstones6234]

The Greatest American band ever!!! Gabba Gabba Hey!!!

[@mrauttomatichst13]

He'll mf. yea...am so glad I saw the Ramones at the Hollywood palladium. Up close and in ur face

[@harrow2355]

I was waiting for Dave to have a lapse of mind and talk about the blue boo boo in Africa rock on DA.

[@martijn_yt]

This docu is as good if not better than Spinal Tap !

[@mlwsf]

Johnny wrote all of the songs at home? He wrote a rad total of 8 songs during his whole time in the Ramones, so I am a little confused by this nugget.

[@MichaelSmith-xb5cp]

Johnny wrote the music (rhythm) early on, he never wrote the lyrics but did exercise some editorial control so it stayed within a mold, he was never too fond of playing into a druggie image, but Dee Dee could talk him into it as reprenting the realities of NYC street life, if framed as a cautionary tale.

[@pjokkenroll]

What's that font in the thumbnail?

[@Darthbrandon81]

Johnny Ramone lived in Stewart Manor?! Im from Stewart Manor! I wonder where he lived

[@jajjajj3]

When was this made? No mention of Tommy's death.

[@mebeasensei]

Question !, Could a Ramones be born and thrive in the 2020s, or have we long passed that possibility?

[@rabbitss11]

Sadly, no.

[@rustyfalcon1414]

No mention off Dee Dees contribution as the main songwriter in the band?

[@johnnydelgrady]

Nobody played the guitar as hard as Johnny.

[@theiceman6941]

Mike Fox of Los Olvidados is the greatest downpicking guitar player of all time.

[@damndirtyrandy7721]

Never heard of him

[@caolo555]

One of the greatest Punkrock Bands ever

[@pepsiq11965]

Amazing, when my city NY was full of Americans of all ethnicities and backgrounds. Now, this city outside of Manhattan is full of the hardworking 3rd world people. So, don't expect much to come out of NY whether its music or fashion. Same with London

[@TheBFN]

👿🔱😈.. I would like to see joey on the drum kit and hear how it sounds ... Ive never seen such a tall skinny guy play them

[@mikkorock5994]

Is no one going to address that pic in front? IM NOT 😂

[@bradsmith2858]

David Attenborough?

[@MrAyla]

And never mentioned down picking in the entire video until the end calling him a downpicker with no context. 🤷

[@neonknees]

Is this AI version of Attenborough's voice??

[@RoyRamone955]

Saw them over 70x mostly in the NYC/ Long Island area. Every show was the next big game. Only disappointment was the last show being played on the west coast to a bunch of clowns that finally figured it out.

[@lamelama12]

First time i heard the Ramones in the late 70s totally changed my music appreciation of breaking down and destroying cock rock big venue guitar solos

[@joequintana5546]

Narrator David Attenborough? 😂

[@jmsdeco]

The documentary is good however,that background noise is unnecessary and annoying.

[@twozero9]

great video but the tense horror movie type sonic ambience casts an odd vibe. better suited for a serial killer documentary.

[@jaysing67]

Nice concise stuff. But Attenborough would never pronounce penchant as pen-shant! 😱 Not saying it's wrong, but the AI needs a UK English mod.

[@TheGeoff]

I can’t do the ai voice over sorry.

[@davefox1139]

The music bed is mixed WAY too high besides being mostly unnecessary.

[@user-ro8wc9hc8k]

Lemon fight at seattle arena

[@kendallturley7139]

Looks more like Liam Gallagher than Johnny.

[@ridomarvieira]

I was looking for this comment lol