Yes, they were rough-edged, but that was part of their stage presence. The Ramones filled a need for that unvarnished, ungilded type of rock unified by it’s wild guitar riffs, and a feigned distain for societies conventions. Every new generation of teens will look for a standard bearer of their angst and their brand of significance. In the late 70s and early 80s many kids were still reacting to the strong influences of the Beatles very mellow or esoteric type of music. Lou Reed’s style as in the New York Dolls or Velvet Underground was gaining strength and devotees. Some folks turned to what I call the Symphonic Goth music of The Cure. I liked disco, for what is was, which was a way to enjoy being out dancing with others. I never felt one had to choose only one kind of music to like, and thus spend energy
on hating or criticizing all other types.
The problem of course is that yesterday’s nonconformism becomes today’s styles, and then social rebels have to find another way to rebel.
Didn’t the Ramones say they were trying to create songs like 1960s bubblegum music?
Very well put. I don’t understand any kind of “hate” for music. Just don’t listen is you don’t like it. I don’t like most country music, rap, pop like Brittney Spears type stuff. I have a very effective way of avaoiding it. Obviously, some people out there like it. Good for them.
I liked the Ramones and other similar bands for a while. Mostly because my next door neighbor and all her cute friends liked punk and I was trying to hook up with as many of them as possible. Probably the best reason to like a certain kind of music...
Just watched an interesting documentary on youtube from BBC4 (part of the 3 part Punk Britannia doc).
Part 1 - The Roots of Punk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrX5-V8pQr8&list=PL5Ssj_AykzW0PFrD0Aw7ku3F6m6om-emH
It covers pub rock, the rockabilly revival of the early 70s, and more. Some of it as a reaction to arena rock/”super rock”, glam, and prog.
It’s also good to see one of the early performers claim that any rock and rollers in the 70s who said they “hated the Beatles and the Stones” was a liar.