I’m a Middle-age Lobotomy: Liberalism and My Hollywood Road to Ruin

Big Hollywood ^ | 03/26/09 | Russ Dvonch

[Harpo Speaks]

This is the story of how I got kicked out of Hollywood…and how I hope to kick myself back in again.

From the late 70’s to early 90s I made my living as a Hollywood screenwriter. I’m best known as co-writer of cult film Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, which features the seminal punk band The Ramones.

My writing partner and I worked every day on the set of the film, and we spent a lot of time with the band, including a 22-hour marathon Ramones concert at the Roxy on the Sunset Strip. As a souvenir of that day, I still carry around a 40% hearing loss and white-noise tinnitus in both ears.

Over the years, I’ve been approached by many Ramones fans wanting to know what it was like to work with band members Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Ringo. Of the four, the most interesting, approachable and, yes, intelligent glue-sniffer was Johnny Ramone, and my partner and I would often spend time talking with him about his film collection and our shared affection for Buster Keaton movies.

One thing Johnny and I didn’t talk about, however, was our shared dislike of liberal politics. I’m not sure exactly how conservative or how socially constrained Johnny felt at the time, but I never heard him say anything of political consequence on the set. And certainly, for most people in the rock music scene, conservatism was the political love that dare not lip-sync its name.

[Redgirl]

Hey ho, let's go!

I saw a pic of a Ramones wearing a t-shirt that read, “Kill a Commie for Mommy”. lol

[Rocko]

Great piece -- thanks for posting.

And I'll always remember Johnny Ramone.

[Tigercap]

I love 70’s punk, but ignore the politics. But, Johnny Ramone, because of his politics, is my favorite of the era.

[Redgirl]

But, Johnny Ramone, because of his politics, is my favorite of the era.

I just watched the youtube with Johnny Ramone saying, “God bless Pres. Bush and America!” at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame awards. :)