Johnny Ramone: Rebel in a rebel's World (A man of the Right)

The Washington Time ^ | 3.12.2004 | Steve Miller

[jocon307]

For 100 nights a year over three decades, punk-rock guiterrorist Johnny Ramone stood with his head down, face in an intense scowl of concentration, legs shoulder-width apart, hammering at his blue Mosrite with a blurry right hand. The cacophony was pure bliss, a white noise ringing that punched holes in all that was peaceful, shards of the power chords busting into little aural stars, like the lights you see when you smack your head, only in your ears.

[mlbford2]

I had all their albums (yes, albums). 'Rocket to Russia', 'Its Alive', 'Road to Ruin' are three of my favorites. I never new they were conservative thinking. Nice to see.

[Lost Highway]

1-2-3-4!

[weegee]

Sorry about that. I've bookmarked some FReepers' names and thought I had seen you post something to that effect once.

I know someone who did personally know CJ and Marky (she didn't like Johnny Ramone because he was a Republican). She also knew some of the roadies.

I saw the Ramones play 3 times and met them at 2 different signing appearances (once with Dee Dee in the band). I never paid to see them (a friend knew the club owner once, CJ put me on the list once, and my friend got them to put me on the list at Lollapalooza once).

I've read a couple of Dee Dee's books. His final book (Last Testament of Dee Dee Ramone) has some exagerations in it but it is very clear that Dee Dee may have been from Germany but he had no love for what Europe has become. He also found that even pre-9/11 there was a lot of hatred of America and Americans over there. Dee Dee didn't seem to be big on socialism. He may have been more libertarian than conservative. He wanted his drugs but in the end they killed him. He had fought his addiction for decades. He had watched famous friends die of heroin and he kept wondering when it would happen to him. He didn't want to die and tried to get off of it (and he may have remained clean awhile). If he had gotten the legalization that he wanted, he would have been dead far earlier.

[dfwgator]

Didn't Joey Ramone write the song "Bonzo Goes the Bitburg" after Reagan visited there?

[weegee]

There are "straight edge" punks who don't drink, smoke, or do drugs. I don't know where they stand on sex or veganism (if abstention of premarital sex, same sex sodomy, or prohibition of meat/dairy is in their code).

I think that some straight edge (sometimes seen with 2 big black Xs drawn across their hands) kids and adults are socialist. So "clean" living does not necessarily translate to being conservative.

I think that there is a lax moral code today. This is what we have as America slumped after the revolt of the Baby Boomers.

Even Bill O'Reilly (who I don't see as any great conservative mind) sees nothing wrong with premarital sex or even same sex marriage (if it is done through the legislature).

A lot of libertarians (big L and small l) on Free Republic also want their indulgences (including drugs and prostitution) legalized.

Vincent Gallo did not circulate a homemade sex tape. He had sex with a former lover in the context of a movie he directed. He has made a number of films. This one screened at the Cannes film fest. It shares nothing in common with Paris Hilton's trust funded sex romps. It is unclear just how explict the scene even is (and I certainly doubt there is any "money shot").

[weegee]

Posted later here: Johnny Ramone: Rebel in a rebel's World (A man of the Right)

I am crosslinking both threads since the discussions will take different paths.

[KneelBeforeZod]

I was disappointed when I found out what "CBGB and OMFUG" meant....

[KneelBeforeZod]

I heard that...good interview

[NYC GOP Chick]

I want that t-shirt! That's about as cool as the "Dean People Suck" shirts. ;)

[NewRomeTacitus]

My bad. I found what you were referring to was Chloe Sevigny’s scene in Vallo’s reportedly unwatchable movie “The Brown Bunny”, from which he fled in tears after harsh criticism at the Cannes Film Festival. Crewmen report that Ms. Sevigny was in tears performing oral sex on the egocentric actor/director. Not simulated; he demanded total realism. If that wasn’t bad enough, he had her repeat the performance “to make sure it looked just right” (his own words). If he wasn’t obviously mentally ill I would label him a cad of the worst sort. Not only does he make up libelous trash about most people he has worked with, he can’t decide on which lies to stick with while endlessly droning on about his favorite subject: himself.

I saw "Buffalo 66" and wondered what those good actors were doing in such a muddle. Now that I’ve done some reading up I will make sure this pud never sees another nickel from me (except, hopefully, from tax dollars getting his head back on).

Johnny should be a little more proactive toward whom he befriends.

[weegee]

I never read any such reports of Chloe's performance. Afterwards in interviews she said that she was okay with it because she had already had a close personal relationship with Vincent.

You certainly seem to have a vendetta against him. Many people liked Buffalo 66 while there was definitely an audience (left and right) that did not like the movie.

[weegee]

I certainly could use one at SXSW next week.

Michael Graves says there is nothing more punk rock than to show up at a concert with a "Conservative" t-shirt.

I'd like to be a little more explicit. Easier to put the libs off their game.

[weegee]

I'd be skeptical about any reviews of Brown Bunny from Vincent's chief critic. Roger Ebert hasn't been able to write objectively for well over a decade.

Brown Bunny didn't even hit his 10 worst films of 2003 list. The film that showed a death penalty case in Texas (where the lead did indeed commit the crime) DID make that list (0 stars).

Rog is past his prime and no longer has Gene Siskel from a competing paper to shame him into restraint (Richard Dopey Roper doesn't even like B&W movies or Little Rascals shorts, they aren't PC).

[NewRomeTacitus]

I harbor no vendettas against anyone (except people who keep bugging me about off-subject issues on widely-read websites while I have the flu). Ebert didn't factor into it at all, though I learned of their animosity. Google the subject, "Vincent Gallo",space, plus sign, then new word. Run a few variations and word switches to make the net give up the goods. I got this tip from a former reporter who is also on FR, and it's an efficient, time-saving method providing that we remember that around 10% of the stuff on the net is inaccurate or flat out BS.

Check it. Even Gallo's fans and supporters are leery of him.

[weegee]

Why not tell me what I am supposed to find.

Johnny Ramone mentioned Vincent in the article. Vincent's chief critic (especially with regard to BB) is Roger Ebert (these days).

[NewRomeTacitus]

Check your mail. I'm at an age where I resent burning time and effort on minor endeavors, especially when it smells like I'm being baited.

You could apply some of that energy into working on your free-of-charge home page. That way we could have a glimpse into what's important to you. It would save you a lot of time and effort expressing yourself while reassuring members that you are not a despicable troll. Trolls NEVER fill out the home pages due to cowardice.

[weegee]

I've got nearly 20,000 posts on FR. That is hardly the sign of a troll. Flake off, man.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Yes, and Johnny didn't want to do it.

[NewRomeTacitus]

You were the one dogging me to incivility. My point was valid and I wasn't accusing you of being a troll, just asking you to help circumvent their proliferation. I apologize if that was asking too much.

The sun is rising and I must return to my resting place to prevent a potentially fatal SPF disaster. My ghou...er, roommate isn't the swiftest of creatures so security is lax. Be merciful and make sure the stake is honed sharp.

[WhiteGuy]

Ramones Bump!!!