With Marky Ramone - October 2014 |
Like many autobiographies Mary Ramone's starts with his childhood. From the get go you feel like Marky is in the room talking with you. He has a nice laid back, conversational style and it makes for an entertaining read. He covers discovering music and taking up the drums. He then spends time covering his musical career before the Ramones when he played drums for the band Dust.
Marky details the audition and rehearsals for the Ramones as well as recording his first album with the band, Road to Ruin. This is the section of the book that most people are probably interested in and it delivers. Beyond Road to Ruin Marky covers filming Rock 'n' Roll High School, touring and recording End of the Century with producer Phil Spector.
His post-Ramones life is an excellent section of the book. He details his recovery and his work as a bike messenger and as part of a demolition crew. Marky's exploits out of the music business were a surprising and welcome addition to the book.
Of course Marky found his way back into the Ramones and he takes us straight through to the band's final show and beyond. Post-Ramones there is the untimely passing of Joey, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Dee Dee and Johnny's deaths and what he's been doing since the Ramones.
Punk Rock Blitzkrieg: My Life as a Ramone is really more than your standard dirt slinging rock and roll memoir. It's Marc Bell's journey to musical immortality and more importantly his triumph over addiction.
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