Marky Ramone is best known for the 15 years he spent drumming for the legendary Ramones. Prior to joining the Ramones, Marky played with an array of influential musicians dating back to his high school years when he was a member of the Brooklyn based hard rock band, Dust. Recording two albums with his friends, Richie Wise (guitar and vocals) and Kenny Aaronson (bass) for Neil Bogart’s Karma Sutra/Buddha label while Dust was disbanding, Marky began hanging out at Max’s Kansas City, where he met Max’s house D.J. Wayne County. He joined forces with Wayne to form Wayne County and The Backstreet Boys. Wayne’s outrageous stage performance and cross-dressing attracted many fans and helped solidify a cult following.
After a year and a half of playing in the New York area and not being able to generate record company interest, they decided it was best to move on. In 1976, Marky was introduced to Richard Hell. Along with Bob Quine and Ivan Julian, they formed Richard Hell & the Voidoids. The Voidoids released their groundbreaking debut album in 1977 on Sire Records, entitled ‘Blank Generation’. Shortly after the Voidoids historic U.K. tour with The Clash, Marky found himself at the bar at CBGB with Dee Dee Ramone. Dee Dee asked him if he would be interested in joining the Ramones.
In the spring of 1978, Marky joined the Ramones. In a matter of weeks he was in the studio recording his first album with the Ramones entitled, ‘Road To Ruin’, which features one of the biggest Ramones songs ‘I Wanna Be Sedated’. The following year the Ramones filmed the cult classic ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll High School’. Later that year, they joined forces with producer legend, Phil Spector to record ‘End Of The Century’.
His tenure with the Ramones spanned a total of 15 years. Performing over 1700 shows and more than 15 releases, including songwriting credits on both ‘Mondo Bizarro’ and ‘Adios Amigos’, the band’s farewell release.
In 2000, Marky reunited with long time friend Joey Ramone for Joey’s solo effort ‘Don’t Worry About Me’. In 2001, Marky along with his former band mates (Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy), were inducted into the ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame’. That same year, U2’s Bono presented the Ramones with the MTV’s ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’.
The DVD release, ‘Raw’, a compilation of mostly home videos filmed predominantly by Marky was released in 2004 and entered the Billboard video chart at number 5. Certified gold in three countries and currently the best selling Ramones DVD release to date.
In the spring of 2009, Marky launched a capsule collection clothing line with Hilfiger Denim. In 2010, Marky shared his recipe for pasta sauce by introducing Marky Ramone’s Brooklyn’s Own Pasta Sauce. In February 2010 the Ramones received a ‘Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award’. It was the first Grammy for the punk rock pioneers.
With no signs of slowing down, Marky Ramone continues to tour the world with his band, Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg. Marky is currently a D.J. on iHeart Radio hosting his own station, “Marky Ramone Radio”. Marky has also appeared on numerous TV shows including ‘The Simpsons’, ‘Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations’ and ‘ZRock’.
Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg are heading out on tour next year and this includes a date at Patterns, Brighton on Saturday 13th February 2027 courtesy of 432 Presents promoters. Ticket information HERE.
There are currently 7 other dates on the tour see flyer below.
Billed as “Playing The Ramones Classics” fans can expect to hear the likes of the following numbers: ‘Do You Wanna Dance?’, ‘Havana Affair’, ‘Teenage Lobotomy’, ‘Commando’, ‘Beat On The Brat’, ‘I Don’t Care’, ‘Sheena Is A Punk Rocker’, ‘Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue’, ‘We’re A Happy Family’, ‘Let’s Dance’, ‘Surfin’ Bird’, ‘Judy Is A Punk’, ‘I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend’, ‘I Believe In Miracles’, ‘The KKK Took My Baby Away’, ‘I Wanna Be Sedated’, ‘California Sun’, ‘Rockaway Beach’, ‘Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment’, ‘Have You Ever Seen The Rain?’, ‘Oh Oh I Love Her So’, ‘I Just Want To Have Something To Do’, ‘Chinese Rocks’, ‘Pinhead’, ‘Cretin Hop’, ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll High School’, ‘R.A.M.O.N.E.S.’, ‘You’re Gonna Kill That Girl’, ‘Chain Saw’, ‘Glad To See You Go’, ‘Listen to My Heart’, ‘What A Wonderful World’ and ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’.
You know what to say to your mates don’t you? “Hey-Ho Let’s Go!”
