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| Cj Ramone and his boys |
1) Hi CJ! First of all thank you for wasting your time with us here in SNAFU Headquarters. Tell us something about you...what are you doing now? You're just back from Japan, right? Is everything allright?
Right now I am preparing for the release of my new record LAST CHANCE TO DANCE on FAT WRECK CHORDS. I just got back from a great tour in Japan to promote my new record but also celebrate The Ramones 40th anniversary as well as my 25 year anniversary in the band. I have a show coming up in Münster Germany with the Donots on December 13 then I am off for the holidays. I am working to fill the tour schedule for next year and hope to be in Europe in April.
2) We are all waiting for your next release "Last chance to dance"...what do we have to expect from it? The 7" "Understand me?" was a really good appetizer but we are just wondering what the main course will be....
If you liked my last record Reconquista, you will really like my new one. It is a lot more fun and a little bit heavier. It is exactly what you would expect from a CJ Ramone record
3) The "Understand me?" cover represents parts of yourself am I right? But what about the "Last chance to dance" one? Is there a story behind it?
Understand Me is actually about a conversation I had with one of my children about believing in a higher power.
Last Chance to Dance is about New York City and some of the things I did and sore in the years that I hung out there when I was younger. It is a much different city now and most of the places I hung out in are gone. Forever.
4) CJ signs for Fat Wreck: Fat Mike's label seems to be interested in new pop punk stuff from a little while. How did you get in touch with Fat Wreck team? It may be sound funny but I never read or heard NOFX talking about Ramones in their whole career and I always thought they've never liked those four brothers from the Queens (yeah, it sounds stupid...).
I had intended to put the new record out myself and was looking for a press agent. My booking agent Stormy Vehnekamp, suggested Vanessa Burt who also does press for FAT. That's where it all started.
5) In your old website I have read an interview in wich you said that Brett from Epitaph wanted to put out a Ramones record. Is it true? What happened then? If I remember well Johnny Ramone said no.
Yes, Mr Gurewitz flew to Amsterdam to see us play and to try to convince Johnny and Joey to sign with Epitaph. Unfortunately, Johnny and Joey decided that they would sign with the Ramones manager, Gary Kurfirsts' new label Radioactive. They had been with Gary for many years and trusted him. Unfortunately, in the end Radioactive records was no more successful at getting the Ramones recognized than Sire records had been. Had the Ramones signed with epitaph, I think the rest of the career would have been a lot better.
6) As you can see from our blogzine, SNAFU team really likes military stuff....and you were in the Marines; this has always been a side of you that has fascinated me....why did you join the Marine Corps? Did you have good memories about those days or were they like Full Metal Jacket movie?
My dad's family is a military family. My dad and his oldest brother were Navy and his next oldest brother was Army airborne.
I worked in an aircraft factory after high school and it was a really good job. But during the 80s the economy on Long Island where I live, collapsed. When the factory I worked in closed down, my options were limited. I enlisted in the Marines because I did not want to be stuck in the town where I was born for the rest of my life. My time there was short and I have good and bad memories, but the things I learned there made me who I am. Full Metal Jacket was a good representation of boot camp.
7) Johnny Ramone was a Republican and it was like an Officer in The Ramones...but has he ever been in the army? Have you ever talked about these kind of things (for example your former years as a marine)?
I think part of the reason I got the audition with the Ramones is because I was in the Marine Corps. Johnny knew I would be able to follow rules and do a good job. Johnny went to military school when he was younger and I think he appreciated where I came from.
8) Few days ago It was the Veterans Day....some of your kin has served during I or II World War? I hope not to be indiscreet but I find it really interesting......on your FB page i've seen a beautiful picture of you daddy.
My father's oldest brother, Jerry, served during World War II and Korea. My uncle Kenny served during Korea. My Dad served during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Two of my great uncles, Jack and Mike, serve during World War II with the army in the Pacific theater.
9) On your Facebook page you have posted some books about Navy SEAL history....do you like books about Special Forces? I have recently read "No Easy Day" by Mark Owen and I really like Andy McNab's (former S.A.S.) autobiographical books too...do you know him or do you have anybooks you can recommend? What do you think about HBO's "Band of Brohters" and "The Pacific"?
SEAL OF HONOR is a great book. It is about Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Michael Patrick Murphy, US Navy Seal killed during Operation Redwings in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. He was team leader on that mission and was killed after exposing himself to enemy fire while trying to establish communications with base camp to call for air support. The movie "Lone Survivor" is about that mission. He actually grew up and lived one town over from where I live at. There is a park and a post office named after him and a 5K run around a lake nearby in his honor. The book is good.
Band of Brothers was great.
10) Some years ago you were in Las*Pezia, the city of the Manges and a very important city for all the italian punkrockers. Do you know that in La Spezia there is also the HQ of COMSUBIN? They are the italian version of the Navy SEAL but they were born during World War II (even though they stood in the wrong side of the "barricade" against British Royal Navy).
I did not know that. It is curious that a Punk scene would be born in a military town.
11) Ok, let's get back to punkrock questions....last year you played in Desio but I could not go to the show. The funny things is that I live in Desio and I have heard all the set list from my window....that has been a really weird thing. Is there any difference between the Italian audience of yesterday and today?
I think crowds now are a little bit more calm at the shows. It may be because people see so many bands and they are just not as impressed anymore. But it is still a lot of fun and a great experience. But the Ramones fans are crazy as ever.
12) In the last few years The Ramones are becoming more popular here in Italy...I think that's because Marky Ramone is going all over Italy with some very big Italian rockstars that attracts big crowd of "non-punkrocker" kids. On one side it is a good thing...but on the other side we feel like they were stealing from us our heroes....we always felt like an elite community. What do you think about that? The funny thing is that in the end punkrock clubs are still empty.
Punk Rock does not belong in big stadiums. It belongs in sweaty little clubs, 200 to 500 is a perfect size. I never cared much about money or fame, but I always cared about being with people like me.
13) I have noticed that you are a very active Facebook user: you always keep you fans and friends updated, you post photos and videos and you are always nice with everybody. That's awesome. During your years in the Ramones - with no social networks and stuff - what did you do to keep in touch with fans?
I wrote letters and with my own band, Los GUSANOS, I mailed out newsletters monthly. I created them myself and handwrote out every address. When I was on tour, I tried to spend as much time as I could with my friends and the fans. The Internet and social networking makes it all possible on a much larger scale. I'm sure there are some people who think that things were better back in the old days, but to me technology has made it possible for me to stay in touch with many more people. And that is something I enjoy.
14) Ok CJ now it's time to say goodbye. Thank you again for your time and patience...just say whatever you want and good luck with everything!
Ramones Forever.
Right now I am preparing for the release of my new record LAST CHANCE TO DANCE on FAT WRECK CHORDS. I just got back from a great tour in Japan to promote my new record but also celebrate The Ramones 40th anniversary as well as my 25 year anniversary in the band. I have a show coming up in Münster Germany with the Donots on December 13 then I am off for the holidays. I am working to fill the tour schedule for next year and hope to be in Europe in April.
2) We are all waiting for your next release "Last chance to dance"...what do we have to expect from it? The 7" "Understand me?" was a really good appetizer but we are just wondering what the main course will be....
If you liked my last record Reconquista, you will really like my new one. It is a lot more fun and a little bit heavier. It is exactly what you would expect from a CJ Ramone record
3) The "Understand me?" cover represents parts of yourself am I right? But what about the "Last chance to dance" one? Is there a story behind it?
Understand Me is actually about a conversation I had with one of my children about believing in a higher power.
Last Chance to Dance is about New York City and some of the things I did and sore in the years that I hung out there when I was younger. It is a much different city now and most of the places I hung out in are gone. Forever.
4) CJ signs for Fat Wreck: Fat Mike's label seems to be interested in new pop punk stuff from a little while. How did you get in touch with Fat Wreck team? It may be sound funny but I never read or heard NOFX talking about Ramones in their whole career and I always thought they've never liked those four brothers from the Queens (yeah, it sounds stupid...).
I had intended to put the new record out myself and was looking for a press agent. My booking agent Stormy Vehnekamp, suggested Vanessa Burt who also does press for FAT. That's where it all started.
5) In your old website I have read an interview in wich you said that Brett from Epitaph wanted to put out a Ramones record. Is it true? What happened then? If I remember well Johnny Ramone said no.
Yes, Mr Gurewitz flew to Amsterdam to see us play and to try to convince Johnny and Joey to sign with Epitaph. Unfortunately, Johnny and Joey decided that they would sign with the Ramones manager, Gary Kurfirsts' new label Radioactive. They had been with Gary for many years and trusted him. Unfortunately, in the end Radioactive records was no more successful at getting the Ramones recognized than Sire records had been. Had the Ramones signed with epitaph, I think the rest of the career would have been a lot better.
6) As you can see from our blogzine, SNAFU team really likes military stuff....and you were in the Marines; this has always been a side of you that has fascinated me....why did you join the Marine Corps? Did you have good memories about those days or were they like Full Metal Jacket movie?
My dad's family is a military family. My dad and his oldest brother were Navy and his next oldest brother was Army airborne.
I worked in an aircraft factory after high school and it was a really good job. But during the 80s the economy on Long Island where I live, collapsed. When the factory I worked in closed down, my options were limited. I enlisted in the Marines because I did not want to be stuck in the town where I was born for the rest of my life. My time there was short and I have good and bad memories, but the things I learned there made me who I am. Full Metal Jacket was a good representation of boot camp.
7) Johnny Ramone was a Republican and it was like an Officer in The Ramones...but has he ever been in the army? Have you ever talked about these kind of things (for example your former years as a marine)?
I think part of the reason I got the audition with the Ramones is because I was in the Marine Corps. Johnny knew I would be able to follow rules and do a good job. Johnny went to military school when he was younger and I think he appreciated where I came from.
8) Few days ago It was the Veterans Day....some of your kin has served during I or II World War? I hope not to be indiscreet but I find it really interesting......on your FB page i've seen a beautiful picture of you daddy.
My father's oldest brother, Jerry, served during World War II and Korea. My uncle Kenny served during Korea. My Dad served during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Two of my great uncles, Jack and Mike, serve during World War II with the army in the Pacific theater.
9) On your Facebook page you have posted some books about Navy SEAL history....do you like books about Special Forces? I have recently read "No Easy Day" by Mark Owen and I really like Andy McNab's (former S.A.S.) autobiographical books too...do you know him or do you have anybooks you can recommend? What do you think about HBO's "Band of Brohters" and "The Pacific"?
SEAL OF HONOR is a great book. It is about Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Michael Patrick Murphy, US Navy Seal killed during Operation Redwings in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. He was team leader on that mission and was killed after exposing himself to enemy fire while trying to establish communications with base camp to call for air support. The movie "Lone Survivor" is about that mission. He actually grew up and lived one town over from where I live at. There is a park and a post office named after him and a 5K run around a lake nearby in his honor. The book is good.
Band of Brothers was great.
10) Some years ago you were in Las*Pezia, the city of the Manges and a very important city for all the italian punkrockers. Do you know that in La Spezia there is also the HQ of COMSUBIN? They are the italian version of the Navy SEAL but they were born during World War II (even though they stood in the wrong side of the "barricade" against British Royal Navy).
I did not know that. It is curious that a Punk scene would be born in a military town.
11) Ok, let's get back to punkrock questions....last year you played in Desio but I could not go to the show. The funny things is that I live in Desio and I have heard all the set list from my window....that has been a really weird thing. Is there any difference between the Italian audience of yesterday and today?
I think crowds now are a little bit more calm at the shows. It may be because people see so many bands and they are just not as impressed anymore. But it is still a lot of fun and a great experience. But the Ramones fans are crazy as ever.
12) In the last few years The Ramones are becoming more popular here in Italy...I think that's because Marky Ramone is going all over Italy with some very big Italian rockstars that attracts big crowd of "non-punkrocker" kids. On one side it is a good thing...but on the other side we feel like they were stealing from us our heroes....we always felt like an elite community. What do you think about that? The funny thing is that in the end punkrock clubs are still empty.
Punk Rock does not belong in big stadiums. It belongs in sweaty little clubs, 200 to 500 is a perfect size. I never cared much about money or fame, but I always cared about being with people like me.
13) I have noticed that you are a very active Facebook user: you always keep you fans and friends updated, you post photos and videos and you are always nice with everybody. That's awesome. During your years in the Ramones - with no social networks and stuff - what did you do to keep in touch with fans?
I wrote letters and with my own band, Los GUSANOS, I mailed out newsletters monthly. I created them myself and handwrote out every address. When I was on tour, I tried to spend as much time as I could with my friends and the fans. The Internet and social networking makes it all possible on a much larger scale. I'm sure there are some people who think that things were better back in the old days, but to me technology has made it possible for me to stay in touch with many more people. And that is something I enjoy.
14) Ok CJ now it's time to say goodbye. Thank you again for your time and patience...just say whatever you want and good luck with everything!
Ramones Forever.
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