(Hamburg, Germany) – As drummer of iconic Punk Rock band The Ramones from February 1983 until August 1987, Richie Ramone played over 500 shows and was the only one of the band’s drummers to compose and write Ramones songs. He was hailed by frontman Joey Ramone as the Saviour of the band and is often described as a drumming virtuoso. Currently on the European leg of his tour we caught up with Richie in the German city of Hamburg.
You have put together quite a bunch of musicians in ALEX KANE, CLARE MISSTAKE and BEN REAGAN. How did you get everyone together?
They’re all from Los Angeles, Ben’s been with me for around four years now. Clare and Alex, who used to be with Marky Ramone, have been with me two or three years. Clare contacted me originally in 2010 but at that time I wasn’t really ready to do anything. When Entitled came along and I got back to her and brought Alex in about a year later.
30 dates across Europe in a little over a month is a bit of a tough schedule. Do you find it tough when you are on the road?
Yeah, I think we have four days off in 30 days. It can be tough sometimes, I mean you’re travelling between venues which can be like six hours in the van, it’s hard with my long legs not being able to stretch out. Everywhere we go the food is different so maintaining a proper diet can be difficult. I tend to pick at food then catch up on eating when we have a day off. Occasionally there’s a restaurant near our hotel which is better. But there are promoters who put us up in the middle of nowhere in a bid to save money. That’s when I’m like “Ok, I’ll get you back”. It’s all about putting everything on the table for that one hour show, so we just get on with it.
Your first solo album Entitled was released in 2013. It was a long time in the making, was it a difficult album to put together?
It was my first solo record and I learned a lot about the process of putting an album together. I think I mixed for about seven months, so after writing it, it took about a year to put it together. I learned about things like the artwork and a whole bunch of other stuff that has to be done. I’m more prepared for the next time though.
What about the Richie Ramone sound, did you have to consciously stay away from the Ramones style?
No, let’s be honest why would I make a record that sounded like the Ramones? There’s only one of them and they can never be duplicated. You know, I make Richie Ramone records. It’s harder music with maybe more of a metal tinge. The new record involves more singing though, I feel I’ve grown as a singer and when you make a record you always want it to be better than the last one. Entitled is a punk album and I love it, I mean I could sing a Frank Sinatra song and it would sound like a punk song, because I have that kinda voice. But I think I’ve progressed as an artist and this new one sounds different and it kinda takes me to the next step, the next level.
Can you give us anymore details on the new album?
Yeah, we finished recording it before the tour so we’re mixing it now, that will take two or three months. My earliest estimate is that it’ll be out by June this year. The title is Cellophane, which is also the title track. It’s about just what we spoke about, night after night on the road, it talks about going to the shows and preparing to go on stage, the fans and how I get energy from them. It’s not a fast song.
Richie Ramone is a songwriter and a guitar player but first and foremost he is a drummer. In the past you’ve been described as a drumming virtuoso, is that a fair description?
Sure, I mean I’m a damn good drummer, I’ve been playing for over 50 years. I studied music, I read music, I play everything from Orchestral to Jazz. I think that makes me a better drummer, if you take a kid and just have them listen to Heavy Metal or just one kind of music they’ll develop into a player who can only do that kind. Let’s face it, as drummers, all we are doing is keeping the beat. If the kid listens to everything and uses that when they play, they will play with more expression. I am quoted as saying “there are people who play drums and there are drummers”. I’m a drummer. I suppose you could say I’m a well versed musician, if you wanna put it that way.
When you are at home, do you practice your drumming much?
I never pick up a stick! I’m lazy, I have a beautiful studio with a couple of drum kits and never play. The only time I’ll pick up any sticks is when we have a rehearsal, I’m laying down a track or recording something for another band. I never practise anymore. If I did I think I’d be too good [laughing].
You are still influencing people to go learn the drums and make music, what advice would you give to the kids on how to become a ‘drummer’?
Be your own person, don’t try and copy anyone. You need to do a heck of a lot of practise. Practise, practise. I used to use pillows as there is no bounce back from them, you have to lift the sticks which develops your wrist.
Start slow. Get a clicker or a meter or something but do it slow, so it’s perfect. Then the next day or the next week you can pick it up a bit. Too many drummers wanna go in and play fast straight away.
There is rarely a day when I don’t hear a Ramones song on TV or on the Radio. Would you agree that the bands popularity is still on the rise?
I don’t know if it’s on the rise, you know. Sadly the fact is they became more popular after they all passed, that’s the tragic thing about it. The reason why it’s still around, why it’s survived generations of listeners and doesn’t sound dated is down to the song writing. I mean. you can hear some punk shit from back then now and it just sounds like something from 1979 or 1982. The Ramones music is timeless and that’s definitely attributed to great song writing. You could still be listening to it in another 50 years……unless Donald Trump blows up the planet that is!
How much satisfaction do you get from the fact that The Ramones inspired so many successful bands and have remained very much relevant and influential for over 40 years?
I get a huge amount from it. I can’t count how many times someone has said to me that as a kid the first record they ever bought was a Ramones record or The Ramones were the first band they seen live. I’ve even had them say “The Ramones saved my life” you know. It’s amazing to hear that and It would be difficult to name another band who have had that kind of effect.
Sure we influenced a lot of bands. I always remember hearing that when the Sex Pistols and The Clash came to see the Ramones in London when they were there around 1976. The Pistols were like, “we’re forming a band, but we can’t really play our instruments that good yet”. Johnny Ramone’s response was, “well wait till you hear us, we stink”. Which is really funny. But look how big they all got. They all went beyond The Ramones as far as selling records and having hits.
There are still rumours of a Ramones movie, are you aware of any plans? Who would you like to play Richie Ramone?
I heard the rumour that Scorsese was gonna make a movie. I don’t know anything else about it though, nobody has contacted me or anything like that. I also heard Leonardo Dicaprio was gonna play me. That’s kinda nice, but he’s a little shorter than me so they’d have to build him some big platform shoes or put him on a milk crate [laughs]. He’d be perfect to play me, I think he is fabulous.
I’m sure you have a ton of great memories but what is your most treasured Ramones memory?
Yeah, there’s way too many to pick just one but there’s one story I will always remember. We were in the van somewhere in New
Jersey coming home from a show, it was maybe two in the morning and the cops pulled us over. They made everybody get out of the van. It’s winter time as well. So, we’re all standing in front of the cop car and they say “empty your pockets”. So, we’re all in our jacket pockets pulling stuff out and putting it on the hood.
Joey had on this big parka with these big pockets. He started pulling all this stuff out and filled the whole hood with junk. He had crumpled up dollar bills, tissues with make up on, sudofed, even half a bagel! It was the funniest thing, he just kept on going. I looked at Joey, I was like “are you done yet”? It was freezing. Eventually they let us go. I think they were just playing with us, but to see Joey just keep pulling out this stuff and then it would blow away, it was crazy. Poor Joey. Man, I miss those guys.
The Ramones taught me how to treat people, how to treat the fans. They were very respectful, you will never see a Ramones concert where they turn their back on the fans. They’d go forward and back but they wouldn’t turn around and jam with the drummer or anything like that. These kids paid money to come see them and they appreciated that. That’s why I keep doing live shows, for the fans. Sure, I like making records and writing but live, it’s for them you know. I’ll jump in with them, I’ll sing with them, I want them to be part of the party. I learned that from The Ramones too, we’re entertainers. I’m not there to be the centre of attention and jerk around, I’m there to make sure you have fun and go home having had a great night.
Are there any regrets about your time with The Ramones?
Nope. I don’t have any regrets. I mean I was a kid of 24 years who got really lucky. I was in the right spot at the right time, went to a blind audition and got to play with one of the greatest bands in history. There’s only a couple of us who got to do that. You can’t be regretful about anything to do with that, no way.
What would Richie Ramone like his legacy to be?
Nothing. As soon as I die people can forget about me [laughs].
I think I’d want be remembered as a good guy with a talent, mostly as a good guy though. I kinda get that now, I mean The Ramones taught me how to treat people, how to treat fans. The Ramones were very respectful, you will never see a concert where ay of the band members turned their back to the fans. They’d go forward and back but they would never turn and jam with the drummer or anything like that. That’s why I keep on doing the I’ve shows, for the fans. Sure I like making records and writing but live, it’s for them, you know. I’ll jump in with them, I’ll sing with them I want them to be part of the party. I learned that from The Ramones as well, we’re entertainers. I’m not there to be the centre of attention and jerk around. I’m there to make sure the people who paid money to come and see me live have fun.
Connect with Richie Ramone online (Website)
