On the Road with the Ramones - Monte Melnick and Frank Meyer

 I should have gotten'n'read this 2019 book ages ago, but for whatever reason it eluded my grasp. I just happened to check our library for it and lo'n'behold, they had it! 

Melnick is, of course, the Ramones tour manager from the start to the finish and Frank Meyer is our old friend from the Streetwalkin' Cheetahs and innumerable other groups - far too many to name - who has managed to be involved in videos, movies and books as well as a star-studded musical career (he is on tour with Handsome Dick Manitoba, as of this writing!).

The Ramones changed the course of musical history with their first album and their incredible live shows and there is basically no one making music today that does not owe them a debt of gratitude! Obviously, I have read other books telling their story before, but here is a new persepctive.

Monte became friends with Tommy early on and formed a band together called Triad after the Tangerine Puppets (Tommy's band with Johnny) broke up. They were fast friends who saw lots of amazing acts and decided to try a power trio themselves. That split up and Tommy started working at the Record Plant and was involved with Hendrix's Band of Gypsies album, among others! That story always amazes me!

The Ramones tale is also always fascinating, even though I naturally know the gist of it all, so the story flows quickly and it is an easy read. Again, this is a book where the story is told from interviews with the folks who were there - from the band members to friends to family - even the parents! 

This tale also includes the behind-the-scenes folks - the road crew that normally does not get much mention but they keep the band going on tours and without them, there wouldn't be a show. The crew is usually crazier than the bands themselves and it seems that this bunch is no exception!

They get into a bit of the band's personalities - Johnny's racism, Joey's OCD, Dee Dee drug abuse and crazy girlfriends, Marky's alcoholism and bug eating, etc. Tommy seems like he was always pretty steady and CJ just liked to party and pick up chicks! Of course, Johnny ending up marrying Joey's girlfriend caused a lot of friction and more than one person says that "KKK Took My Baby Away" was about that since Johnny was racist - kinda wow!

Of course, we go through the entire career, right through the end and beyond, with post-career accolades and more, right up through their deaths. 

Really well done - kudos to Melnick and Meyer for a great job of telling the tale that everyone who loves rock'n'roll needs to know. Sorry it took me so long to pick this up!