Eighteen years since their tour with the Lollapalooza music festival and subsequent disbanding, the Ramones have no surviving original members. Tommy Ramone, who was the last remaining member, passed away on Sunday at the age of 62. Tommy was the Ramones' drummer from 1974 to 1978 and assisted in the production of the band's first three albums.
The New York-based rock band received limited commercial success from their music, but are considered one of the greatest punk influences in the United States and the United Kingdom. They were in the Rolling Stone's “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” and VH1's Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. Spin magazine ranked them the second-greatest band of all time in 2002, topped only by the Beatles. In that same year the three founders and drummers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2011 received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
To honor the legacy they have left in the world of music, we have compiled a list of their greatest songs.
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10. “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker”
“Sheena Is A Punk Rocker” is one of the Ramones' most popular songs. It was originally released on their LP Rocket to Russia and then on their second album Leave Home. It reached No. 81 in the United States and No. 22 in the United Kingdom. The song was also covered by Jemina Pearl and Thruston Moore and appeared on an episode of Gossip Girl.
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9. “Rock 'N' Roll High School”
Even though this 1979 classic didn't chart in the US, there was a movie named after it in which the Ramones performed and were everyone's favorite rock band. It was after their debut in the film that Phil Spector gained interest in the band and produced their album End of the Century.
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8. “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend”
He might not have seemed like it at times, but what other reason is there behind “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” than the fact that Joey Ramone was a true romantic? There's no need for many words when the message is delivered in only a few, as is the case in this song whose lyrics make up one short paragraph.
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7. “Do You Remember Rock N' Roll Radio”
“Do You Remember Rock N' Roll Radio” is the second song in the Ramones' 1980 album End of the Century, which was the album that featured a different sound from the group after working with Phil Spector.
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6. “I Wanna Be Sedated”
It might be a sad song, but it has such a good sound that it's fun to sing along to.
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5. “Oh Oh I Love Her So”
“Oh Oh I Lover Her So” is the typical teenage love story about meeting at the Burger King, going on a first date to Coney Island and falling in love by the soda machine. This song is great to listen to and great to sing to. After all, we all have someone whom we love so.
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4. “Beat on the Brat”
Dee Dee Ramone said this song was inspired was Joey's sighting of a woman chasing after a kid with a baseball bat. Apparently this particular mother did want to beat on her brat.
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3. “I'm Against It”
“I'm Against It” is off their album Road to Ruin and featured new drummer Marky Ramone. It's a simple tune about the things the band doesn't like such as politics, Jesus freaks, drugs and water bugs.
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2. “Danny Says”
“Danny Says” is a love song Joey wrote for this then girlfriend, Linda Danielle, who later ended their relationship to be with bandmate Johnny. The song was covered by the Foo Fighters and Tom Waits. The Danny mentioned in the song is actually the band's manager Danny Fields.
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1. “Blitzkrieg Bop”
As overexposed as this song might be to all of us, there's no denying that it's simply the greatest Ramones song there is. It's catchy, it's fun, it's historical.