On The Road With The Ramones

Rating:
Summary: THE QUINTESSENTIAL "RAMONES-OGRAPHY" ! ! ! ! !
Review: I want to thank Monte Melnick, the most qualified person to write a Ramones book for this absolute gem. Literally from cover to cover, this book is not only a great read, with interview snippets contexted in chronological order, but the sheer insight that ONLY Monte could write about because he was there from the start is just amazing. When I'd heard that Johnny Ramone died, I re-read it and it was just as good if not better than the previous times I read it. THANK YOU MONTE---THANK YOU RAMONES---GABBA GABBA HEY!!!!! DeeDee, Joey and Johnny--"Rock in Peace"

Rating:
Summary: Gabba Gabba Hey- Reading a Book The Ramone's Way...
Review: "On the Road With The Ramones"- how can you say no? This was written/compiled by mainly Monte A. Melnick, with a 2nd co-author. He was The Ramones tour manager/road manager for almost their whole career, so he got the close-up of all the action, fun, drugs, relationship, and everything else Ramones. So, he knew what all went on.

As I mentioned in another Ramones book review, this is the best Ramones biography book you can buy. Most are either (classified by me) "Media Related"- deals with things around before, after, and while The Ramones were going; also deals with videos, record sales, and etc. about The Ramones. "Band Related"- deals with pre-Ramones times within the band member's lives, times in the band while it was starting and finishing (and everything in between), and times within the post-Ramones band members lives (like what the guys did after they retired). Or, a book might be (the best type of Ramones book) "Mixed/Everything Related"- like I said, these are the best types of books about The Ramones. They [usually] include influences, pre-Ramones experiences, record sales, weird/unsual experiences on the road or at a show, people they influenced, stories behind songs, little or unknown facts, and everything else true Ramones fans should know. "On the Road With The Ramones" is a "Mixed Related" book, cause it contains all [and more] of everything listed above.

To get down the the story of the book- it revolves around time that Monte witnessed, or experienced while working with The Ramones. It does include an almost never mentioned chapter on how Monte got to know The Ramones (first chapter); I won't tell, but it's like the Prologue of the book. Monte compilated this book from interviews by Ramones friends, [some] fans, family of The Ramones, people from The Ramones family [band and roadies alike], and manuy other people. The interviews from different people really gives you a good amount of perspectives on what people/The Band were like, how they acted, etc. Key moments explained: the inception/leaving of- Tommy, Marky (and his re-inception), Richie, Clem Burke/Elvis, Dee Dee, and CJ; why the friendship between Joey and Johnny deteriorated so quickly (most fans probably already know why), Marky's drinking troubles, which ultimately led to him missing a show in [my home town] Virginia Beach, the [somewhat] "Mystery" of Richie and his uncalled-for leaving, the passings of Dee Dee and Joey (compiled before Johnny's passing), the "Sickness" [cruel word that some people use for Joey's ways] that Joey had, and many other key times.

I'm sure this book will unlock as least one fact or two [or more] for any Ramones' fan; one thing I didn't know was about Joey's ways. So, if you can, I recommend buying this book. It's good for any old Ramones' fan who wants to brush up on his knowledge of The Band, or for a newcomer to The Ramones' fan legacy that wants to learn about their [soon-to-be] favorite band.

Thanks for reading, "Gabba Gabba Hey!", and "Have A Nice Day",

Mikey.

Rating:
Summary: The best Ramones book you can buy
Review: As yet, Monte A. Melnick is the only one who was there from the beginning of the Ramones until the bitter end that has taken the time and care to write about it. This R. Ramone "guitar technician" is upset because the truth about how he really was came out in this book. I was around the Ramones long enough to see his true character and he was not a nice person. He wasn't nice to most of the band and other roadies and I know first hand he wasn't nice to the fans. The statement "You had to be there to know the true story" is absurd like Monte wasn't really there? Not only was Monte there but only two people alive today were there for the whole Ramones career beginning to end and that is Monte and Arturo Vega the Ramones artistic and lighting director. Everyone else who was involved on the inside of the Ramones has had nothing but praise for Mr. Melnick's book. Same goes for the thousands of fans who have read the book. All of have learned a tremendous amount of candid, inside information on the working of the Ramones from Monte's book. The photos alone are worth the great price this book sells for.


Rating:
Summary: Yes Melnicks!
Review: Despite the fact that this book was written as a narrative, much like " Please Kill Me, " it was a pleasant and an easy read. This book is a tad more credible than most of the other Ramones books out there since one of its authors was none other than Monte A. Melnick, who not only worked as tour coordinator for The Ramones but who also was a friend and confidante to the band members. While Dee Dee's novels consisted of little more than inane, misspelled ramblings about which drugs he imbibed and how badly he was treated, Mr. Melnick's book is articulate and concise and one can surmise that he spent more time sober and that he had a better grip on reality. The book tells of the time spent on the road ( as the title suggests ), but it also gives a little more personal insight into the lives of the band members through interviews with those closest to them ( not least Mr. Melnick, himself ). This book is a must for any Ramones fan.

Rating:
Summary: Yes Melnicks!
Review: Despite the fact that this book was written as a narrative, much like " Please Kill Me, " it was a pleasant and an easy read. This book is a tad more credible than most of the other Ramones books out there since one of its authors was none other than Monte A. Melnick, who not only worked as tour coordinator for The Ramones but who also was a friend and confidante to the band members. While Dee Dee's novels consisted of little more than inane, misspelled ramblings about which drugs he imbibed and how badly he was treated, Mr. Melnick's book is articulate and concise and one can surmise that he spent more time sober and that he had a better grip on reality. The book tells of the time spent on the road ( as the title suggests ), but it also gives a little more personal insight into the lives of the band members through interviews with those closest to them ( not least Mr. Melnick, himself ). This book is a must for any Ramones fan.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Fun! Great Read!
Review: Finally a good look at The Ramones from the inside! Through this oral history Monte Melnick manages to really capture the flavor of the time and give us a glimpse of what it was like to be part of the Ramones machine. He doesn't over glamourize and doesn't shy away from the painful realitites of their lives like Joey's OCD and later cancer, Johnny's often cold, militaristic grasp on the band and Dee Dee's lifetime of drug addiction, bi-sexuality and abusiveness. What does come through is the fun, the love/hate dynamic that existed within the band and a good look at how these guys from Queens managed to revolutionize rock 'n roll. On their terms. It's brilliant.

Rating:
Summary: The Best ramones Book By Far, So Far!
Review: I Eagerly Anticipated This Book. I was Not disappointed when I finally Found my Autographed Copy! Detailed, Funny, Exciting, Scary, & Full of New Insider Information! I Learned things I NEVER knew in All my Years of being a Ramones Fan. For example: I never heard a word about Joey's Compulsive disorders. Kinda More tradgey on top of their Rock'n'Roll triumphs. The Book is ordered very well like I would assume Monte was on All those Tours. I used to see him All the Time at Concerts & he was "familiar" but I never thought why. I could have been a Crazy Roadie myself!
Ramones Fans: Run out & get your Copies today! I laughed out loud Many Times & You will too. The Bands Music Now Means Even More to me after Reading about their obstacles & detirmination. We'll Never Forget 'em. Thanks to Monte & the Boys too.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: I was impressed. Monte & Frank did a great job and it was nice to see a lot of the mythology debunked by somebody who knows what they are talking about for a change. It's nice read a book that wasn't a complete whitewash of the faults & flaws yet still was written with a lot of affection for the people involved. I saw a lot of stories in there that I had been hearing about for years yet had always been glossed over by the publicity machines. Most of all, I thought he presented the story in a very fair way, trying to give both sides of a situation as much as possible (ie: the Joey/Linda/Johnny situation among others). That isn't always possible to do when you find yourself in a sometimes unwilling front row seat to it all & I respect that.

Rating:
Summary: the definitive book ! !
Review: I've been listening to the Ramones and reading about them since 1976!! This ... this is absolutely the best book written about them. Tour manager Monte was with the Ramones since almost day one, and writes from a perspective 'at ground zero'! The text is compiled of hundreds of hours of interviews with all the key players and associates in the Ramones story, and makes a fascinating read. I couldn't put this book down! Priceless anecdotes and quotations, and worth it alone for the insights into Joey's struggles with his Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
The photos are abundant and great. This is compulsory reading for any Ramones fan. I can't say enough good things about this book !

Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: Just got through reading this book. Its cool that the Ramones tour manager wrote this book, so there is no bias towards making anyone look spotless. They were a great band but they didnt get along very well at all. Pretty much just tolerated each other. Alot of cool stories in the book. Johnny was a conservative, good work ethic, maybe a little condescending of other races, sports fanatic. Dee Dee was bipolar with a bad drug problem, genius. Tommy wasnt a great drummer but had great vision. Joey had a compulsive disorder but was the ultimate overachiever and brillant. But could never get the woman that Johnny stole out of his mind. Mark was a great drummer but an acoholic and unstable. Richie was good but underpaid. C.J. was probably the only person in the world who could replace Dee Dee on Bass. I have always liked the music but had no idea about the men. After reading this book I like them even more. To bad a couple of them are not around to see the much deserved respect that the Ramones get these days. Buy the book. Monte deserves it for all the stuff he had to deal with on a daily basis.