Ramones: The Complete Twisted History

Rating:
Summary: Solid as far as I can tell
Review: I read this book back-to back with Bessman's book, "Ramones: An American band." This book may or may not have some factual errors, I don't know; and he did borrow from other books like Bessman's. But the 1-star reviews here seem overly harsh to me. This book is certainly more objective and less unflinching than Bessman's very fannish book.

One thing I took home from this that I've missed from other sources was Dee Dee's pervasive influence on the band's songwriting and the essential complexity of this apparently simple person. Take this quote from Roberta Bayley:

"Dee Dee was very creative and very unhappy but he was like a child in his desire to please and his desire to shock..."

Indeed.

I haven't yet read Melnick's book, but for a book devoted entirely to the Ramones, I would recommend this book over Bessman's anytime. Neither is as good as McNeil's "Please kill me," although that book covers a lot more than just the Ramones.

Rating:
Summary: Marky likes This Book
Review: Marky likes the book that's enough reason to buy this book

P.S. The pictures are awsome GABBA GABBA HEY!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Not a Good Book!
Review: Porter never talked to anybody involved with the band, and serves us nothing but a mix/match cut 'n paste job. Which in itself wouldn't be such a bad thing, if it weren't for the numerous factual errors in here. Porter really doesn't have much of a clue. I even flung the book into the corner when, at one point, he claims that the Ramones opened every show over the years with 'Blitzkrieg Bop', even if he never did see 'm in action himself, a quick glance at the four official live albums would have given proof to the contrary. Heck, the guy has previously written books on Nu-Metal and the Darkness, which just about sez it all...

Rating:
Summary: Ever heard of a fact checker? An editor? An AWFUL book.
Review: The title of this book gets it half right. It is by no means a complete history, but it is indeed twisted...if twisting the facts counts. There are TONS of factual errors in this book, including the author's assertion that the Ramones, unable to pass up a good payday, continued to tour AFTER their last show in August 1996. Even if the author had no particular knowledge of his subject matter (which he apparently doesn't), couldn't he have used a fact checker? I'm sorry, but this is a really, really, really bad book.

Rating:
Summary: good book
Review: this is a good book for young punks everywhere. it tells the story of the greatest band ever. from their past to presant. its a good book if you want to know more about the punk past or just about their past.