...then the Ramones ripped off the dictators, which doesn't matter because Iggy Pop came first anyways, but then there's Lou Reed who came along with a fair dose of nihilism ahead of everybody, then there's the Monks who are a case into themselves, but then there's 50s rockabilly like Hasil Adkins who was already singing about cutting off heads and putting em on the walls, but then there's Leadbelly, who recorded songs from prison in the early 20s....

What's the question again?

Do explain how the Ramones ripped off the dictators?

I'm so bo-o-ored...

The clash were awesome, they put a flavour into punk that wasn't there. I didnt think they sounded anything like the ramones, but somebody has to pave the way (see Happyharryhardon^).

/The only band that matters

Malcolm_Sex: Do explain how the Ramones ripped off the dictators?


You first. How, precisely, did the Clash rip off the Ramones?

The point being (and apologies to HHHO if I'm missing it myself) that the headline's premise is a silly one to begin with. Sure, Paul Simonon included Blitzkrieg Bop on his compilation of influential tracks, but beyond that, what basis is there? Hell, Toots Hibbert has a better case if you really want to go down that path.

the ramones ripped off the 1910 fruitgum company and the archies. what of it?

Malcolm_Sex: Do explain how the Ramones ripped off the dictators?

Listen to Master Race Rock, then listen to Blitzkrieg Bop. If you don't hear it there I won't be able to explain further.

Joey was a front row mainstay of early Dictators shows. He idolized Adny Shernoff, and collaborated with him often. The Dictators, The Stooges, Nuggets, and Joey's beloved girl groups were pretty much the formula for The Ramones. Of course then they turned it into something all their own, and became one of rock's greatest artistic achievements.

Also, my experience here has been, if HappyHarryHardOn tells you something about rawk, you can bank it.

But I do not agree that The Clash ripped off The Ramones. The Clash were mainly inspired by the Pistols, like nearly everyone else in London.

Yeah, I don't hear the musical similarities between The Clash and The Ramones. Even the first Clash album isn't that similar.

This headline is stupid. Foreigner sounds nothing like the Ramones.

Another way the Ramones' were influenced by The Dictators was in the subject matter and lyrical approach of the songs. The 'taters sang about drugs and white castles and channel 5 and the NYC teen experience in a way that was very satirical and even comical. Dee Dee, who wrote most of the Ramones' greatest lyrics, definitely was influenced by that, as were many of the bands of the CB's movement.

Legs McNeil covers this in pretty good detail in Please Kill Me.

phlegmography: This headline is stupid. Foreigner sounds nothing like the Ramones.

+1

The Clash were "inspired" by the approach the Sex Pistols and Malcolm McClaren took - There is almost zero in terms of musical influence. Ditto for the Ramones.

Juice Lawson: The Clash were "inspired" by the approach the Sex Pistols and Malcolm McClaren took - There is almost zero in terms of musical influence

Almost zero, except for the tempos, chord progressions, guitar sounds, lyrical content, situationist political influence, clothing styles, haricut styles, and nearly everything else. And their manager, Bernie Rhodes, was also involved in the Pistol's early management, and used the same template.

Other than that, almost zero musical influence. ;-)

The Pistols were not Reggae influenced. per se (although John Lydon was one of the UK's premier experts on the music). That was the main musical difference. After their first album and singles, of course, the Clash evolved into something much more musically complex, drawing on Joe's deep Pub-rock roots as well as Mick's love of glam, and by London Calling were a very different act.

OK---I see where the Clash had four members just like the Ramones. The similarities pretty much stop there for me

Love them both

jj325: OK---I see where the Clash had four members just like the Ramones

In their early days they had five.

HappyHarryHardOn: ...then the Ramones ripped off the dictators, which doesn't matter because Iggy Pop came first anyways, but then there's Lou Reed who came along with a fair dose of nihilism ahead of everybody, then there's the Monks who are a case into themselves, but then there's 50s rockabilly like Hasil Adkins who was already singing about cutting off heads and putting em on the walls, but then there's Leadbelly, who recorded songs from prison in the early 20s....

What's the question again?

Just what I came to say...

/Good knowledge

Malcolm_Sex: Do explain how the Ramones ripped off the dictators?

The Ramones went to tons of DIctators gigs and always claimed them as major influences. Lyric-wise especially, as The Ramones were not quite good enough to ape them musically, but they did try: Were do you think their cover of "California Sun" comes from? Yep, the Dictators (who didn't write it themselves, i know)

As for the Clash ripping off Ramones, if you listen to the guitar intros of "WHite Riot" and "Career Opportunities" for exaple, and consider that they were listening avidly (so did the Pistols) to Ramones first album, you can totally hear the Ramones seeping in there

Important trivia: THe RAmones did their first UK gig in July 1976, at The Roundhouse, a good year before Clash and Pistols released their album: And guess who was waiting backstage like little groupies?

Yep, all members of the clash and the pistols


/thanks for covering for me DYNAMITE MONKEY, I tried to cover best I could for you , at yesterday's SEx Pistols thread you missed :)

Have any of you guys actually listened to these guys? They don't sound alike.........

i could totally hear Joey Ramone singing "Safe European Home"

It's funny, I never thought of that but they are very similar.

/not really bothered
//it's all about the music in the end

The Dynamite Monkey: Juice Lawson: The Clash were "inspired" by the approach the Sex Pistols and Malcolm McClaren took - There is almost zero in terms of musical influence

Almost zero, except for the tempos, chord progressions, guitar sounds, lyrical content, situationist political influence, clothing styles, haricut styles, and nearly everything else. And their manager, Bernie Rhodes, was also involved in the Pistol's early management, and used the same template.

Other than that, almost zero musical influence. ;-)


Mmmm. Lyrical content? Situational Political influence? Clothing Styles? Haircuts? No. That's totally wrong.

I thought The Clash took more from The Kinks, at least chordwise, on their first album.

Juice Lawson: Mmmm. Lyrical content? Situational Political influence? Clothing Styles? Haircuts? No. That's totally wrong.

Not Situational. Situationist. Macolm and Bernie were both very into this philosophy, and it guided their management styles and the way they promoted their acts.

It's generally better to know what you are talking about before you type. The Google is your pal.

I think the thing about the Ramones is: you had to be there.

The Dynamite Monkey: Juice Lawson: Mmmm. Lyrical content? Situational Political influence? Clothing Styles? Haircuts? No. That's totally wrong.

Not Situational. Situationist. Macolm and Bernie were both very into this philosophy, and it guided their management styles and the way they promoted their acts.

It's generally better to know what you are talking about before you type. The Google is your pal.

You what? You are absolutely right. Rather than actually growing up in West London in the 70's and 80's, and listening to the music as it happened, I agree, I should form my opinions based on Google searches. I stand corrected, and somewhat humbled.

Juice Lawson: You what? You are absolutely right. Rather than actually growing up in West London in the 70's and 80's, and listening to the music as it happened, I agree, I should form my opinions based on Google searches. I stand corrected, and somewhat humbled.

So... because of the geography of your birth you are able to type whatever misinformed crap you want and not be held accountable?

Man I wish that held true for my American History courses in college.

The Ramones aren't worthy to hold the collective gobs of spit of the Clash. Suck it Subby.

//I live by the River

The Viewer: The Ramones aren't worthy to hold the collective gobs of spit of the Clash.

Woody Mellor would have disagreed with you.

Gentlemen:

Why are you all wasting your strength on a flame war over nonsense when Nickelback is still allowed to walk the streets?

Mick Jones,'you're my guitar hero'.

Loves Mick despite him looking more like Albert Steptoe these days.

/Likes Carbon/Silicon.