DS Book Club: “Hey! Ho! Let’s Go! The Story of the Ramones” by Everett True

This year we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of The Ramones‘ self-titled debut released in 1976. While the history and trajectory of the band may be similar to the rock ‘n’ roll bands they were rebelling against, the end result was an enduring and undying legacy that still holds strong today. As part of the Omnibus Press Remasters series, Hey! Ho! Let’s Go! The Story of the Ramones chronicles the band and their storied career. Author Everett True’s comprehensive and meticulous research pays off in what should be considered the most complete telling of the band’s origin.

True’s account of the original four, Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, and Tommy, doesn’t spend too much time on their lives as kids, but we do get some info on the members’ pre-Ramones lives. It’s interesting to hear about the band’s early formation and hilarious stories about the band and their beginnings, things like Joey falling over multiple times during their first show and Dee Dee stepping on and snapping the neck of his bass right before they had to go on.

The chapters move fast despite the amount of info given and how slow time moves in the narrative of the Ramones story. Everett True’s writing feels relaxed despite this. He lets us bask in what it was like to be a Ramone even when the relationships deteriorate and the band splinters off. While we all know where the band’s story ends as a group and individually, it’s still a tough ending. We lost the three core Ramones within less than five years of each other and way too early in this lifetime.

There’s a really cool, but short, chapter that has blurbs of the definition of punk, something that usually ends up horribly, but these are given by architects of the genre. People who know what they are talking about because they were there speak about how much that definition is wrapped in the Ramones’ legacy. Quotes from Rodney Bingenheimer, John Holstrom, and some of the Ramones themselves give meaning and feeling to a genre that prides itself on acknowledging neither. It’s one of the charming aspects of this book, of which there are many.

If you’re looking for a warts and all book about the Ramones, this is it. Separating punk rock fact from fiction: the music, the infighting, and lineup changes are all there. The book jumps between the recount of the band’s history from people in the scene to Everett True’s experiences and thoughts with the band’s music, but also addresses every rumor and myth about the band including Dee Dee’s time as a prostitute and the disintegration of Johnny and Joey’s relationship by giving perspective from the people directly involved.

True’s meticulous work and research do not go unnoticed. This is hands down the best book about the Ramones’ story. Conveniently re-released as an Omnibus Press Remaster for the 50th Anniversary of the Ramones’ first album, Hey! Ho! Let’s Go! The Story of the Ramones is the book every Ramones fan should read. Not only does it help give a picture of the band’s musical career, it tells the story of the band that defined a genre. Pick up Hey! Ho! Let’s Go! The Story of the Ramones from Omnibus Press.