Monday, September 24, 2012

Who called the Ramones a 'bumptious band of degenerate no-talents'?

In case that you haven't seen this yet (I first spotted it Friday over at Flaming Pablum, and the item is making the rounds) ... a little afternoon entertainment via a July 1976 issue of UK weekly music newspaper Melody Maker.

The author did not care for The Ramones, saying that the only place for their "notoriously discordant music is the sweaty downtown Manhattan dives to which they are no doubt accustomed."

At author at the time was 17-year-old Steve Morrissey, who would grow up one day to save fainting woman at the Strand. And front the Smiths and enjoy a successful solo career.

[Click to enlarge image]

Per Buzzfeed, you can buy the issue on eBay ... going for $56.89.
at

10 comments:

  1. esquared™September 24, 2012 at 3:09 PM

    Heaven knows he was just miserable then.

    ReplyDelete
  2. GojiraSeptember 24, 2012 at 4:36 PM

    I first saw The Ramones in August 1976 (still have the ticket stub), and still miss seeing them play. I would not know what Morrisey or The Smiths sounded like if I was locked in a room with their music, nor would I particularly care to familiarize myself with the yodelings of such a smug, self-satisfied know-nothing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousSeptember 24, 2012 at 4:40 PM

    An early version of Bieber-hating.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mike NSeptember 24, 2012 at 5:15 PM

    Wasn't he president of the NY Dolls fan club? Like there was THAT big of a difference between the two? (coming from a fan of both bands)

    ReplyDelete
  5. nygrumpSeptember 24, 2012 at 5:40 PM

    I don't think any of us can really imagine how novel the Ramones sounded at that time. Although I still think everything after Rocket to Russia is lame.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousSeptember 24, 2012 at 7:32 PM

    Gonna have to agree with the mozz on this one.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousSeptember 24, 2012 at 7:34 PM

    I disagree about the Ramones but love the way the review's written. How many seventeen year olds have that kind of integrity and conviction, and the eloquence and perspicacity to express it so clearly. Let's face it the teens of today suck.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Pumpkin PatchSeptember 24, 2012 at 8:42 PM

    Anon 7:34pm,

    It reads like a typical opinion piece in about any high school newspaper. Random words strung together trying to hide a lack of content.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousSeptember 24, 2012 at 9:22 PM

    Is he really that far off the mark? The Ramones sound was very revolutionary in its simplicity of a few repeated chords and vocals- many people might not have been impressed with when they first came out.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Pumpkin PatchSeptember 25, 2012 at 9:00 AM

    But he is conflating "simplicity" with incompetence. Which is a ridiculous thing to do.

    The Ramones were very competent at what they did.

    ReplyDelete

Your remarks and lively debates are welcome, whether supportive or critical of the views herein. Your articulate, well-informed remarks that are relevant to an article are welcome.

However, commentary that is intended to "flame" or attack, that contains violence, racist comments and potential libel will not be published. Facts are helpful.

If you'd like to make personal attacks and libelous claims against people and businesses, then you may do so on your own social media accounts. Also, comments predicting when a new business will close ("I give it six weeks") will not be approved.