Joey Ramone, the tall one with the dark glasses and torn jeans... died on Easter Sunday - April 15, 2001 - having been hospitalized in March with lymphoma. He was 49. He was born Jeffrey Hyman, and his career started during the early 1970s glam-rock era, when he played in several New York bands, but it was his eventual association with The Ramones - out of Queens, that really led to a unique & enduring musical legacy.
Shonen Knife were longtime fans of the Ramones. The signature live guitar sound of Shonen Knife owed a lot to the power-driven music of the Ramones, and since their beginnings in 1982 - Shonen Knife pushed for that driving, hard-edge rock style. Bands like the Clash and the Sex Pistols - also took their cues from the innovative, 3-power-chord pedal-to-the-metal beat that was The Ramones. They spurred the Punk Rock scene worldwide. Recalling early photos of the Beatles, in their early 60s Cavern Club days in Germany, one can see the roots of their rebellion reborn in the Ramones, who were at the heart of the New York Scene in the 70s. A whole new generation of "Rock Kids" in other countries also adopted their style... and it was nowhere more evident - than in Japan!
The Ramones were guitar Gods there, and really good, original bands such as Shonen Knife, Lolita No. 18 and Guitar Wolf - all got into the groove of their influence & took it worldwide as a cultural mix of East and West. Guitar Wolf garnered a lot of attention with their US Tours in the late 90s... one of only a few male groups from Japan to do so. Joey Ramone & Daniel Rey recorded & produced the Japanese Female punk group, Lolita No. 18 album, "Fubo Love NY" in New York in 1999. Shonen Knife performed with the Ramones when Joey & the band toured in Japan, and later made a surprise appearance at a special "live Jam" with Joey Ramone & the Independents - at the Troubadour in L.A., while on their U.S. Happy Hour Tour of 1998. Later, back in Japan, Shonen Knife did a live show in Tokyo in 1998, doing all-Ramones cover tunes and billing themselves as "The Osaka Ramones" - a title which Joey used himself when introducing them onstage at the Troubadour jam on 8/20/98. Amazingly, a long-time friend of Shonen Knife in Japan, Mamiko Nakagawa... had previously drawn a graphic representation of "Shonen Knife as The Ramones" around 1996 - for an early Shonen Knife Fan Page on the Net there!
Upon learning of Joey's passing, Lead singer/Guitarist for Shonen Knife, Naoko Yamano, said simply:
"I was surprised about Joey. I'm sad. He was very kind to us... He died but his music is forever. I want to play 'Osaka Ramones' again. Osaka Ramones is a cover band of the Ramones by members of Shonen Knife - we had one show in Tokyo a few years ago."
We owe a great deal to Joey & the Ramones. "They changed the world of music. They rescued rock and roll from pretentiousness and unnecessary adornments," said Arturo Vega, the Ramone's longtime artistic director.
As fans of Shonen Knife - we will remember Joey Ramone... his humor and spirit - and the influence his music had on other truly great bands - around the world. I hope we will get to hear "The Osaka Ramones" live again. It would be a fitting tribute.
George Ojisan... April 16, 2001.
On August 20, 1998 - Shonen Knife joined Joey Ramone & the Independents on stage at the (famed) Troubadour club in W. Los Angeles for a wild jam on (2) of the Ramone's big hits! It was barely announced in advance - the Headliner's for the night were Latino faves VooDoo Glow Skulls along with Welt. The show was sold out early. Joey Ramone was actively producing sessions for new bands in New York, including Sister Records Japanese female band, Lolita No. 18. The added attraction of Joey performing with a band he is producing, The Independents added star-power to the mix. But, when Joey Ramone introduced Shonen Knife as "The Osaka Ramones", and they came on stage - the crowd went wild! They proceeded to power through (2) great Ramones numbers, "I Wanna Be Sedated" (recorded by Shonen Knife for their MCA Victor Japanese re-issue of their original "Burning Farm" album) and "Blitzkreig Bop". The action on the dance floor, was later recalled by Joey - in a followup guest interview with Rodney Bingenheimer... on the KROQ-FM Radio Show: "Rodney on the Rock". Joey said Shonen Knife "were great" & the club had told him their "Jam" together on the 20th... generated the "heaviest mosh scene" they'd ever witnessed in the history of the Troubadour!
Later, on August 25 - Shonen Knife were introduced to the stage at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City, by Markey Ramone - who later joined them to play drums! Atsuko moved to the front of the stage, MUCH to the delight of the Fans. Here is a photo of that event - Shonen Knife w/Markey Ramone on Drums! (Special thanks to Bob Bagley in NYC for the photo!)
- The Shonen Knife NeXuS - Los Angeles!
- Search For More Information.