I frequently doubted I could make it through the book on that basis alone.īut if the book is about Dee Dee and far less about the Ramones, it's vague and sketchy even on that level. And be prepared: This is punk rock, drug-driven beat writing, for all intents and purposes. Better not to analyze that one too deeply, even if it's clear that much of what's contained in the book simply couldn't have happened the way he explains it. Hard to believe, but Dee Dee admits himself that his memories are vague or missing, and he himself wonders what is real and what is drug-fueled fantasy. If you can stand the ugliness, there's some insane stories along the way. I nearly quit several times, unable to take it. On that level, this becomes an ugly, tedious read. That, and expressing complete disgust with life and trying to find the will to live. Instead, it was about Dee Dee, and for Dee Dee, life was mainly "copping" his daily drug supply. What was even more surprising was how little this book was about the Ramones, or even music in general. That makes the book surreal, like a voice from the grave. So just as you see him turning his life around, cleaning up, and expressing happiness for the first time, you know it's going to be short-lived. And there's the rub: This was written prior to his death, obviously. After recently finishing "I Slept With Joey Ramone" and having my eyes opened to the fact that no, the Ramones weren't cartoon characters, but rather real people with pretty significant problems, I was prepared for this-or so I thought.īut if half of what Dee Dee claims happened to him is true, I don't know how he survived as long as he did, let alone manage to get on stage night after night and perform. ![]() I knew Dee Dee was the baddest boy in a bad-boy band, drug problems and all. He seemed to clean up his act in the early 1990s and to remain clean for most of that decade. ![]() ![]() He toured the world playing his songs, Ramones songs and some old favorites in small clubs and continued to write songs for the Ramones until 1996, when the band retired.ĭee Dee struggled with drug addiction for much of his life, especially heroin he began using drugs as a teenager, and continued to use for the majority of his adult life. Afterwards, he returned to his punk roots and released three little-known solo albums featuring brand new songs (many were used later on Ramones records). He then left to pursue a short-lived career in hip hop music under the name Dee Dee King. He was the bass guitarist for the group from their formation in 1974 through 1989, although at first he wanted to play the guitar. Though nearly all of the Ramones' songs were credited equally to all the band members, Dee Dee was the group's most prolific lyricist and songwriter, penning songs such as "53rd & 3rd", "Commando", "Rockaway Beach" and "Poison Heart". Dee Dee Ramone, born Douglas Glenn Colvin was a German-American songwriter and bassist, best remembered as a founding member of the punk rock band The Ramones.
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