Onstage, the Ramones were a family. They dressed the same, had the same hair color, and shared the same last name. They had the same thoughts, the same energy. There was a sort of pleasurable spirit that overcame the crowd when the Ramones played. However, offstage, it was a completely different story. After their shows, the band would climb back into their van and drive off in silence.
Photo by Brad Elterman, Shutterstock / Source: Twitter / Photo by Gerald Barry Wolfe, Shutterstock
Two band members, Joey and Johnny, rarely spoke to each other during their 22-year career. This was the bitter reality for a band that may not have invented punk but effectively defined it. To make matters worse, most of the music world rejected them, while others saw them as a bad joke that had run its course.
This is the story of the Ramones.