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New Ramones book entitled Ramones: Soundtrack Of
Our Lives is the result of nearly 5 years worth of work. It is full
of poignant stories that reflect what Joey Ramone (RIP 2001), Dee
Dee Ramone (RIP 2002), Johnny Ramone (RIP 2004), as well as the
rest of the Ramones family have impacted their fans worldwide.
Ramones: Soundtrack Of Our Lives has interviews
and text written by 90 contributors and has 224 pages, and 295 photos/drawings.
This book brings together the Ramones family as never before, there
are interviews by every surviving Ramones member: Ramones drummers
(Tommy Ramone, Marky Ramone, and Richie Ramone), bassist CJ Ramone,
and Johnny Ramone's wife Linda Cummings. The introduction is written
by Tommy Ramone.
Reluctant to offer fans stories which have been
relayed thousands of times before, author and Ramones webmaster
Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone provides new information about the band.
His focus is on the Ramones impact on the history of Rock N'Roll.
This work is best described as a tribute book. Other Ramones publications
have dwelt too much on the fights, problems and other negative aspects
of the Ramones musical legacy. Lacking are the positive stories
that are integral to the Ramones history. Jari-Pekka offers candid
and positive opinions and stories from people who were influenced
musically and inspired by the Ramones.
Contributors to Ramones: Soundtrack Of Our Lives
include Seymour Stein (founder of Sire Records), Hilly Kristal (founder
of the CBGB's club), Rodney Bingenheimer (radioDJ/ KROQ-FM) and
Maria Montoya-Kaye, Walter Lure (Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers,
Waldos), Wayne Kramer (MC5/DKT), Andy Shernoff (The Dictators),
Glen Kolotkin (producer), Noah "Noki" Citrin (an important
friend to Joey Ramone in the 60's), and Bam Margera (Jackass).
Ramones: Soundtrack Of Our Lives also features stories
and recollections from all kinds of musicians, including Punk Legends
and pioneers such as Dez Cadena (Misfits, Black Flag, DC3), Henry
Rollins (Black Flag, Rollins Band), Charlie Harper (UK Subs), Glen
Matlock (Sex Pistols, The Philistines), and Vinny Stigma, and Roger
Miret (Agnostic Front).
Other Punk and Rock'n'Roll bands contributing are: Rob Wright (NoMeansNo
and The Hanson Brothers), Andy Cairns (Therapy?), Kenny Håkansson,
Nick Royale, and Robban Eriksson (The Hellacopters), Bela B. (solo
artist, Die Ärzte), Bumblefoot (Guns N'Roses), Happy-Tom and
Euroboy (Turbonegro), Johan Blomqvist (Backyard Babies), and Tom
Wisniewski (MxPx).
Also included are several Heavy Metalists recalling
their reverence & love for the Ramones. Among them are Frank
Watkins (Obituary/ Gorgoroth), Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth), Phil
Campbell (Motörhead), Jon Larsen (Volbeat), Miland "Mille"
Petrozza (Kreator), and Ricky Warwick (Almighty).
Jari-Pekka has been dedicated to running the biggest
and most updated Ramones homepage since 1995 (http://ramones.kauhajoki.fi),
and has authored the books, Heaven Needed A Lead Singer: Fans Remember
Joey Ramone (2002), and Rock In Peace: Dee Dee And Joey Ramone (2004).
"I am happy to get the chance to show Ramones fans lots of
unreleased photos and drawings prepared exclusively for this book"
Jari-Pekka Laitio Ramone states. This book has never-before-released
photos and drawings by people like Jenny Lens, George DuBose, and
Bobby London
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