Commando

I 2002 blev det legendariske newyorker-punkband The Ramones optaget i Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. To år efter døde bandets boss og grundlægger Johnny Ramone af kræft. Inden sin død nåede han at skrive denne selvbiografi, hvori han på brutalt ærlig vis fortæller om det kontroversielle bands mange år på toppen af den amerikanske undergrund. På scenen var han en vild provokatør, men bag scenen holdt han sammen på bandet gennem tykt og tyndt fra starten af 70’erne til midten af 90’erne. Som bandets indpisker og frontmand førte han dem til international succes og sikrede dem den uofficielle titel som punkrockens opfindere. Johnny holdt sig aldrig tilbage i livet, og det gør han heller ikke på bogens sider. Han afslører sine egne problemer med vold, fx da han banker et af de andre bandmedlemmer, fordi han kommer for sent til en biografaftale. Han sviner andre topbands til, han håner The Ramones’ egne musiske evner i de tidlige år, inden de fik styr på sagerne, og han kaster lys over sit venskab med Linda, hans livs kærlighed. 'Commando' er Johnnys egen historie og historien om The Ramones fortalt på hans egne betingelser – ledsaget af et hav af fotos, hvoraf mange aldrig tidligere har været offentliggjort.

Raised in Queens, where he worked as a plumber while honing his guitar skills, Johnny Ramone eventually became a founding member of The Ramones, one of the most influential rock bands of all time. Often called the first punk rock outfit, their status is now legendary. But despite becoming an international star when he was alive, Johnny never really strayed from his blue-collar roots and attitude. His bouts of delinquency as a kid might have given way to true discipline when it came to keeping the band in line, but he was truly imbued with the angry-young-man spirit that would characterise his persona on and off stage. Johnny was the driving force behind the Ramones, sometimes referred to as a drill sergeant, bringing order and regiment to the band. This was evident in the speed, accuracy and intensity of their music. Johnny kept the band focused and moving forward, ultimately securing their place in rock history. The Ramones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 and two years later, Johnny dies of cancer, outliving the other two founding members and getting the last and complete word. Brutally honest, revealing and touching, this is Johnny Ramones's story and the story of the Ramones from start to finish, told in his own words and on his own terms. In addition to his story, the book will contain Johnny's annotated and graded assessment of the Ramones' albums, a number of eccentric Top Ten Lists; favourite Elvis films, favourite Republicans [Johnny was actually pretty conservative], favourite horror films, pages from his legendary "black books" with notes on concerts, inspirations, anecdotes and scores of black and white and colour photos, many of which have not been published before.

Raised in Queens, where he worked as a plumber while honing his guitar skills, Johnny Ramone eventually became a founding member of The Ramones, one of the most influential rock bands of all time. Often called the first punk rock outfit, their status is now legendary. But despite becoming an international star when he was alive, Johnny never really strayed from his blue-collar roots and attitude. His bouts of delinquency as a kid might have given way to true discipline when it came to keeping the band in line, but he was truly imbued with the angry-young-man spirit that would characterise his persona on and off stage. Johnny was the driving force behind the Ramones, sometimes referred to as a drill sergeant, bringing order and regiment to the band. This was evident in the speed, accuracy and intensity of their music. Johnny kept the band focused and moving forward, ultimately securing their place in rock history. The Ramones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 and two years later, Johnny dies of cancer, outliving the other two founding members and getting the last and complete word. Brutally honest, revealing and touching, this is Johnny Ramones's story and the story of the Ramones from start to finish, told in his own words and on his own terms. In addition to his story, the book will contain Johnny's annotated and graded assessment of the Ramones' albums, a number of eccentric Top Ten Lists; favourite Elvis films, favourite Republicans [Johnny was actually pretty conservative], favourite horror films, pages from his legendary "black books" with notes on concerts, inspirations, anecdotes and scores of black and white and colour photos, many of which have not been published before.