The Joey Ramone Collection

The famed Ramones front man and countercultural icon who defined punk for a generation, Joey Ramone is a larger-than-life figure in the history of rock music. The Ramones burst onto the New York music scene and took it by storm?their unbridled energy and frenetic pace was unlike anything that had come before. Most of their songs were under two minutes, and entire sets might last only twenty. Joey Ramone was crucial to their initial success?he was the one front man on the burgeoning New York punk scene that was unique, the rest mere carbon copies of each other. He had a distinct style?long black hair, leather jacket, sunglasses?to match what would become one of the most recognizable voices in punk.

It is hard to quantify the lasting effect of the Ramones on music and culture in general. Music historian Jon Savage wrote that their debut album ?remains one of the few records that changed pop forever,? while critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine declared that their ?first four albums set the blueprint for punk.? In an article for Slate, Douglas Wolk named the Ramones ?easily the most influential group of the last 30 years.? Of all members of the band, Joey Ramone stands out in particular?he was the face of the group and molded their unique sound. In remembering Ramone, MTV called him the ?iconic godfather of punk.? It is not often that the opportunity arises to purchase items directly from a legend?s estate, and these items come with impeccable provenance?directly from Ramone?s brother and sometime musical partner, Mickey Leigh. In addition to working on his own projects, Leigh recorded backing vocals for a number of Ramones songs, including ?Blitzkrieg Bop.?