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Book Nook: Punk Rock Blitzkrieg - My Life As a Ramone, by Marky Ramone

The Ramones were one of the most influential of the American punk rock bands of 30 years ago. The band originally consisted of four young men from suburban New York City. They decided to call themselves the Ramones and every member of the band used that name of Ramone. There was Joey Ramone, and Johnny Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, and so on.

Marky Ramone was not one of the original band members. He was a drummer from Brooklyn. Over the course of the band's history the drummer's slot was the one that turned over the most. Marky replaced the original drummer. Some years later he got booted out of the band. But they could not find a satisfactory replacement and eventually he was invited back.

The original Ramones are all dead now. But Marky is still around and he has some stories to tell. Marky's memoir "Punk Rock Blitzkrieg - My Life As a Ramone" has that "fly on the wall" aspect. Marky observed. Marky remembered. Marky documented his time with the band. The result is this fascinating snapshot of a group of guys who played really fast and very aggressively. Marky kept that steady beat. Johnny and Joey were like oil and water, they didn't get along. Dee Dee never found a drug he didn't want to consume in massive quantities. Now they are music legends and Marky is the last man standing.

Vick Mickunas introduced the Book Nook author interview program for WYSO in 1994. Over the years he has produced more than 1500 interviews with writers, musicians, poets, politicians, and celebrities. Listen to the Book Nook with Vick Mickunas for intimate conversations about books with the writers who create them. Vick Mickunas reviews books for the Dayton Daily News and the Springfield News Sun.