Mark On Marky: The End Of The ‘70s, The End Of The Century

Editors Note: With Skidmore’s Student Entertainment Company hosting drummer Marky Ramone of the legendary punk rock group The Ramones next Wednesday, March 26 at 7 p.m. in Gannett Auditorium, we asked our resident expert on all things 80s to share his thoughts. The show is free to the public. SARATOGA SPRINGS – For some, records are a thing of the past yet audiophiles still seek them out. I am one such throwback. Recently I procured an intriguing pressing titled “Rock 80” from K-TEL records. This gem doesn’t represent much in collector’s value; it’s all about the music - “a killer, cut after cut, in tune with the 80s” as, claimed by the commercial. (Scan the QR code to see the original TV ad.) Wow, what a playlist! Rock 80 is deceiving by title since many of the songs topped the charts in ’79 like Cruel to be Kind from Nick Lowe and I Want You to Want Me by Cheap Trick. Blondie is also featured here as well as the fem rocker who would trump Ms. Harry for the remainder of the 80s-Pat Benatar. New wave splashes into the 80s as synthesizer tremolo introduces the lead track, Cars by Gary Newman. A familiar chant opens the flip side of this record “Rock’n, Rock’n’ Roll Radio LETS GO”. Yes indeed, The Ramones! It was no surprise to find the Ramones among the big hit makers at a time when new wave and punk were vying for popular audience. At this point the Ramones were four years beyond their 1976 self-titled album. Synth-driven new wave would drown out punk and dampen the success of bands like the Ramones into the new decade, especially in the wake of the MTV generation and a conservative Reagan era. It wasn’t until the ‘90s that punk would once again find mainstream popularity with bands like Green Day, Rancid, and The Offspring – all influenced by the Ramones. Undeterred by lack of commercial success, the Ramones continued to record and toured incessantly until their farewell show in 1996. Album sales consistently lagged even with the help of mastermind producer Phil Spector, who held the Ramones hostage at gunpoint during the recording of the band’s 1979 release End of the Century, featuring the studio debut of band mate Marc Bell aka Marky Ramone. Tracks from that album became staples of their live performance such as Let’s Go and the title song from the film’s namesake- Rock and Roll High School. End of the Century was their best by Billboard measure peaking at number 44. So how is it that these underdogs from Queens became rock legends? Anyone who had the opportunity to catch one of their 2,263 shows over 22 years could answer that question. In case you missed it: Hoards of loyal fans would crowd clubs chanting “Hey Ho, Let’s Go” as the stage filled with smoke. A recording of the western theme The Good, The Bad and The Ugly streamed from speakers in dark venues, until a four count launched a barrage of songs in double time while the audience was pummeled by music and bodies. The boys in black ceaselessly cranked out set lists like a freight train of sound. Their raw intensity was infectious and fans always wanted more. Chances are if you saw them once, you saw them again and again or at least hoped to. They really gave it to the fans. Eighteen years have passed since the Ramones last performed. In that time, three of the founding members have died but not their significance. In 2002 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in more recent times honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Perhaps the best tribute to the band’s legacy is the legion of fans and bands who continue to play their music while “young punks” plunk down their cash for Ramones t-shirts. The band has become a brand.