Happy birthday, Dee Dee Ramone

Dee Dee Ramone, The Ramones

Happy birthday, Dee Dee Ramone...
Born Douglas Glenn Colvin on September 18 1951 (died on June 5 2002) in Fort Lee, Virginia, US, Dee Dee Ramone was a songwriter and musician best known as bassist, songwriter and founding member of the Ramones.
Because of his father's military service, his family relocated often when he was a kid.
He was 15 when he moved to Forest Hills, New York, with his mother and sister. It's there that he met John Cummings (Johnny Ramone) and Thomas Erdelyi (Tommy Ramone). Dee Dee quickly became friends with Johnny who convinced him to form their own band with Jeffrey Hyman (Joey Ramone) in 1974.
Originally, Dee Dee was supposed to be bassist and singer and Joey drummer. Yet, Dee Dee couldn't sing and play bass at the same time so Joey switched from drums to lead vocals. Then the band unsuccessfully auditionned many drummers and Tommy Ramone eventually became their drummer.
It's Dee Dee who counts off each song's tempo with his rapid shout of "1-2-3-4!". It's also him who suggested to name the band the Ramones and that they should all take the surname Ramone, after reading that in The Beatles' early days, Paul McCartney used the name Paul Ramon.
Dee Dee was the band's most prolific songwriter. He wrote many of the band's most known songs like 53rd & 3rd, Rockaway Beach, Poison Heart...
In 1975, with Richard Hell, he wrote the song Chinese Rocks, which was originally recorded by Johnny Thunders and The Heartbreakers since Johnny Ramone wasn't very enthusiastic about the Ramones doing songs about drugs.
Dee Dee quited the band in 1989 but he kept on writing songs for them.
The same year, he released a hip hop album, Standing in the Spotlight, under the name Dee Dee King. The album was a commercial failure and Dee Dee returned to punk rock.
In 1991, he briefly played guitar for GG Allin's band The Murder Junkies.
The year after, he formed a short lived project named Dee Dee Ramone and the Chinese Dragons.
His most successful post-Ramones project was the band Dee Dee Ramone I.C.L.C. (Inter-Celestial Light Commune) (1994-1996). The band released two albums: "Chinese Bitch" EP (1994) and I Hate Freaks Like You (1994).
In 1996, with Marky Ramone (drums), Barbara Zampini (Dee Dee's wife)(bass, vocals) and C. J. Ramone (guitar, vocals), Dee Dee (vocals, guitar) founded The Ramainz (tribute band to the Ramones).
Dee Dee also released solo albums under the name Dee Dee Ramone : Zonked! (1997), Hop Around (2000), Greatest & Lastest (2000).
In 2002, when the Ramones were inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Dee Dee attended the ceremony with Tommy Ramone, Johnny Ramone and Marky Ramone.
On June 5 2002, Dee was found dead from a heroin overdose at his home in Hollywood.
His book, Legend of a Rock Star, A Memoir: The Last Testament of Dee Dee Ramone, written in 2001, was released in 2003.
Rock in peace, Dee Dee Ramone!

Dee Dee Ramone and Barbara Zampini

from left: Dee Dee, Johnny, Tommy and Marky Ramone, seen at the 2002 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction - Photography by Ed Betz, The Associated Press

[french version :
Joyeux anniversaire, Dee Dee Ramone ...
Né Douglas Glenn Colvin le 18 septembre 1951 (décédé le 5 juin 2002) à Fort Lee, Virginie, US, Dee Dee Ramone est un auteur-compositeur et musicien mieux connu en tant que bassiste, auteur-compositeur et membre fondateur des Ramones.
A cause du travail de son père dans l'armée, sa famille déménage beaucoup durant son enfance.
Quand il a 15 ans, il déménage à Forest Hills, New York, avec sa mère et sa soeur. C'est là qu'il rencontre John Cummings (Johnny Ramone) et Thomas Erdelyi (Tommy Ramone). Dee Dee devient rapidement ami avec Johnny qui le convainc de former leur propre groupe avec Jeffrey Hyman (Joey Ramone) en 1974.
A la base, Dee Dee doit être chanteur et bassiste et Joey batteur. Cependant, Dee Dee ne peut pas chanter et jouer en même. Joey passe donc de la batterie au chant. Après cela, le groupe audtionne de nombreux batteurs sans succèes et c'est finalement Tommy Ramone qui devient leur batteur.
C'est Dee Dee qui compte le tempo de chaque chanson avec son rapide "1-2-3-4!". C'est aussi lui qui suggère d'appeler le groupe Ramones et que les membres prennent le nom de famille Ramone, après avoir lu que durant les débuts de The Beatles, Paul McCartney avait utilisé le nom Paul Ramon.
Dee Dee est l'auteur-compositeur le plus prolifique du groupe. Il a écrit beaucoup des chansons les plus connues du groupe comme 53rd & 3rd, Rockaway Beach, Poison Heart...
En 1975, avec Richard Hell, il écrit la chanson Chinese Rocks, qui est dans un premier temps enregistrée par Johnny Thunders and The Heartbreakers étant donné que Johnny Ramone n'est pas très enthousiaste à l'idée que les Ramones enregistrent des chansons parlant de drogues.
Dee Dee quitte le groupe en 1989 mais continue à écrire des chansons pour eux.
La même année, il sort un album hip hop, Standing in the Spotlight, sous le nom de Dee Dee King. L'album est un échec commercial et Dee Dee décide de se remettre au punk rock.
En 1991, il joue brièvement de la guitar pour le groupe de GG Allin, The Murder Junkies.
L'année d'après, il forme le groupe Dee Dee Ramone and the Chinese Dragons.
Son projet ayant connu le plus de succès après les Ramones est le groupe Dee Dee Ramone I.C.L.C. (Inter-Celestial Light Commune) (1994-1996). Le groupe sort deux albums : "Chinese Bitch" EP (1994) et I Hate Freaks Like You (1994).
En 1996, avec Marky Ramone (batterie), Barbara Zampini (épouse de Dee Dee)(basse, chant) et C. J. Ramone (guitare, chant), Dee Dee (chant, guitare) forme le groupe The Ramainz (groupe hommage aux Ramones).
Dee Dee sort aussi des albums sous le nom de Dee Dee Ramone : Zonked! (1997), Hop Around (2000), Greatest & Lastest (2000).
En 2002, quand les Ramones sont introduits au Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Dee assiste à la cérémonie avec Tommy Ramone, Johnny Ramone et Marky Ramone.
Le 5 juin 2002, il est retrouvé mort d'une overdose d'héroïne chez lui à Hollywood.
Son livre, Legend of a Rock Star, A Memoir: The Last Testament of Dee Dee Ramone, écrit en 2001, est publié en 2003.
Repose en paix, Dee Dee Ramone !]

Dee Dee Ramone, CW Saloon, San Francisco (2001) - credit: Neil Motteram

Dee Dee Ramone, The Ramones

Dee Dee Ramone, The Ramones

Dee Dee Ramone, The Ramones (1984) - Nassau Community College on Long Island, NY - credit: Barry Kay

Dee Dee Ramone, The Ramones

Dee Dee Ramone, The Ramones (1979) - Photo by Brad Elterman

Dee Dee Ramone, The Ramones, NYC - photo by Stephanie Chernikowski

Dee Dee Ramone, The Ramones - on stage at CBGBs in New York City

Dee Dee Ramone, The Ramones

Dee Dee Ramone, The Ramones

Dee Dee Ramone, The Ramones

Dee Dee Ramone, The Ramones

Dee Dee Ramone, The Ramones

Dee Dee Ramone, The Ramones - Live at Hammersmith Odeon (1978) - photo: Janette Beckman

Dee Dee Ramone, The Ramones at the Whisky a Go-Go (1978) - credit: Mike Murphy

Dee Dee Ramone, The Ramones (1977) - New York City

Dee Dee Ramone, The Ramones

Dee Dee Ramone, The Ramones (1976) - photo by Tom Hearn

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sources: The Official Homepage Of The Ramones | The Ramones on facebook | The Ramones on twitter | calgaryherald.com | Barry Kay on flickr | Neil Motteram on flickr | metro.us | slappyto.net | sonicmoremusic.wordpress.com | suicidewatch.tumblr.com | google+ | independentmusicnews.co.uk | zombiesenelghetto.tumblr.com | taringa.net | twitter.com | triplepop.com | misteriosdelaplata.blogspot.com | georgebennettphoto.com | wikipedia

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