Eu dormi com Joey Ramone: Memórias de uma família punk rock

by Mickey Leigh, Legs McNeil

Quando os Ramones gravaram seu primeiro disco, em 1976, prenunciaram o nascimento do punk rock. E foi Joey Ramone, o inesquecível vocalista de timbre grave, óculos de aros circulares e cabelos sobre o rosto, quem deu voz a uma geração de jovens descontentes durante os anos 70 e 80, influenciando de maneira decisiva a contracultura nas décadas que viriam.

Com honestidade, humor e leveza, Mickey Leigh, o irmão de Joey, compartilha um olhar íntimo e fascinante sobre a vida turbulenta deste que foi um dos maiores e mais improváveis ícones da música de todos os tempos. Eu dormi com Joey Ramone: memórias de uma família punk rock é a história de um homem que lutou para achar a sua própria voz e seu irmão que o amava.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, Punk, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Rock N Roll

502 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Gabrielle (Reading Rampage) · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the endless (and ultimately pointless) “The Ramones vs. The Clash” debate about which is the better band, I am definitely team Clash – and in my case, it’s really a simple question of personal preference. But as it so happens, I love both bands (I also love “Star Wars” AND “Star Trek”, which, apparently, makes me an agent of nerdy chaos, but I digress), and listen to them all the time. There is a comfort to putting on my headphones and blasting “Sheena is a Punk Rocker” way too loud that I will never grow out of. This book had been sitting on my shelf for a while when I heard that Netflix was making a biopic of Joey Ramone based on it – with Pete Davidson in the lead role, of all people. I felt like I just had to read it now, so I could get righteously annoyed with the movie when it comes out. Or pleasantly surprised? I guess we’ll see…

I knew a few things about the history of the Ramones, but not a ton of stuff. I knew they were from Forest Hill, that they had been one of the first band to play CBGB and are generally recognized as the original American punk band; that despite sharing a family name on stage, the members of the band had rife, if not openly hostile, relationships with each other (Johnny Ramone famously “stole” Joey Ramone’s girlfriend and married her, among other causes for hostility) and that while they toured and recorded pretty much non-stop for twenty years, they never got the financial or industry success they rightfully deserved, given the incredible influence they have had. And all that is true, but it is very interesting to read about it through the perspective of Joey’s younger brother Mickey, who roadied for the Ramones for a long time before working on his own musical career.

Let’s get this out of the way: Mickey very clearly loved his brother, but it is painfully obvious that he has a massive chip on his shoulder about never having been able to get recognition in his own right as a musician, and having had to live in his brother’s shadow his whole life. He tries to be fair, he talks a lot about hindsight, but the fact of the matter is, the resentment is right there on the page. I understand that there is no such thing as a purely objective narrator, of course, but his whining and trashing of other bands (he clearly thinks the Ramones were the best and that other punk bands were idiots, posers or ripping off his brother’s band) sours the whole thing. I will actually be looking into other books on the Ramones, just to get a less biased point of view on the early punk scene (yes, he kind of disses the Clash, which is just not something that sits well with me, sue me). I do give him huge credit for the very moving last couple of chapters, about Joey's last few weeks and fight against the cancer that ended up taking his life just before his 50th birthday: he conveys his heartbreak at losing his older brother just after patching things up in a very poignant way, and it can't have been easy to put on paper.

I knew that Joey Ramone suffered from OCD, but I honestly had no idea how bad his struggle with mental health was, as on top of OCD, he had also had a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia when he was fairly young. Considering the toll that being in a band can take on a well-adjusted person’s mental health, I have to admire the resilience he had to carry on the frenetic pace for as long as he did. Clearly, family and girlfriends endured a lot of the collateral damage of his struggle, but I am still impressed. But mostly, I am endeared to the image of a shy and awkward boy who made the most amazing music out of his feelings of alienation, who pushed passed bullying, a messy home life and a fragile health and managed to make himself (and everyone who identified with his music) feel better with the wall of sound and lunacy that are the Ramones’ records.

While this might not be the book I would have wanted it to be, it is an important part of the history of punk rock, but also an interesting look at the reality of being in bands and trying to make it: it’s very, very hard! Functional bands that manage to stick together – not to mention make music and be successful at it, are much more rare than one might think, because being in a band is essentially herding cats and demanding that those cats make huge sacrifices for the band to work. The Ramones made it work despite a lot of odds that should have made it impossible for them to get passed a first gig, and I have enormous admiration for them.

[SarahJayn · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as reading this book, I honestly wish I hadn't. If I hadn't, I could still cling to some of the more romantic notions I had about Joey Ramone . . . and The Ramones in general. Sure, I'd heard the stories before of bitter fights about money, mental illness, etc., but somehow it is different hearing it from Joey's own brother. There's a mist of bitterness in almost every sentence in this tale . . . it gets downright caustic sometimes.
That aside, a smaller (very small) part of me is glad for the honesty. Even in the midst of bitterness, there's really humanity and a sense of loss - - it's almost like he's describing a mourned relationship between brothers that never quite was instead of mourning the brother that he had. There's real love between these two, but throughout the book you're wondering if it is mostly out of obligation or real connection. I think most of the time it's a volatile mix of a little of both.
If you don't mind having one of your heroes taken down a peg or two (or you don't give a shit about The Ramones), this book is a decent read.

[Xixi · Rating 2 out of 5]

What I learned from this book:

Sure SUCKS to be Joey Ramone's brother.

Not only do you get shit on repeatedly by your more famous and troubled older sibling, but your enormous load of potential and talent never fulfills its promise, because your family sabotages it along the way. (And there's no dearth of examples to back up this claim.)

But, alas, all is forgiven now that there's a book around to vindicate the author and clear his name of all the evil rumors his brother had been spreading during their tumultuous relationship. Mickey just wants us to know... he never stopped loving his brother. And essentially, he sacrificed his own musical aspirations to do what was right: to help Jeff.

----------

I guess I would recommend this book if you're interested in Joey Ramone's upbringing. That covers about half of it. But prepare to be smacked in the face with pages upon pages of self-righteous, self-pitying, subdued bitter vignettes about Joey's and the Ramones' life after fame, most of which center around how they did everything in their power to fuck Mickey's music career up despite him helping them out as much as possible. I understand that, yes, this is his book, and inevitably, he can only describe things as he saw it, but halfway through, you get the feeling that this book is not about Joey, but rather about how the humble, down to earth guy-you-can't-help-but-like was swallowed up by a greater calling (to take care of his sickly older brother). What a martyr.

The only way to get through this book is to surrender to the author's self-importance. The amount of time he spends talking about himself and his own bands only increases as the book goes on. I'm sure Mickey Leigh is a perfectly nice and amicable guy, but do I care about him? No, not really. Do I care that Joey Ramone was a dick to everyone who cared about him? Sure, but I don't need it rubbed in my face over and over again.

But, that being said, it was a fast read. Maybe you can borrow this from someone.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeff's brother Mitchell - Joey's brother Mickey - really accomplished something special in this book, a book which is an act of love and a tribute that manages the feat of not being hagiographic. This is, of course, in no small measure due to the able work of Legs McNeil, who can construct a fascinating narrative out of what must be hundreds of hours of conversation, so you have this book which is, by the way, also very informative.

Out of all the Ramones books, this one really does justice to Joey, explaining in a way that only a loving younger brother can, what Joey's life struggle were really about. I think even most fans don't appreciate just how sick Joey was, how much adversity he faced just to get through a day. With the support of a loving family and with his own inner light, twisted talent, and originality, Joey Ramone found the alchemy to survive, to persevere, to transform weakness into strength, the strength to be an original, to be a hero for the weird, and to be a major catalyst in enacting significant cultural change. Joey did this with help - Mickey makes it clear that without the Ramones Joey may well have ended up institutionalized. And yet - the very thing that saved him also served as an unending source of misery to him.

The real tragedy of Joey Ramone's success - and indeed of all the Ramones - is that despite achieving said success and significance, Joey never fully appreciated who and what he was. On some level Joey and the Ramones were trying to be the Who or Led Zeppelin, and they just were not going to be that, and somehow none of them realized it. There was not going to be a hit about Wanna be doing this or not Wanna be doing that. There was not going to be a stadium in the 1970s or 1980s full of people raising their lighters for songs about b-movies and mental illness and UFOs and turning tricks and pain. But precisely because of that, they created something entirely new.

And on top of that, what success they did enjoy - and there was much of it - was tempered by the horrible interpersonal lot of the Ramones, mostly, but not entirely, caused by John. Measured by that, the gap between expectation and reality, Joey Ramone was a failure. He did live to play stadiums and an occasional quarter of a million dollar gig, but his enjoyment of that was tempered by seeing proteges and proteges of proteges passing him by. And through it all, he struggled with disappointing health setbacks and near-crippling OCD, and he never did make it to 50. But that is not the true measure of Joey Ramone, and by every other measure he was a success.

But this is Mickey's book, too, and Mickey has much to say. From childhood Mickey was put in the position of having to nurture and look after his big brother - he even taught Joey to play guitar. Ever a true brother, friend, and support, Mickey was there from the beginning - first fan, first roadie, and even to lend his handclaps, background "oo"s and more in the studio. This last fact was an eventual source of strain between the two brothers, all recounted in gruesome detail here. Mickey is not afraid to let other voices speak, even those who were hostile to him and his account (eg, Daniel Rey). Ultimately, even when Mickey is recounting ways in which Joey did and said extremely hurtful things, he never portrays Joey in an unforgivable light. The love is always there.

One of the lessons of this book is how important family is. Towards the end it wasn't platitudes from Green Day that got Joey through to the other side, but it was his mom and his brother who were there from the beginning.

All of that said, it should not be understated that Joey Ramone was not an unlucky person. He overcame adversity, and dealt with his many problems, but he had much to feel blessed for. He achieved many of his goals, certainly earning the respect of his peers and even his idols (like Phil Spector), to say nothing of adoring students and fans. Unlike Dee Dee Ramone, who is maybe even more of a tragic figure, Joey seems to have achieved solid financial comfort. He was never destroyed by drugs. He was a beloved local figure, highly regarded and treated as important and he knew it. He got to do the things he enjoyed, hosting parties, deejaying, and musically collaborating with artists he liked. He had his family, in which he was the golden boy.

He did not have longevity though - and I cannot understate how weird it was when he was gone, because Joey Ramone as an institution seemed very solidly rooted. Beyond the music, the humanity and special character of a one-of-a-kind original man, will live on and this is in part thanks to Mickey Leigh's loving tribute to his big brother Jeff - I Slept With Joey Ramone.

[Michael Jandrok · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Ramones stand as one of the most influential rock bands of all time. Coalescing in 1974, they came around at an era when rock music had stagnated into noodling solos and a lot of folks riding horses with no names. The Ramones built on the framework provided by proto-punk bands like the Stooges and the MC5, distilling the basic 3-chord song structure down to its most primal level. Their songs were often less than 2 minutes long, all speed and fury. No solos, no posturing, just the amplified essence of what made rock music so liberating and fun in the first place. The Ramones were a direct influence on the Sex Pistols and The Clash, who caught their act when they played London in 1976. All of the band members adopted pseudonyms ending with the surname "Ramone," although none of them were related. They adopted a deliberately “anti-hippie” look and style, wearing leather jackets and jeans in lieu of bell bottoms and flowing caftans. Their music was pure aggression, and they nurtured an attitude to match.

By 2014, all four of the band's original members, lead singer Joey Ramone (1951–2001), bass guitarist Dee Dee Ramone (1951–2002), guitarist Johnny Ramone (1948–2004) and drummer Tommy Ramone (1949–2014), had died.

Any book covering any aspect of the Ramones is due for some scrutiny for the simple fact that a lot of people see this band as something sacred. The Ramones helped to define a generation. They rose above the music to help give voice to an entire lifestyle and attitude, and that's a lot of weight and history to carry around.

Enter Mickey Leigh's book, “I Slept With Joey Ramone.” Mickey is Joey Ramone’s younger brother and a player on the punk and New York music scene in his own right. That fact puts him in a position to give us insights into Joey and the band that no one else could, and I think that to a large degree he succeeds here. His writing is a bit sloppy sometimes, trying to be equal parts autobiography, family memoir, biography of Joey, and chronicle of an evolving music/cultural scene. In the end, though, I think that it mostly works, giving us a raw yet (mostly) loving picture of the extended family dynamics that drove one of the truly original and great rock groups.

It's clear, though, that Mickey is still a bit bitter about some of that family history. He grinds a pretty hard axe on Joey at numerous points during the book, and there were times that it threatened to derail the narrative. The photo section is also inexcusably weak. Surely Mickey could have opened the family vaults just a little bit so as to give us a more intimate look at what his text was describing.

Joey Ramone comes across as a pretty genuine guy. Shy and awkward, he was a nice, though street-savvy presence. Tall and skinny, he and Mickey and the rest of the Ramones would fight their way to a sort of pseudo-stardom. Though The Ramones were never really commercially viable, they were a huge influence on literally hundreds or perhaps thousands of bands to come along in their wake. Joey was truly disappointed that the band never achieved mainstream success.

Overall I believe that this was a worthwhile effort and something that would be worth having if you're a fan of the band or of punk rock in general. Keep in mind that this is written from Mickey's perspective, and as such it's biased. I did get the impression that Mickey truly loved Joey, and wants this book to validate that fact.

Legs McNeil contributed a lot of material to this book, and his involvement helps to give the book added credibility. McNeil co-founded “Punk” magazine back in the day, thus giving a name and a definition to this budding music/social movement. He also wrote “Please Kill Me,” one of the definitive accounts of the development of New York punk rock.

Coda: this is another of my older reviews that I edited and added some material to. My direct memories of this book are not as sharp as they were, but I don’t feel much need to go back and reread it. My clearest recollections are of Mickey and Joey’s childhoods, the sibling rivalry providing for some good stories and reminiscences. I also seem to remember that Mickey Leigh seemed to be a bit bitter in places. He was honest enough to admit that he roadied for The Ramones, but you could tell that he wasn’t too thrilled to be schlepping cabinets and instruments around for his more successful and famous brother and his band. Overall, it was a good read and well worth the time if you’re a fan of The Ramones. It’s bittersweet for me now, knowing that all of the original members of the band have passed away. The Ramones were part and parcel of a special time for me, and they occupy a special place in the cultural history of rock and roll. There are better books on the market about the band, but you could do worse than this one.



.

[Josh Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first encountered this book when my brother tossed it my way saying he didn't want it but i thought It was cool, down to earth and intensively interesting. maybe you must come from the same sort of alien world Joey and His brother Mickey Leigh came from to be as engaged as i was.

Heres a quick Pro's and Cons list of the book's attributes.
On a pro side, you will discover a new love of the Ramones music by reading this book. I found myself looking up obscure tracks from Subterranean Jungle Adios Amigos and Animal Boy and revisiting them or with a new sense of the autobiographical sensibility that ran through the songs. The book gives yopu a good sense of some of the opposing forces that ran through Joey and made him who he was I wish there was as well written a book about Dee Dee.

You will learn more about the fascination with Nazi themes that ran through the band's lyrics.about how the The Ramones dealt with the rise of hard core in punk rock and watch the members face drug addiction, exiting members, middle age and every other celebrated conflict throughout their career.

On a con side, Mickey sounds as potentially self deluded as any one writing a memoir. You cant trust guys who have another chance to set the record straight and make themselves out to be noble and justified. Every answer Mickey gives about his strained relationship with Joey raises more questions about what the other side of the story may be. Joey at times comes off as selfish, immature and jealous of Mickey's potential success, while Mickey is always steadfast and a sort of sympathetic underdog, and it all seems a little hard to take at face value. But Mickey also clearly loves and respects his brother and the flaws are probably inevitable with this type of book. Good for Mickey for writing it.

[Nestor Rychtyckyj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Along with Johnny Ramones autobiograohy, the Joey Ramone memoir writtne by Mickey Leigh (Joey's brother) and Legs McNeil (of Please Kill Ne and Punk magazine) is essential to trying to understand the Ramones. These 4 guys managed to start a rock & roll revolution that is still reverberating 35 years later. This book is acually more about Mickey & Joey than it is about Joey and Johnny or Dee Dee.
The book is hard to put down - in many ways Joey's sucess with the Ramones is shown as a counter to Mickey's lack of success in the same field. Each time Mickey's bands are on the verge of some sucess - it comes craahing down. We all know how the story will tutn out, but it's hard to take. I often wonder why Mickey didn't become a lawyer or an engineer and not have to compared to and always known as Joey's brother.
Mickey's relations with Johhny Ramone aren't much better and its painful to see how Joey failed to stand up for his brother when Mickey tried to get credit (and payment) for his contributions to the Ramones.
In the end Mickey and Joey were brothers and they reconciled their differences (as Joey & Johnny never did). Mickey has worked tirelessly to keep his brother's legacy alive with the excellent solo album that was released earlier this year.

In the end I gave both the Joey & Johnny books only 4 stars. Is there anything wrong with the books - no, I loved them both. Maybe, I just did not want to know all the details about the petty bickering, inability to hold conversations and other skeletons in the Ramones closet. I guess that I wanted to be lile Riff Randall in Rock & Roll High School - believing that the Ramones are 4 brothers who get along and are the greatest band in the world.

Gabba Gabb Hey!
RIP Joey!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

a few things:
If you're a hardcore Ramones fan (like myself), be prepared to cry. ALOT.
If you just start reading it, keep reading, don't stop, read all the thank you's in the back, read the print information, the author info. Just keep reading.
You will love this book like i did and the only thing that's keeping it from a full 5 is the unavoidable ending. Call me cheesy, but it really was a tear jerker. it was a perfect add to my collection and really opened my eyes to the chemistry of the band, and it points to some milestones in both Mickey Leigh's and Joey's lives. from one fan to another, it's a just a good book.

[Christopher Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Have re-read every Ramones rock bio several times, but had not been able to crack this open despite owning it for 10 years, knowing it would expose a very troubled and lifelong ailing Joey. Until now.
So many vague and poorly written/researched stories in the press over the last 4 decades alluding to the mystery of Joey Ramone.
I Spent a lifetime as a die hard Ramones fan. I knew this memoir would be a difficult work to process and accept, as it is a pulling back of the curtain by Joey’s brother; and would be hitting home on many levels 😔
Put on your Ramones records, sit back, and read this book!🖤🖤🖤

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started 2/23/10.
Finished 3/3/10.

First of all, I was never a HUGE Ramones fan. I like the Ramones and I have a shit-ton of respect for what they accomplished in breaking new ground and really establishing the punk scene in the US, but I just don't know a lot of their stuff beyond the 8 or 10 big songs. Their music was the inspiration for SO MANY bands and artists that I love, and for that I love them.

This book was not a biography of Joey Ramone, as you might expect, nor was it a biography of the band as a whole. This was very much what the title indicates, a family memoir. Because Joey Ramone was who he was and because the Ramones did what they did, I think a band biography, or a biography about Joey would be great. This wasn't it, and I feel like this book sort of shut the door on that possibility. It was enough detail about Joey and the band to block out future projects, but not enough to satisfy.

I now have a love/hate relationship with Mickey Leigh. In part, after all that he wrote here about how private and painfully shy Joey always was, and how much he hated having things written about him, I can't help but feel like Joey would've hated the very idea of this book. That makes me feel like Mickey wrote it in part to cash in on Joey's name and on being his brother in ways that he never did when Joey was alive. The book alternates from being a really touching story about their relationship and the ways that it evolved over the years, to being a whiny bitchfest about how much Mickey did for Joey and the Ramones and how much he sacrificed in his own life and career for them, all without ever receiving the acknowledgment or money he deserved for it. And there was a lot of the latter going on, which I really could've done without. I get it Mickey - you helped write a lot of those songs, and you never got your acknowledgements or royalties; you sang background on "Blitzkrieg Pop" and never saw a dime for it; you worked as a roadie making only $60/week traveling all over the world; being Joey's brother hurt your attempts at being a rock star yourself. Enough.

The parts about their relationship and family life were touching and enjoyable, though. It put Joey in a whole new light for me to learn about the struggles he had his whole life with illness after illness, not to mention the severe OCD that plagued him until he died. Overall, the book was interesting and I'm glad I read it, but I think it would've been better if some of Mickey Leigh's incessant whining had been replaced with a little more detail about the workings of the band. If you're a Ramones fan, I think this is probably a must-read, but if not, don't bother.

[Adam Belveduto · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ramones have been a big part of my life since my early childhood. My Dad seen them close to 70 times and was around for their humble beginnings. My first concert was a Ramones concert in 1992, and I was only 6 years old. At the end of the show my Dad being the old punk rocker from New York City he knew exactly which side entrance of the venue they would be coming out of and low and behold right where we were waiting out came Johnny who was in a hurry but was nice enough to stop and shake our hands before jumping in a cab and hightailing it out of there.

Fast forward to late 90's me and my family were in NYC walking through the village on a sunny summer afternoon and standing on a corner about to cross the street was Dee Dee Ramone! My aunt who was with us started screaming DEE DEE! DEE DEE! We approached him and he was very gentle and friendly. He took time to shake all of our hands and I remember his hand feeling so frail, it felt like it was a 100 years old (Or a mummies hand).

In recent years I had the pleasure to meet Marky at a local horror movie convention where we got a chance to talk a little Ramones and I brought home some of his famous pasta sauce. Needless to say The Ramones and punk rock music are a part of my soul. As a child at an early age I didn’t want to be an athlete or an astronaut. I wanted to be in a band and that first Ramones show planted the seed in my brain. From around the ages 13 until my early 30's I played drums and bass in a bunch of bands and had got the chance to play a bunch of dirty clubs along the east coast.

The Ramones may not have been the most talented band, but they worked with what they had with their skill set to write some of the most iconic tunes and are one of the most important punk bands in history.

Ok I'm going to stop rambling now and actually talk about the book.

There is a lot of things I already knew about The Ramones from just being a fan all these years and after reading this book there is a lot more that I learned. I really enjoy hearing things in different people's perspectives. There is a lot more stories I've never heard from Joey's childhood that I really enjoyed. Mickey and Legs put together a great memoir of Joey and The Ramones. The book definitely delivers the good, the bad, and the ugly. Unfortunately, the story of The Ramones was a whole lot of ugly. How this band stayed together for 22 years with such negative energy is beyond me.

Joey was a tortured soul who was told he would amount to nothing from the beginning and ended up showing the world. He had such good ideas and an artistic mind. It breaks my heart to see such a talented person struggle all these years with mental illness. The book made me laugh, smile, and in the end not going to lie had me in tears.

Most of this book is written in Joey's brother Mickeys perspective and views. So if your here to read just about Joey and The Ramones you might want to try another book. Some of Mickey's stories can sometimes seem a little one sided but I guess you will get that with him being the author and all. (I really enjoyed reading about Mickeys musical journey as well). These brothers definitely had their ups and downs but, in the end, they loved each other dearly.

All in all this is a great book I highly recommend to any Ramones fan or anyone who just wants to read a great rock n roll memoir.

[Matti Karjalainen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mickey Leighin "Veljeni Joey Ramone" (Like, 20011) ehti vanhentua kirjahyllyssäni melkein vuosikymmenen, mutta tulinpa siihen viimein tarttuneeksi, kun innostuin taas pitkästä aikaa kuuntelemaan the Ramonesin tuotantoa. Ja hyvä niin, sillä kyseessä on varsin kiinnostava muistelmateos, jossa kirjailija kuvaa omasta näkökulmastaan legendaarisen veljensä Jeffrey Hymanin eli Joey Ramonen (1951-2001) elämää.

Laulusolistina The Ramonesissa toiminut Joey Ramone oli ihailtu ja rakastettu rocktähti, mutta hänen elämäänsä varjostivat muun muassa mielenterveyden ongelmat ja hankalaksi yltyneet pakkoneuroosit. Joey vietti lapsuutensa ja nuoruutensa Forest Hillissa, New Yorkin Queensissa, ja oli koulukiusattu epätavallisen käytöksensä ja erottuvan ulkomuotonsa vuoksi. Hän kävi läpi hippi- ja glamrock-vaiheet ennen the Ramonesin perustamista.

Vaikka The Ramones jätti näyttävän jäljen rockmusiikin historiaan, ei punkbändissä soittaminen tainnut olla mitään erityistä herkkua: taloudellisesti bändi ei ollut mikään kultakaivos, eivätkä sen riitaisat jäsenet olleet lopulta enää puheväleissä keskenään. Lukemani perusteella mielikuvani Johnny Ramonesta varsinaisena emämulkvistina voimistui entisestään, mutta Mickey Leigh kiistää kuitenkin legendan "KKK Took My Baby Away" -kappaleen taustoista. Laulu olisi ollut suunnitteilla jo ennen Johnnyn ja Joeyn entisen tyttöystävän kimppaanmenoa.

Veljensä elämäntarinan lisäksi kirjailija kertoo myös omasta urastaan ja yrityksistään lyödä läpi musiikkibisneksessä, mutta huomattavasti heikommalla menestyksellä. Hetkittäin hän vaikuttaa hieman katkeralta kertoessaan, kuinka ei saanut sen enempää apua kuin tunnustusta tekemästään työstä isoveljensä ja tämän yhtyeen eteen. Ja kylläpä katkeruuteen tuntuu olevan hieman aihettakin, mikäli kaikki kerrottu pitää paikkaansa! Veljesten välit olivat usein riitaiset, välillä täysin poikkikin, mutta hetkeä ennen Joeyn ennenaikaista kuolemaa vanhat kaunat saatiin sovittua.

Luullakseni "Veljeni Joey Ramonesta" saa enemmän irti, jos aihe on jo hieman tuttu etukäteen - sitä varten voisin antaa vahvat lukusuositukset kahdelle erinomaiselle ja myös suomeksi julkaistulle kirjaille, nimittäin Everett Truen Hey ho let's go : Ramonesin tarinalle ja Legs McNeilin Please Kill Me - punkin sensuroimaton esihistorialle.

[Amy Hasenbein · Rating 2 out of 5]

gosh, while this book was a decent read, it felt like i was reading the whinings of a resentful little brother who never made it. this was a fear of mine going into the book but thought it might have some credibility with legs mcneil as the co-author.

granted, joey ramone...and all of the other ramones...was a flawed, imperfect brute. these guys weren't respected for their emotional maturity.

i'm not sure what the motivation in writing the book was for the author but it just left me feeling sad for joey to have a brother who chose to air the family's dirty laundry after joey passed away.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book! When I was a teenager, I wanted Joey Ramone to be my boyfriend. There is just something very endearing about him. However, after reading this book, there are just some things I wish I hadn't learned about him. Like the fact that he suffered from schizophrenia and OCD and was difficult to deal with at times. People took advantage of him, especially the band. He didn't stand up for himself very often and people walked all over him. But when he did take a stand over something, he could be malicious. He did have a heart of gold and was mostly a very gentle sweet man. I think that is how I will choose to remember him. I will always <3 Joey Ramone, RIP.

[Indy · Rating 4 out of 5]

You should never meet your heroes. Reading this book is as close to meeting Joey Ramone as I will ever get. Within these pages is an unflinching portrait of isolation, alienation and fame. It's laudable that Leigh didn't get hagiographic. For the first 200 or so pages, Joey is every bit the legend you've read about, the patron Saint of the misfits, freaks, and outcast. The paragon of the outsider and unflinching authenticity. It's hard to read as the book progresses because we're watching the guy that taught us to be ourselves, regardless of what the bullies think turn into the kind of manipulative, narcissistic, and abusive bully that the Ramones offered us an escape from. Ultimately, despite the image, Joey was human. What does that say about the rest of us circus geeks?




As an aside, if you already didn't like Johnny Ramone, you'll never like him after reading this. Yeeesh!

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a music lover and a fan of memoirs, I knew I had to read this book. I Slept with Joey Ramone gives a first-hand look at the birth of punk music. It's a masterpiece and gave me a new respect for the Ramones. Even if you aren't a fan of their music, you will still enjoy this book.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learning about Joey and the relationship among the band was interesting and slightly disappointing. I like the Ramones a lot so the constant fighting was a little disheartening. My biggest issue with the book was actually how annoying the brother was. We get it you are also a musician but I didn't read this to hear your constant bitching about how Joey never gave you credit and you never made it big.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Legs McNeill and Mickey Leigh did a very good job with this bio. If you read one punk rock book this holiday season, make it this one!

It's sad that apparently Joey's treatment for OCD was pretty hit or miss even later in his life after he quit drinking. Usually these days most books could stand with some drastic editing, but the writing here isn't sloppy and maintains the standard of humor you would expect from Joey's brother and one of the early champions of The Ramones. Mickey/Mitchell does repeat himself a bit about Joey's crazy-making behavior and lack of interpersonal skills, but ultimately it's a very powerful portrait, and it's very sweet (no shit!)that Mickey got a good couple of months in at Joey's side near the end. He comes off as a pretty decent and interesting guy himself, not self-aggrandizing but honest.

I love the Mickey Leigh bands STOP and The Rattlers and am thankful the CDs put out by said bands are still available through the magic of the internets.

My favorite line in this book is Dee Dee's explanation of their early output, where he explains that the band didn't do a positive song until they put out "Now I Want to Sniff Some Glue." Yeah, bright-sided as all get out!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is really good insight into Joey Ramones and the Ramones in general.
I enjoyed the beginning of this book a little more than the end. Near the end of Joey's life, he and his brother had several disagreements and weren't speaking. They did reconcile. So near the end of the book, there is less and less about Joey. The book is really a family memoir about Joey and his brother Mickey (also a musician). I could have done with less info about Mickey. I understand it is all context, but I am just not that interested in him. So if you read this book, there are a few all Mickey chapters that you could skip if you feel similarly.
If you are not a fan of Joey Ramone (after this book, it is really hard to be a fan of anyone else in the band-- and even Joey had his flaws), this is still a great look at sibling relationships and their complexities.
I also question Mickey's motives for writing this book. Joey and both their parents are deceased leaving no one to defend themselves or give a different side of the story. Mickey never "made it" in the music business to the degree the Ramones eventually enjoyed.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book easily fits into my top 10 of 2010. That said, you need to be a music fan of more than passing fancy. I would call myself a music geek, maybe even QUEEN of the music geeks! The book is written by Mitchell Hyman (aka Mickey Leigh of the Rattlers), brother of Jeffry Hyman better known as Joey Ramone. You'd think this would be a tale of, sex-drug-and-rock-and-roll.. and to an extent it is. More so it's a story of relationships, religious, race and economic bigotry, the birth of a genre and the disintegration of a dream. The imagery is so rich you can almost smell it (in the case of the famed CBJBs ew). Fans of The Ramones will be shocked, pissed off, elated and empathetic. If you weren't a fan you might not get the full experience BUT it's still a great read.

[Kalen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating history of the Ramones, told from Mickey Leigh's (Joey's younger brother) perspective. But wow, this was a slow, long read. It was mostly enjoyable but about 100 pages could have been knocked out, easily. Somewhere between the first quarter and the last, there was a lot of "lather, rinse, repeat": Joey and Mickey are fighting, no one in the band is talking to each other, Mickey is broke, Mickey is angry, Joey is angry.... A little of that goes a long way.

Hardcore Ramones fans will enjoy this one; others will wish it moved a little faster. But I confess, I cried at the end.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed look into the tortured life of a Rock genius. Joey suffered with depression, OCD and bi-polar illness most of his life, was painfully shy and yet fronted one of music's most influential Punk Rock bands.
The Ramones never achieved great commercial success, and in some cases completely screwed over by the industry, yet their music lives on. Joey just wanted to make music that people would love.
This book, written by the title namesake's actual brother, is a great tribute to one of music's mos recognizable figures.

[Deedee Light · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've got a punk rock spirt and I loved reading about a punk rock hero. The tale of the family, the brothers and the disease, no, make that diseases that shaped, "Joey Ramone's" AKA Jeff's life is a fascinating tale. And, the book is well written. It's bohemian and touches both the glam and punk scenes of NY. If you like rock, weird and modern pop culture. Pick it up. You won't be disappointed.

[Ray Dunsmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating insight into one of rock music's most oddball frontmen of all time, Jeff "Joey Ramone" Hyman. Includes all the elements which make for a great rock music book: family strife, arrogance, sociopathy (holy shit Johnny Ramone stop beating women), stardom, mental illness and a heartfelt ending which may leave you a bit misty-eyed.

Recommended for anyone who loves a good rock and roll story.

[Amber Sexton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally got around to this book and I'm glad i did, though i read a review copy. It was such a loving portrayal of an iconic yet very real human being and artist who certainly had a huge impact on my life.

There's something timely about reading of the childhood bullying Joey endured. Also just the amazing confluence of events that brought us the Ramones was fascinating.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Within Mickey Leigh’s and Legs McNeil’s exhaustive, gossipy I Slept With Joey Ramone is the most detailed story of The Ramones I’ve ever come across. The compact-by-comparison documentary End of the Century will probably be enough for most folks, but fanatics like myself will appreciate Leigh’s telling of all.

[Matt Shaqfan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best Ramones book I read. Different + better insight than a lot of other stuff out there. One of the most interesting things to me, contrary to popular belief, was that "the KKK took my baby away" was written before Joey knew about Johnny + Linda.

[Derick Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting first hand history of the Ramones

[Jonathan Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come along with me because we're gonna have a real cool time
Rest in peace Joey

[bojana · Rating 5 out of 5]

ok, i believe that this will be a long review, but i have a lot of thoughts and even more feelings.

let's start with the fact that i loved this book. loved it! and not in a sense that i loved johnny's book (Commando: The Autobiography of Johnny Ramone by Ramone, Johnny (2012) Hardcover) - it was an interesting read that changed my opinion from "johnny was the worst ramone" to "johnny was one of the worst people ever and i dislike this mf with passion!" i only skimmed through some reviews and saw a few opinions that mickey leigh is a bitter man that tries to make himself look better than he is, but i strongly disagree. i loved the way you feel a bit of resentment, of expecting to have a big brother but having to be the big brother instead almost all the time, you catch glimpses of an angry brother, an annoyed brother, but you always see the loving brother. there were even parts where he could've embelished his thoughts and feelings, and he didn't, and it is what makes this book so special.

how great is that we have mickey as the narrator! he was there from day one, the first-hand witness of all the phases and transformation of jeff hyman into joey ramone, and on top of that, he was actually the first ramones roadie. i loved the childhood stories and family interactions.

now on to the main man. there is a sentence that mickey believes that the ramones saved him (from probably ending up in a mental institution, or god knows where), but they also hindered his growth as an artist, as he didn't have enough confidence to stand up to johnny. oh, man, how i despise the guy. i find it funny that he felt (and behaved) as the de facto leader of the band, when he was the least talented. well, maybe that was the reason. i do often wonder how joey's career would go if he had survived the cancer, as he just began to find his confidence and became more assertive. what i also often think of is, how would've his life turned out if he lived now? the humanity haven't really cracked dealing with ocd and all the other issues he had, mental or otherwise, but it is certainly better than it was back than. this sensitive kid that was constantly bullied but grew up to be a face of punk, kind and thoughtfull but prone to self destruction and rage, would probably fare better in world now, but would the world be better this way? would we end up with a hero for all the weirdos, the literal poster boy for being different? who knows.

as i cried during the last few chapters, i came to this "chicken or the egg" though that i will probably never get to the bottom of. do i adore joey because i like tall, gangly, strange looking guys or did that simply become my "type" just because of him? anyway, he just narrowly misses out being on the top of my "i could change him" musicians (the first being layne, ofc).
a great read, i really couldn't put it down, and if my life wasn't so busy, i would've probably devoured this book in a day or two.