Pure Punk Picks
R.A.M.O.N.E.S. – Motorhead
When I think of the best song written by a band about another band- in a tribute. Well, there is only one winner, rat stew dinner. And that’s the song spelled out above.
Kinda like the original punk band acknowledged by kinda like the original speed metal band- would you say?
When I investigated what other bands did something similar, the cupboard was surprisingly bare.
I did find “Alex Chilton” by The Replacements (a great song). Bowie’s “Song For Bob Dylan” in David’s folky stage and John Cale’s “Mr. Wilson” for Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys.
But I can’t imagine finding a song that is more successful in not only being a great song, but in being such a great tribute.
Instead of slavishly copying The Ramones, merely duplicating their simple but effective style, like countless bands have done while claiming their own songs to be “original”-
Lemmy and the boys take the spirit and drive, the emotion and impact of hearing a Ramones song while playing it in their style and making this song their own.
To me this song sounds as if Little Richard was playing a Ramones song as he was nursing a sore throat while pushing a grand piano he was playing, while it was on fire, down a busy, city street clad in only red thermal underwear.
This song sounds like all hells bells have been broken loose and mayhem and catastrophe have linked arms, parading joyfully through the park, sans clothes, on a bright, sunny, summer day.
Or to state it less metaphorically and more succinctly-
This sounds like great rock’n’roll, like Jerry Lee Lewis hitting the keys of his piano with the heel of his shoe. Like Little Richard knocking back his piano stool and standing up with eyes staring straight ahead as if they’re in the midst of electroshock.
Like Elvis sneering and moving his hips suggestively, Chuck Berry crouching and doing his duck walk. Fats Domino smiling benevolently while still kicking your behind with some mighty fine jambalaya, New Orleans rhythm and blues, rock’n’roll.
Why all the rock’n’roll references Slimedog?
Well, Lemmy always said at the start of every Motorhead performance, “We are Motorhead and we play rock’n’roll!”- which I agree.
And in this song and the best songs of Motorhead, the rock’n’roll shines brightly through. Like when you’re driving on a bright, sunny day when you have to lower the shade above the dashboard- that’s how strong and hard and pure it is.
And as I’ve noted before- punk is the true extension, the true progression of rock’n’roll while rock music was more a detour away from the greatness of the original rock’n’roll bands.
Rock was started as more an appreciation of blues music, giving a watered down version of it while also giving a perfunctory, condescending nod to rock’n’roll.
(Listen to Led Zeppelin’s song “Rock’N’Roll” for evidence. Just please don’t ask me to join you).
There’s a fifties song called “Rock’N’Roll Will Never Die” and I believe that. And I don’t believe punk will either. And why is that?
Because only sentient beings like humans, animals, insects, light fixtures die- but music being without flesh and blood can and will, live on eternally.
But more importantly, what rock’n’roll and punk represent lives on because they are sounds that express the emotions and feelings and the joy of being alive.
While also touching upon the frustrations of life one feels, the desires and lusts not always fulfilled, the longing for wild and free abandonment, the notion to freely be yourself while seeking fun and excitement into the wild night and beyond.
All the original Ramones are dead along with Lemmy. But their music, their art still shines on and rings true. Forget about using the car sun block visor- this song will scorch the center of your soul.
And you know, I can continue to rant and rave and spew out words shooting out of my face or I guess, really off of my fingers, but that doesn’t add or retract from all the great music, great punk, great art, great joy, great excitement that is here, right in front of your ears.
Do I have to spell it out?
R.A.M.O.N.E.S.- RAMONES!
(Slimedog)
