Joey Ramone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joey Ramone
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Ramone c. 1980s
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jeffrey Ross Hyman |
| Also known as | Joey Ramone Jeff Starship |
| Born | May 19, 1951 Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Died | April 15, 2001 (aged 49) Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Punk rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1972–2001 |
| Labels |
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Jeffrey Ross Hyman (born May 19, 1951 – died April 15, 2001) was an American singer. He was best known as Joey Ramone, the lead singer and a founding member of the punk rock band Ramones. His unique look, voice, and time with the Ramones made him a counterculture hero.
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Early life
Jeffrey Ross Hyman was born on May 19, 1951, in Queens, New York City. His family was Jewish. When he was born, he had a small, undeveloped twin attached to his back. Doctors surgically removed it.
Jeffrey and his family lived in Forest Hills, Queens. He and his future bandmates from the Ramones went to Forest Hills High School. He grew up with his brother Mickey Leigh. Jeffrey was often a happy person, but he felt like an outsider sometimes.
He loved music from bands like the Beatles, the Who, David Bowie, and the Stooges. He also enjoyed oldies music and Phil Spector-produced girl groups. His biggest idol was Keith Moon, the drummer for The Who. Jeffrey started playing drums when he was 13. He played drums for many years before learning acoustic guitar at age 17.
Career
Early bands
In 1972, Jeffrey Hyman joined a glam punk band called Sniper. He played with them using the name Jeff Starship. He stayed with Sniper until early 1974.
The Ramones
In 1974, Jeffrey Hyman helped start the punk rock band the Ramones. He formed the band with his friends John Cummings and Douglas Colvin. Douglas Colvin was already using the name "Dee Dee Ramone." The others also chose "Ramone" as their last name. John Cummings became Johnny Ramone, and Jeffrey Hyman became Joey Ramone. The name "Ramone" came from Paul McCartney. He sometimes used the stage name "Paul Ramon" in the early 1960s.
Joey Ramone first played drums for the group. Dee Dee Ramone was the first singer. But Dee Dee's voice couldn't handle singing at every live show. So, the band's manager, Thomas Erdelyi, suggested Joey switch to vocals. After trying out many drummers, Erdelyi became the new drummer himself. He took the name Tommy Ramone.
The Ramones greatly influenced the punk rock music scene in the United States. However, they did not become very famous commercially during Joey's lifetime. Their only album to sell enough copies to be certified gold was a collection called Ramones Mania. Over the years, people realized how important the band was. They are now seen as one of the greatest rock bands of all time.
In 1996, after a tour, the band played its last show and then broke up.
Other music projects
One of Joey's first side projects was with a band called The Seclusions in 1983. Joey sang with his brother Leigh on a song called "Nothing Can Change the Shape of Things to Come."
In 1985, Joey joined a group of musicians called Artists United Against Apartheid. This group worked against the Sun City resort in South Africa. Joey and 49 other artists, including Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, made a song called "Sun City." They promised never to perform at the resort.
In 1994, Joey sang on the song "Punk Boy" for the band Helen Love. Helen Love then sang on Joey's song "Mr. Punchy."
In 1996, Joey Ramone performed at a music festival in Arizona. His band, "Joey Ramone & the Resistance," played his version of Louis Armstrong's "Wonderful World." They also played Ramones songs and other favorites.
Joey also helped write and record a song called "Meatball Sandwich." Before he passed away, he managed and produced for the punk rock band the Independents. His last singing was for the Navajo rock group Blackfire. He sang on two of their songs.
In 1999, Joey produced an album for Ronnie Spector called She Talks to Rainbows. It was praised by critics.
Vocal style
Joey Ramone's voice was very unique. He used cracks, hiccups, and snarls. His youthful voice made him one of the most recognizable singers in punk rock. Many people say his voice was "the voice of punk rock in America." As he got older, his voice changed and became deeper. This also changed the sound of the Ramones' songs.
Dee Dee Ramone once said that other singers in New York copied David Johansen. But Joey was "unique, totally unique."
Illness and death
In 1995, Joey Ramone was diagnosed with lymphoma. This is a type of cancer. He kept his illness private for a long time. On March 19, 2001, it was announced that he was fighting the disease. He died from the illness on April 15, 2001. He was almost 50 years old.
Reports say he was listening to the song "In a Little While" by U2 when he died. U2's lead singer, Bono, confirmed this in an interview. Joey's funeral was attended by his former bandmates and other famous musicians like Debbie Harry from Blondie. Joey Ramone is buried in New Mount Zion Cemetery in Lyndhurst, New Jersey.
His solo album Don't Worry About Me was released after he died in 2002. It includes his cover of "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong. MTV News called Joey "the iconic godfather of punk." They described his look: "trademark rose-colored shades, black leather jacket, shoulder-length hair, ripped jeans."
Legacy
On November 30, 2003, a street in New York City was officially renamed Joey Ramone Place. It is on East 2nd Street, where Joey once lived with his bandmate Dee Dee Ramone. It is also near the old location of the music club CBGB, where the Ramones started.
Joey's birthday is celebrated every year with the "Joey Ramone Birthday Bash." His brother hosts this event in New York City.
The Ramones were added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
Many songs have been written to honor Joey Ramone. These include "Hello Joe" by Blondie and "You Can't Kill Joey Ramone" by Sloppy Seconds. U2 also wrote "The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)."
In 2010, it was reported that the "Joey Ramone Place" street sign was the most stolen sign in New York City. Because of this, the sign was moved to be 20 feet (6.1 meters) above the ground. Drummer Marky Ramone thought Joey would like that his sign was stolen the most. He joked that "Now you have to be an NBA player to see it."
Joey's second album released after his death was called ...Ya Know?. It came out on May 22, 2012.
Discography
Solo albums
- Don't Worry About Me (2002)
- ...Ya Know? (2012)
EPs (Extended Plays)
- In a Family Way – Sibling Rivalry (1994)
- Ramones: Leathers from New York – The Ramones and Joey Ramone (solo) (1997)
- Christmas Spirit...In My House (2002)
Singles
- "I Got You Babe" (1982) (Duet with Holly Beth Vincent)
- "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight) (Revised)" (2001)
- "What a Wonderful World" (2002)
- "Rock and Roll Is the Answer" / "There's Got to Be More to Life" (2012)
See also
In Spanish: Joey Ramone para niños
