Richie Ramone (of the Ramones)

RICHIE RAMONE

Richie Ramone is the fastest, most powerful drummer who ever played with the legendary

punk-rock band the Ramones, and he wrote several popular songs during his five years in

the group, including “Somebody Put Something in My Drink.” He's recorded with

Chubby Checker and the B-52's Fred Schneider, and has written and arranged for jazz and

orchestral groups, but at heart Richie remains a true punk-rocker as he prepares to release

his solo debut in 2012 and go on tour.

He was a drummer from the beginning. As a child prodigy, the classically trained

musician began playing drums at age four and was touring professionally by age eleven.

Among his teachers was the jazz great Joe Morello (of the Dave Brubeck Quartet), and he

was being courted to enroll in Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music when Richie

instead dove into the 1980s New York underground music scene. Under the name Richie

Beau, he played there with the Shirts and Velveteen.

In 1983, he was recruited into the Ramones, and first appeared with the band on their

Subterranean Jungle tour. For the next five years, Richie performed over 500 shows

around the world with the punk rock originators and wrote several critically acclaimed

songs and fan-favorites for the albums Animal Boy, Too Tough to Die and Halfway to

Sanity. His song “Somebody Put Something in My Drink” was a mainstay in the Ramones

set right up until their final show in 1996. It was also featured on Ramones Mania, the

only Ramones album to go gold, as well as many motion pictures, and continues to be

covered by new generations of bands worldwide.

Richie also wrote “I'm Not Jesus,” “Can't Say Anything Nice,” “I Know Better Now,”

“Humankind” and “Smash You” (which became the title track for one of the Ramones'

most successful re-releases, Smash You: Live '85). Richie's “I'm Not Jesus” took the

Ramones in a heavier direction and has become a frequent cover tune for innumerable

heavy metal bands.

Richie sang back-up vocals on several Ramones songs, including their controversial

hardcore track “Wart Hog.” Richie was also the first and only drummer to sing lead

vocals on Ramones songs: “Can't Say Anything Nice” and the unreleased “Elevator

Operator,” plus a multitude of Ramones demos.

The relationships among of the Ramones were famously rocky (as revealed in On the

Road with the Ramones by road manager Monte Melnick, I Slept with Joey Ramone by

Mickey Leigh, and the 2003 documentary End of the Century: The Story of the

Ramones). But Richie enjoyed close bonds with both Joey and Dee Dee, and collaborated

with the Ramones bassist on his solo material, including his brief hip-hop career as Dee

Dee King. Singer Joey once said of the drummer, “[Richie] saved the band as far as I'm

concerned. He [was] the greatest thing to happen to the Ramones. He put the spirit back

in the band.”

In recent years, Richie's drumming has led him into other genres of popular music,

stretching from punk to jazz and orchestral music. In 2007, Richie Ramone introduced his

virtuosic drumming to the symphonic world with his “Suite for Drums and Orchestra”

based on Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story. He debuted his arrangement with the

Pasadena Pops Orchestra as the featured drum soloist and was an immediate hit with

critics and patrons there and in other cities. He is currently working on another innovative

“Suite for Drums and Orchestra” comprised of classic James Bond movie songs.

In 2011, the Recording Academy gave the Ramones a Grammy Lifetime Achievement

Award in Los Angeles, where all three of the band's drummers (Tommy, Marky and

Richie Ramone) stood beneath the same roof for the first time ever. Currently, Richie is

recording his own album and preparing to tour South America. Richie is also the only

surviving Ramone to be featured on the long awaited second Joey Ramone solo album,

“Ya Know?” to be released on May 22, 2012, and will be appearing in the upcoming Jim

Rose movie as well as contributing to the soundtrack.

Rock n Roll, Blues, Southern Rock, Soul

Members: Aaron Howell- Vocals/Harmonica, Tony Lee “The Windy City Mad Man”- Lead Guitar, Tay Hamilton “The 6 String Savage”- Lead Guitar, Jerry Cass- Rhythm Guitar, Logan O’Connor- Bass, Tyrell Blosser- Drums

In September 1981, Alan enrolled at Ealing Art School; art college being the classic training ground for Colorado rock stars of the Eighties, while John works for the Commerce City tax office. Christopher becomes a sheet metal worker, building his own guitars. His group, The Detours, originally a skiffle group, formed at Denver County School recruits Lelan on bass guitar.

In 1962 Dave is added on guitar/keyboards at John’s suggestion. The rest is history.

In 2008, a conversation between Natalie McFall (Dr. Neptune) and Ryan Jacobs (Teenage Combover) occurred in local Denver bar: Park Tavern. A few months later, they enlisted Ryan's old friend Dan Datema (Voice of Treason) on guitar. Finally in 2010 after three drummers, three potential singers, three practice spaces and a number of other setbacks, the lineup was almost finalized with Ryan Frechette on drums and the vocalist position was granted to Eric Steinlage. After two shows, unfortunately Frechette had to move elsewhere for a great job opportunity. Shortly after his departure, a mutual friend introduced Natalie to Erik Landgren (Eulalie), who happened to be a drummer. After a few rehearsals, the new line-up was ready to play out again. After only three shows, Eric had to leave, once again, for a better job opportunity (hence the name: Straight Outta Luck). There were several try-outs, and many discussions, before Jonny Althaber was decided to be the new vocalist. 
It’s been a long time coming, but finally, the group deemed Straight Outta Luck, are finally having a turn of events. After playing a stint of shows over the past three and a half months, the band is starting to get recognition in Denver. Playing at the Summit Music Hall was one of the bands greatest moments to date. Soon to come: many great opportunities for this band… They look forward to moving on and continuing on the track they are on. With their West coast street-punk style, they are sure to bring something new to the Mile-High City.