Tomorrow, June 5th, marks eighteen years since the passing of Ramones Dee Dee Ramone , who died in 2002 from a heroin overdose at his home in Los Angeles, California.
His importance and legacy will continue to be celebrated, sung, and played forever. To that end, we at Wikimetal have compiled a Top 11 list of the artist's best songs. Check them out below and relive this icon with us!
11. “Teenage Lobotomy” , from the 1977 album Rocket to Russia – With hilarious lyrics in the band's classic humor style, written by Dee Dee, the song narrates the point of view of a young man receiving a lobotomy due to his relationship with drugs.
10. “Commando” 1977 album Leave Home 1991 Anarkophobia
9. “Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World” Ramones album , 1976 – This controversial song, one of the most personal written by Dee Dee, talks about his difficult childhood in Nazi Germany, where he suffered bullying because his father was an American soldier.
8. “Pet Sematary” , from the 1989 album Brain Dain – One of the Ramones' most popular songs was written by Dee Dee after a quick reading of Stephen King's book at the author's house. The book was adapted into a film and the song was to be used as its soundtrack.
7. “Judy Is A Punk” Ramones album , 1976 – Dee Dee's bass playing is one of the highlights of the song which, like many of the band's songs, also has sections about Germany, as well as references to children's songs.
6. “Rockaway Beach” , from the 1977 album Rocket To Russia – The band's biggest hit in terms of chart success, the song, written by Dee Dee, talks about the “worst” beach in the “worst” neighborhood in New York City, in the United States, and reached number 66 on the Billboard 200.
5. “Born to Die In Berlin” , from the album ¡Adios Amigos!, from 1995 – The song, with somewhat tragic lyrics, talks about the relationship between drugs and the apparent lack of importance to the world, as it had with one of the composers, Dee Dee Ramone.
4. “I Wanna Be Sedated” , from the 1978 album Road To Ruin – In one of the band's most popular songs, drugs and their effects seem to be one of the best options when you're young and bored. The lyrics become somewhat bitter when brought to the present day and the tragic death of Dee Dee.
3. “I Believe In Miracles” , from the 1989 album Brain Dain – In this song, Dee Dee writes about how much he believes in miracles, after all, he is one, for still being alive after so many years, and he also relates the miracle to a companion present in his life, and his life as a musician.
2. “Poison Heart ”, from the 1992 Mondo Bizarro Pet Sematary 2 , and was given to the band by Dee Dee after his bandmates released him from prison.
1. “53rd & 3rd” Ramones album – Dee Dee writes about himself and his experience as a gigolo due to his history with drugs. The song title marks the point at which the artist used to work on the streets.
So many stories, and so many songs, compositions, and legendary bass lines! Thank you, Dee De Ramone!
