But with the Ramones, well, I guess I always thought of them, as well, cartoons of themselves. We know that bands have “creative differences” and egos get bruised and so and so on. We know that the John and Paul didn’t like each other. So why so heartbreaking? Well, here’s the deal. Raw live footage dating back to the early 70s brings to life the sheer volume and bizarre intensity of a Ramones show.
In addition to the Ramones’ first-hand accounts, there are plenty of interviews with managers and friends and family and roadies and so on–eyewitnesses who candidly relate the good, the bad, and the ugly in excruciating detail (there is plenty of ugly). comes across as naive, energetic, and wholly endearing, making me feel kind of bad about my previous opinions of him). Unlike weaker films that rely on narrators or musicians influenced by the subject*, End of the Century is composed entirely of interviews (both archival and original to the film) with the Ramones themselves (Dee Dee, Tommy, Joey, Johnny, Marky, Richie (Richie wears a conservative suit in his interview, and mostly complains about not getting a taste of “that T-shirt money”) and C.J. This is an excellent music documentary, a standout in a genre which is generally hit or miss. My favorite memory of the show was Joey saying that the venue of the show was built on top of a pet cemetery. version of Ramones–was not really the real Ramones). I was lucky enough to see them in concert about twelve years ago (even then we were hip to the fact that the Ramones without Dee Dee–the C.J.
I love the Ramones I’ve loved the Ramones since I was a kid. If you love the Ramones, you really shouldn’t watch the 2003 documentary film End of the Century–it will only break your heart.