CJ Ramone

As of August 6th, it’s been 23 long, languid year’s since The Ramones played their final show. Since then, all the original members - Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy have been called home. 

Richie and Marky continue to carry the flag, but it’s CJ that’s been keeping the Ramones spirit alive and well through the past two decades. Whether through Los Gusanos, or Bad Chopper or as a solo artist, he’s proven that both with The Ramones and long after, he’s been the unsung hero of the group, producing album after album of high-octane rock ‘n roll and keep the legacy of The Ramones strong and vibrant.

August 6, 1996 marked the closing of one chapter, and it would appear CJ’s latest album, The Holy Spell is the end of another, as he intends to stop the touring grind and start concentrating on other things, like becoming a tattoo artist and writing a long-awaited book. 

The Holy Spell kicks open the suicide doors with "One High One Low" and fires through tunes like "Crawling From the Wreckage" and "Blue Skies", making it abundantly clear that he and the Ramones will forever be inexorably linked. It has nothing to do with the name. These albums could just as easily be coming out as “CJ Ward”, but it’s a vibe he manages to capture because the world still needs The Ramones. Now, more than ever. Catch CJ live this September all over Australia. 

8.2 / 10 — Kevin Fitzpatrick