30 ago today, the Ramones played their final concert at the Hollywood Palace in Los Angeles. Johnny Ramone wanted to retire the band while they were still performing at a high level live; he didn't want them to become rock ""dinosaurs,"" like some other veteran bands. Adding to this was a severe breakdown in internal relations, particularly the feud between Johnny and Joey Ramone, who went more than fifteen years without speaking to each other offstage.
Despite their enormous cultural influence, the band never achieved massive commercial success in the United States, forcing them to rely almost exclusively on constant touring to make ends meet. This demanding work schedule, coupled with Joey's recurring health problems, ultimately triggered the final conflict: the situation reached a breaking point when the singer refused a lucrative offer to play in South America, as he needed to rest. Johnny responded with an ultimatum: if they didn't play those shows immediately, he would stop performing for good. Adding to this tension was a decisive factor: the guitarist had already reached his personal savings goal, giving him the financial security he needed to retire.
The farewell show in Los Angeles was recorded on video and included guest musicians from bands influenced by the Ramones, including Eddie Vedder, Motörhead, Soundgarden, and members of Rancid. Dee Dee Ramone joined him on stage to sing ""Love Kills."" The last song the quartet ever played live wasn't one of their own: a cover of ""Any Way You Want It"" by the British band The Dave Clark Five, performed as a duet with Eddie Vedder, a close friend of the band.
The show's ending perfectly reflected the strained relationship between the members: after the song, they left the stage without saying goodbye to the audience together or embracing each other, and Johnny Ramone left without saying a single word to his bandmates.
At the end of the night, George DuBose, the band's longtime photographer, smashed his camera against the stage, injuring his hand. When Johnny asked him why, DuBose replied that if the band was done, then he was done too. After that concert, the Ramones officially broke up, and its two central figures, Johnny and Joey, practically never spoke to each other again for the rest of their lives.
On November 18, 1997, Eagle Rock Records released 'We're Outta Here!', the band's fourth and final live album, which immortalized that final show along with a video directed by Kevin Kerslake of the event and behind-the-scenes footage.
5. Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio
7. Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment
8. Rock 'N' Roll High School
11. The K.K.K. Took My Baby Away
12. I Just Want To Have Something To Do
14. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
20. Someone Put Something In My Drink
25. Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World
pixelskylines
ellievsbear
germansingergirl
yousharknotpass
gracieabrams
