CJ Ramone is the artistic name of Christopher Joseph Ward, born October 8th 1965, known as the famous latest bass player of the most legendary and classic north american punk band: the beloved Ramones.
CJ Ramone is the artistic name of Christopher Joseph
Ward, born October 8
th 1965, known as the famous latest bass player
of the most legendary and classic north american punk band: the beloved
Ramones.
He gave the band a much needed breath of fresh air, an
injection of new youthful blood and a much younger image. He sang many
well-known Ramones songs as well on stage. When the Ramones were inducted into
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame original Ramones drummer, Tommy Ramone, credited
C.J. with "keeping the band young".
CJ joined the band in 1989 filling the most difficult
shoes to be to filled: Dee Dee Ramone's -- founder and main composer of the
band. Before becoming a Ramone himself, Ward was a fan of the Ramones,
particularly of Dee Dee.
Later, they played together in a band called The
Ramainz, which was formed by Dee Dee Ramone, Marky Ramone and Dee Dee's wife,
Barbara Zampini. He also played with Los Gusanos and his last group effort was
with Bad Chopper .
He's now -for the first time ever- going out to play,
simply, as how the world got to know him better: CJ RAMONE, a name he gained in
his own right.
CJ offered new life and thrill to a band that was
already showing the passing of time. His first show with The Ramones was on
September 30, 1989, in Leicester, England, and he played with the band until
they retired on August 6, 1996. He made his recording debut in one of their
most acclaimed records, "Mondo Bizarro" (1992). In spite of his youth
at the time, on the record he sang one special song which was to become the
bands' true last instant timeless classic: "Strengh to Endure",
proving that Dee Dee's shoes were being well taken care of. CJ wrote also two
great songs on their last studio record. He sang a total of 10 studio songs
with the Ramones proving to be an excellent singer and the ideal companion to
Joey, who as time went by, let CJ sang more and more songs on stage.
He was the man responsible to keep the "one, two,
three, four!" before each song night after night: a true trademark in the
Ramones' shows. Despite the initial suspicions, CJ was widely accepted by all
of the fans making the dream of many come true: joining his favorite band.
That's why the fans identify so much with his role, and still supported and cheer
him. At the beginning of his first concert he was welcomed by several
"fuck you's" from the audience who wanted none but Dee Dee.
But by the end of the set, his performance had been so
amazing that he had turned them all to applauses and chants of "CJ! CJ!
CJ!"
He stayed with the Ramones for 8 years, travelling the
world by Joey and Johnny Ramone's side countless times. He recorded half a
dozen albums and sang many songs on the following albums :
"Loco Live", "Acid Eaters", "Greatest Hits Live",
"We're Outta Here", and "Adios Amigos!", and sang all the
songs Dee Dee used to sang, emerging as an excellent singer during his
interpretation of classic tracks such as "Love Kills" and "Wart
Hog".
CJ also had a key role in the shows for the
celebration of the 30
th anniversary of Ramones in New York and Los
Angeles in 2004, during which he played side by side with his former band-mate
Marky as well as with members of such bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sex
Pistols, Henry Rollins, Rancid, and White Zombie. He was also invited to
perform during the farewell parties for two of the most legendary NY clubs: the
mythical CBGB and The Continental. More recently he has been recently invited
by Pearl Jam to play "I Believe in Miracles" on June 24th and 25th,
2008 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
After a brief project called Los Gusanos, CJ devoted
himself to family life and it was not before year 2000 that he decided to form
a new project Bad Chopper, a name that relates to CJ's love for bikes. A born
biker, CJ had a Harley-Davidson that he modified to his taste and originated
his group's name.
As lead singer and composer of all the repertoire
songs, CJ proved his will to rock hard again by launching Bad Chopper's first
CD in 2008, an album written during critical and dark moments of his personal
life, in which CJ still makes room for visions of a better future. Comparisons
to Ramones are inevitable, but not unique. CJ reveals his deepest personal
influences: from classic bands like Ramones, Stooges, Sex Pistols, Dead Boys,
The Damned to more modern bands like Zeke, Speedealer, Fu Manchu or Queens of
The Stone Age. Music is simple, but it glows by itself. It is still being
acclaimed by many of the fans and the press as the best work ever recorded by
any of the Ramones after the band's break-up. Just listening to this CD
once will be enough to understand the reasons why CJ saved the biggest punk
rock institution ever: The Ramones.
Daniel Reyfirst collaborated with the Ramones on their 1984 album „
Too Tough To Die“, where
he co-wrote the song "Daytime Dilemma (Dangers of Love)" with
Joey Ramone. From there he
started to record lots of parts during the Ramones Studio Sessions and became
the Producer of three of the bands albums, „
Halfway To Sanity“, „
Brain Drain“, and „
¡Adios Amigos!“.
Daniel Rey also co-wrote lots of songs for the Ramones as „I belive in
miracles“,„I wanna live“, Pet Semetary“, „Poison Heart“, „Strength To Endure“ to name a few.
CJ Ramone and Daniel Rey had toured as a trio recently
Portugal, Germany (w/ Die Toten Hosen), UK, South America, Japan and the USA to
critical success with his old friend Daniel Rey, still proving Ramonesmania is
well alive and kicking.
Too good to be missed. Be there or be square.
Stay tuned for more rock
& roll.
