Second Verse, same as the first

Arguments on whether they were the first, the best, or even the most influential punk band are irrelevant. The Ramones rocked. Case closed.

Here they are at the beginning. The audio is crap, they're not nearly as tight as they would become, but this is them in their element, playing a perfectly crafted 93 second rock song. Distill rock down to its purest and you'll find The Ramones.

On a personal note, it was one of the great pleasures of my life to be able to see The Ramones in concert. Though 20 years after this performance, the intensity of that 73 minute show (and, what, 50+ songs?) has never been equaled.

Today would have been Joey's 59th birthday. Third verse, different from the first...