Check out Neilzine 50, dedicated to Dee Dee Ramone!! It features interviews with lots of people close to Dee Dee, including the Gabba Gabba Heys' own Ricky!

Download your own pdf version here:

OMG teh Kidz Bop has ruined teh Romones OMG. "The Blitzkrieg Kidz Bop", and Joey, Johnny, and Dee Dee are rolling in their collective graves. Well, not exactly.

Gathering not your usual collection of Kidz Bop studio "singers" for this affair, instead what we get for this CD is a multitude of real life punks and rock n roll outcasts to pay homage to a band they would be right at home sharing a stage with, whilst little voices just waiting to be corrupted join in jubilantly. Pennywise's Jim Linberg gets things started with a snotty version of "Blitzkrieg Bop" while the rant of "hey ho, lets go" shouted by Jim and a horde of mini brats comes off not as a joke as you might expect, but pretty much straight faced. Just straight faced with ten year olds up your arse. Likewise "Rock n Roll High School" with the Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba leading the way in the playground is a leather jacketed kick in the nuts, and you can almost see the little hooligans tearing up the classroom as they run around shouting "fun fuuuun, fun fun". And it is fun. A lot of fun. Which was something the Ramones always were, so good thing in making this compilation that wasn't forgotten.

We also get Jack Grisham of T.S.O.L infamy doing a sinister take on "Bop 'Til You Drop" where you hardly notice the small voices around him, "I Just Wanna Have Something To Do" sung by Emily Wynne-Hughes of Go Betty Go, and a riotous and funny "Suzy Is A Headbanger" which finds Nick Oliven of Mondo Generator/Queens Of The Stone Age fame taking a whole chorus of little maniacs through the paces. What makes this all so entertaining is rather then a mockery or embarrassment as one might expect the performances and sound bear little difference from the originals, as the music is provided by Ramones "tribute band" the Gabba Gabba Heys and production is handled by Jennifer Finch of The Shocker and formerly of L7 notoriety. In fact if Joey were out front singing and someone told you it was the Ramones themselves updating some tunes you would easily believe them. If anything these covers sound so authentic (if not exactly) if it weren't for the shouts from the little ones you would say its a tribute that hits too close to home, making it almost redundant. But alas it must be remembered this album is meant to connect little kids to rock n roll directly without any watered down BS in between. After all rock n roll is kid music, basically, so why change it as Kidz Bop would? This album has the spirit needed to introduce them right and raw.

Fun is what this record is even for a jaded music lover such as myself. By the time i reached the third track of "California Sun" with Brett Anderson of The Donnas punking it up good I was bopping around my living room just like I did the first time I heard the Ramones. The fact the Ramones at their best always had a care free and childlike quality in there music also helps matters as the "surf meets pop meets punk" qualities come shining through on many of these tunes and are made that much more silly and fun by the screaming little future Ramones and Ramonette's ranting throughout. So if you are young parents, have a little brother or sister, cousin or nephew, or know a neighbor kid you would like to start on the road to ruin good and early, by all means pick this album up. It has all the fun and spirit of youth packed tightly into one well done package and you may even find yourself listening a time or two, grinning from ear to ear all the while. Just like some other now gone and legendary band used to make us do. You remember? Yeah, those guys. And its good to see others remember, too. So if not for yourself, for gods sake do it for the children. For they are the future..... with ripped jeans, leather jackets, and possible heroin addiction to consider. Gabba Gabba Hey, indeed......

Got gal problems? Parents giving you shit? Unable to Rock n' Roll all night and party ev-a-rey-day? Well, here's the answers you've been looking for. Tell Uncle Surly all about it. Our cantankerous sticksman'll set you straight. Or not.


Here's what's in Surly's mailbag...

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Dear Surly,
You wouldn't believe what happened today. First I woke up and had some toast. Then I handled myself in an impure fashion while i was in the bathroom. Next I went to school. The teacher was boring so I started yelling in class. Just yelling and yelling about things like how rad my skatebard is and how school sucks. Anyway, I got sent to the principal. Now I have to see the school shrink. What do you think?

Twinkie the Kid




Dear Twinkie,
That's just great, boy.

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Dear Surly,
I'm in a coffee house. There is art on the walls. Some of it is nice. Maybe if people bought their coffee in a grocery store, at a much reduced price, they could afford some of these pieces.

I guess the paintings on the walls are supposed to give the place a certain sophistication. But coffee is just brown water. It makes a person jumpy, and in my case forces more brown water out the other side of me. Poo poo doo doo.

The cafe I'm at has only one bathroom too. I imagine that several times a week a customer finds that bathroom occupied and must run out in search of a nearby toilet. They should sell diapers instead of muffins and croissants.

Most of these joints have free entertainment at night: jazz (always white guys), bad poetry readings (like there is any other kind) performance art (people who can't play jazz, or write bad poetry). How much does this suck? You get bored to death by these jackoffs, then you're forced to think about how horrifically it blew, all night, because you're hopped up on caffeine.

A few of the patrons brought their work with them: laptops, novels, notebooks, whatever. The guy next to me looks up every few minutes from his pad of paper and stares out at nothing in particular, as if he's just realized something vital. Perhaps, "Holy shit! I just paid $3.50 for a small cup of tea. I don't even drink fucking tea!"

I'm being too judgmental. It's just, when I think of coffee drinkers, these aren't the type of folks I imagine.

I see truckers and drifters and cops and immigrant factory workers in diners, being served by a woman named Maggie, who doesn't have a ring through her nose. No, just a pencil behind her ear and a chip on her shoulder because her man drank up the rent again, now she has to pull a double. And she will, because she loves him, that dirty two timing bastard. And Maggie will wiggle her ass and wink at these stiffs and keep their mugs full. She'll make rent tonight and maybe a little extra, enough for a bottle and a bucket of chicken, all white meat, the kind he likes. When she gets home, they'll watch pro wrestling. Maybe he'll even shower, and they'll get a little tight but not too so. 'Cause when he's too tight he gets crazy, and he forgets and... and...

Ahh Christ, it's only brown water.

Nickie Griffsky




Dear NG,
It jus' brings a tear ta my eye to see other folks with such a fine surly attitude! Keep up the good work.

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Dear Surly:
My parents give me tons of money and stuff, but theres one problem. They won't buy me a bitchin' set of wheels. So if I'm lucky enough to even borrow my moms car for a date, i have to pick her up in a station wagon. Uncool!! What should I do?

Hatin' it in Chicago




Dear Hatin'
God damn it, boy, why don't you get off your fat ass and get yourself a damn car. Looky here, no one ever gave Surly nothing when I was a dipshit teenager, but you didn't see me whining about it. what you need is a good ass-kicking, and if you show up to any of our shows, just introduce yourself and I'll be more than happy to provide... That'll set ya dumb ass straight.

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Dear Surly,

I do vocals in an English Ramones Tribute band called the New York Scumhaters.I have always been dedicated to life as a full time Joey wannabe,however....Following a recent stay in Thailand I have developed a compulsion that keeps me awake at night and bores my friends rigid,this compulsion being an irresistable urge to spend the rest of my days as a ladyboy. I am considering the snip and tuck.

What do you suggest? I think I could give good Yum! Yum! If I put my mind to it.

Bangkok Steve Ramone.




Thats jus great, boy.

Surly

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hey surley well me my mom and my dad have been ramones fans sence day 1 well my mom and dad but am a fan 2 so did or have you fucks i mean guys ever met the Ramones?i did well just marky and johny but ya i love the ramones till death and dude your not fat think as if your FLUFFY. anyways your good people we need more peps like you instead of fucking dush-bag wankers that critisize your skill well me and my family would like 2 tell your band GABBA GABBA HEY "WE ACEEPT YOU""WE ACCEP YOU ""AS ONE OF US"!!!!!!:)is not like you give a rats ass put you know laters gabba gabba hey

luis........................




Dear Luis,

No I never met any of em, but Ricky used to hang with them. He was friends with Marky and a little bit with Dee Dee too. However, he aint friends with Marky no more due to a misunderstanding, and well, he aint friends with Dee Dee no more neither. I'm sure you can figure that one out for yourself.

Surly

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Well Surly have to say love the Ramones, and would like to know the next time you guys plan on playing. Love the charming personality that you have. Seems to bring out the best in your fans as well as your enemies. You fucking rock . So all these cocksuckers who have to come on here and talk shit to you, I understand that having a face that not even your own mothers could love is depressing, but dont take your shit out on people who are trying to show you a good time. So do yourselves and everyone else around you a favor. Go dig a fucking hole and bury yourselves in it. Thank you Surly for your time! Please do pass this message around to all the fudgepackers who were talking shit to you. After all, for them, it ain't easy being cheesy. smoochies!

Funbox

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Dear Surly,

What is the deal with fat, angry guys? i wish they would just shut up.

sincerly
calm and skinny (Dan Whitenock)




What's the deal with your mom's hairy stomach, Dan?
Surly

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Dear Surly,
Paying for stuff sucks. Why can't I get cool stuff for free? All those corporations around have billions and billions of dollars, what's the difference if I get a freebie? You must know how to get shit for free. And what's the difference anyway? I mean, I snuck in to the movies for free the other night, and did the movie fold? No! So what's the deal? You see my point, right.

Marc




Dear Marc,
I ain't right sure 'bout who's been telling you how unique an' special you are. Probably your folks, lotsa people's folks'll fill their heads with crap like that. Listen to Surly here: The only freebie comin' to you is the cornholin' you're gonna get in juvie, where your lazy ass is bound to end up with that attitude.

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here's a couple of tard-ass losers desperate for attention...

Dear Surly

you fucking fake ass corny muthufukers suck big fat cocks!!! you fucken poser ass ramones wannabes will never amount to shit. be original or do something. qiut trying to live someone elses life. fuck all of you and the whore who braught you here too!!!!

Big Bad Ass Mando



Dear Surly,

Hey, write your own goddamn music. And shove dildos up your ass. No pussy for you gluesniffers. You guys are all about the cock. Ok, Im off to fuck the shit out of my girlfriend and smoke a bowl. Rock out,

Cockroach




First time I've ever heard of someone refering to his little brother by the term "girlfriend", Cockroach. I'm just sayin, is all...

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Dear Surly,

Single?

Lesley




Lesley,

Damn, a woman of few words sounds like jus' the thing for ol' Surly. You bring the Schlitz.

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Dear Surly,

Why don't you like huey?

Brian




Dear Brian,

I'm insanly jealous of his megastardom. According to him, anyway...

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Hey Surly,

I work in some stinky arab cafe for five bucks an hour (in bullshit canadian monopoly money), and im eating shit from my parents for spending that monopoly $ on a turntable and ramones records. furthermore, my shower doesnt work cause the hot water thing blew up and is colder than pouring cheap beer down your pants, and i stink worse than that arab boss of mine. got any ideas? can i use you as a reference on a job application?you guys look pretty cool. and for some goddamn reason fox is off the fukkin air, i gotta watch the dogturd 500 with jackoff bodine drivin in a fukkin circle. i hope i have fox in time for stern...fuck billy idol for not tourin over in montreal too, his old shits good, his new wave pop whiplash smile shit can go rot in the same empty keg as those pukeawful dreadlocks from the early 90s...so your hairy hungover ass better be at a bar near me before i start drinkin gasoline like some boozehound indian in a casino. anyways, any tips on how to take a shower or to get a better job? is there still any hope for me?




Boy, as fucked up as you sound, rest assured you're only about a thousanth as fucked up as most of the assholes who write to me. I recommend keeping your shitty job and taking your anger out on society.

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Dear Surly,

We're afraid we're in something of a predicament. It just so happens that we know another band that shares your title, "The Gabba Gabba Heys", and are also a Ramones cover band, from Melbourne, Australia. We suggest you discuss the matter further with the band, to make a compromise between names.

If you would like to contact them, they can be reached at this email address -

(address withheld) this is the drummer

Anne Onomous




Thanx Anne, but we ain't changing our name. Or compromising with anyone. However we do demand that this other band not leave their hemisphere, as there can be only one GGH per hemisphere as determined by international law. Just the thought alone is scary enough....

Oh, I just saw that your band is named "The Gabba Gabba Heys". Now I see we've both been worked up over nothing, as our band is named "Gabba Gabba Heys" See, we dont have a "the" in front of it. Isn't that a relief! All lawsuits and copyright issues can be put on hold. Thanks for writing, and hope you enjoyed our site!
Surly

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I have some friends who are in a Ramones cover band, and they call themselves the Gabba Gabba Heys. You bastards!

Look at you - old grandpas! Heh heh heh. Punk was about youth, about something new, a revolt against the slick, packaged rock of the seventies. You are old men. Step aside for the youth or the youth'll step on you!

They're going to be famous one day. And they might have to change their name, because of you. BAH!




Look out, I think a dingo's got your baby...
Surly

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I was reading your mailbag, when I noticed the letter from 'Anne Onomous', about another GGH's band. This is undoubtedly a friend of mine (not sure which one), as I am the drummer in question of 'The Gabba Gabba Heys!. I have to thank you for your courteous response, from your name and other letters I thought you might be an arsehole. I'm not sure about the other letter though. Could there be more than two GGH's, or might they also be talking about us?

Anyway, for our gigs we have been writing original (still Ramonesy) songs, aiming for a set composed of half originals and half covers, while stressing that we're a 'tribute band' rather than a 'cover band'. Do you think this is ethical conduct for a band called 'The Gabba Gabba Heys!'?



Thankyou,

- Sasha Gabba Hey!

P.S. We haven't got a website, so your internet monopoly is safe.

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Dear Surly,
I like animals. I think that the the fuzzy ones are the nicest. Do you like to squeeze fuzzy things?

Noise feratu




I once asked my girlfriend if she'd ever been picked up by the fuzz, and she said "no, but I've been swung by the tits".
Surly

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Dear Surly'
Was there ever(i think when they first started out) a drummer in the band
with one hand.

thanks
Todd




No, Todd, Thats Def Leppard...

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This is the saddest site I've seen today!! What a bunch of shit you fellas should all stop eating so much chicken vindalu- RAMONES are much thinner.

Joey, rest in piece and thanks for setting music straight.

Nacc3




I shall KILL you.

Surly

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Dear Surly,

Hey Surly hows it going man? I just wanted to say that you guys are the fuckin best band. i mean ramones tribute band. you guys have guts to cover such a great punk band. once again you guys fuckin rule keep on rockin. and one other thing. i have a band called The Minors!,were like pop/punk. Keep it rockin bro!

Steve Caissie




Thanks Steve,
I'm always at a loss for words when its not a bung-pitcher asking the questions...

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Dear Surly
why not be an original band?....write songs, get a look that someone else didn't make recognizable?....just wondering.

Unimpressed




Dear Unimpressed,
How the hell's your web page doing? You forgot to give me the url. I'd love to see the your amazing look and hear your groundbreaking songs... Oh, what's that? You don't have a band? You're just some dipshit who felt it necessary to criticize the countless hours of entertainment we give? It's too bad that you probably live in Finland or somewhere, cause I'd love for you to identify yourself to me in person so I can administer the beating you so richly deserve. Get fucked!

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Dear Surly,
I saw your band at a local club and wanted to talk to you after the showbut you just stormed off. What's the best way a girl can get your attention?

Sincerely,
Judy




Dear Judy,
Sorry toots, too bad I missed ya, 'cause ya' sound real cute. Next time give a note to the soundman (he's usually the one sittin' by the big board with all the little knobs), or buy a bottle of beer, come up near the stage and hit Huey upside the head with it, I'll know it's you, sweetie.

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Dear Surly,
How can I learn to play guitar?




Dear Shmuck,
Do the world a favor and learn how to skydive instead. There is enough lame brain, wanna-be fuckin' guitar players already. And, you might help with the over-population problem on this fucked up planet.

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Dear Surly,
What's a pinhead anyway?




Dear Idgit,
A Pinhead is a gullible, low intelligence guy or gal who buys, watches and votes for whatever the corporate media machine tells them to. They can't think for themselves, so they have to be told what to think by some goddamn celebrity! They also do things like e-mail questions to me!

---

Whelp, thass all for now...

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How to start? I don't know. I got asked to review this Ramones tribute band, Gabba Gabba Heys, by the guy who gets me the illegal german porno I so very much need. I told the dude, "Shit, man, I've seen the real thing fifty goddamn times. Makes me want to puke out my ass that the American public essentially ignored them for the what, twenty plus years they were together?"

---

Trust me, that hurts. I know, because my dad never hugged me. Ahh, no one cares. So anyway, even though I work for a major music magazine I thought what the hell; I'll go see these jackoffs. At the very least the experience will further galvanize my titanic bitterness.

---

The Gabba Gabba Heys were playing at some joint called The Thunderbird, in the valley no less.

---

818 for fucks sake. What am I? A married father of two, who enjoys watching golf and that stupidass millionairre show?!! No matter.

---

The bar was typical. Typical pool table, typical stools, typical customers who've never wanted anything from life except for the cheap booze this shithole was pouring out at inflated titty bar prices.

---

Some lame-ass group made up of four fellas who'd look more comfortable in an alley beating up a transvestite went on before them. Yikes! I hadn't felt this dirty since I jerked off to that snuff film of the little Cub Scout.

---

I order a shot of Jaeger, and kick myself for not bringing some crank. There ain't but twenty people in the place. None of whom seem to give a damn there's live music in the room. God, I hate people.

---

Sometime before midnight the Gabba Gabba heys take the stage. Very little talk, even less tuning. Okay, now what? One Two Three Four!!!! Blitzkrieg Bop kicks open the set like the ATF storming an innocent black man's apartment. Quick, sharp with no apologies.

---

The lead singer is signifigantly shorter than Joey, the man he's portraying, but he gets everything else right. Very little movement and an excess of attitude. He ain't got nothing to prove to these yahoos. I couldn't agree more.

---

In the next ten minutes they churn out six more Ramone's classics, including I Wanna Be Sedated and Teenage Lobotomy. I'll be damned if I'm not getting into it. And I ain't the only one. The chick at the end of the bar who minutes ago had her face stuck to the faux oak counter has now got her ugly mug vertical and she's actually trying to form a sentence. The first since two weeks ago when she said, " My name is Flo and I'm an alcoholic."

---

She says "These guys fucking rock." And she's right. The drummer's laying into his kit like his ex-wife is stuck in the bass drum. The bass player has the Dee Dee thing down tight. A mix of stupidity, anger and Chinese Rock has this shag haired, leather clad gonzo leading these rock'n roll soldiers over the next hill to the promised land like Patton thru Berlin.

---

The whole place is on their feet now. Sixty people sounding like three times that. Joey, Tommy, Johnny and DeeDee - can it be? Did the boys from Forest Hills pull a fast one on us? Christ, if it wasn't for the lead singer's challenged height, I'd swear it was true.

---

The guitar player is a buzzsaw, hitting notes like nails into a vampire's coffin. The mosrite is his bitch and it's alive only to serve him. This son of a bitch could give a shit if the audience is 9 people or 900. He's doing it cuz it feels good.

---

On the way we're treated to Pet Semetary, Judy is a Punk, We're A Happy Family, 53rd and 3rd, even Motorhead's R.A.M.O.N.E.S. Like thirty songs in total. At least.

---

The crowd wants more but fuck them. They're lucky they got this much. I know because I'm one of them. Within seconds the energy in the room has dropped to nothing. The only sign any of this happened is the poster promoting these Gabba Gabba Heys on the floor. Some chick even grabs that as she stumbles out of the bar.

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As I head to my car with just a tiny bit less hate in my heart, I see the Gabba's guitar player. I say, "Not fuckin' bad, man" He replies, "Go fuck yourself." I smile. Shit, these guys are good.

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Ramones tribute bands are a dime a dozen these days. Why, just look over your shoulder out the window-see those kids right there? They're in a Ramones tribute band. It's true. Go ask them later. Right now, gaze upon this interview with Huey of the Gabba Gabba Heys, a Ramones tribute band from somewhere in California. I stumbled upon their website one sleepless night and I found it to be much funnier than this site. Now read, mammajamma! JOHNNY TURD: Foist of all, state your name and position in the Gabba Gabba Heys (not to mention which Ramone you are paying homage to personally). HUEY: I play the guitar, so naturally I pay homage to Johnny Ramone. I'm also the dictator of this band, so I guess that would be another similarity 'tween us n them. The other guys are Ricky on bass, Spooney on vox, and Surly on the drums, all of who I dont get along with very well. JT: Just like the real Ramones! What do you feel separates the Gabba Gabba Heys from all those other Ramones tribute bands out there? HUEY: Well, I dont know any other ones personally, but if they don't look like 'em or sound like 'em and blast out 25 songs in 50 minutes, then we have their asses kicked! 'Course if they do all that, they might be even better than us, I mean who knows, right? Oh, and our website is completely great. It's GGHeys.com -go ahead, check it out! JT: Have you gotten any feedback from actual Ramones? HUEY: Our bass player Ricky, who has been around the block since the rest of us were knee-high, is actually friends with some of the Ramones, having toured with them in various opening bands over the years. I think he had some falling out though, cause he seems to go on tirades about their various personalities. Pretty funny to listen to, actually... You ever hear Marky and Joey fighting with each other on Howard Stern? I guess that's what it was like all the time with all of 'em. JT: Yeah, that was friggin' beautiful when they were on Stern's show. In leiu of actual thoughtful questioning, I'm going to test your Ramones trivia here, thereby proving your worthiness. At one time, Johnny Ramone had a cat. What was its name? HUEY: Snuggles? Woogums? Morris? Sheena? Jackie? Judy? P.J. ? Heidi? JT: WRONG! According to "Ramones: An American Band" by Jim Bessman, Johnny's cat HAD NO NAME, because animals don't have names in the wild! Oh, SNAP! Do you guys ever throw some ABBA or Styx in your set just to cleanse the pallette? HUEY: I wanted to do "Cat Scratch Fever", but that hasn't flown... songs not written by the Ramones we have done were "Spiderman", "R.A.M.O.N.E.S." and "Happy Birthday". JT: Man, you need to do some Journey. Lastly (and most importantly), what was your favorite Chris Farley/David Spade vehicle-Tommy Boy or Black Sheep (be sure to explain your answer thouroughly)? HUEY: I didn't see Black Sheep. Tommy Boy had "I Love it Loud" covered by some alt-rock band play during the credits. That ruled. I thought the whole 'Van Down By The River' thing was funnier than Tommy Boy, though. Remember that? I was cryin' when I saw that... JT: Ugh, I am disgusted by this response. End of interview.

GGH hit the stage rockin' as usual at Paladino's last Friday night. They call themselves a Ramones Ripoff band, and they ripoff the Ramones to a T. Huey (as Johnny on guitar) sneers at the audience like he's asking them "Go ahead, and try to fuck with me!" His guitar playing and moves on stage kick butt! Spooney (as Joey on vocals) hits all the right notes. There's an edge to his voice that would make Joey proud! Ricky (as Dee Dee on Bass) rumbles and fills in all the spaces with electric earthquake vibrations. There's not a hole to be heard! Surly (as Marky on Drums) keeps the tempo on a frenetic edge. His energy is "ass"tounding, and it's hard to sit still when he bangs on those skins! GGH plays as hard and fast as the Ramones did - barely stopping to take a breath between songs, except to ask for requests. And as soon as you stop moving, asking for a minute to compose yourself, they blast into another perfectly duplicated Ripoff. Nina Still Rockin' LA

One of the reasons we chose to go to Foxx's Club on New Years Eve was because it's so close to where we live - not having to deal with the drunk drivers for miles. The other reason was to check out a Ramones tribute band called Gabba Gabba Heys. Finally, the band we came to see hit the stage. Gabba Gabba Heys actually made me feel like I was listening to the Ramones live. Not only did they accept my requests for certain songs and play them, but they did it extremely well. They looked like the Ramones, sounded like the Ramones, and played just as frenetically as the Ramones. Song after wonderful song, blasting through them like it was a piece of cake. They even played "Sedated" almost as fast as the Ramones did on their live CD. I've become a devoted fan of Gabba Gabba Heys, and will keep track of anywhere they'll be playing in the L. A. area. What a special and extremely rockin' way to start the New Year. Thank you, Gabba Gabba Heys! Nina Still Rockin' LA