I have a confession, and it is likely to shock some, but I feel it must be said:

I have never listened to a Ramones album.

There. It’s out.

I have no explanation for this, it’s not like I dislike The Ramones. I have heard several songs on the radio and I like what I’ve heard, like “I Wanna Be Sedated” and “Rock and Roll High School” and of course “Blitzkrieg Bop”.

Furthermore… everyone that mentions The Ramones in videos I watch and books I read all pretty much describe them as being the catalyst for wanting to be musicians and that hearing them changed their lives.

Henry Rollins loves them.

As I think back on it though, Dalton, my main source for new music back in the day never really spoke about The Ramones, and didn’t have any albums of theirs. To my knowledge he only had the song “I Wanna Be Sedated” which was featured in a lot of mix tapes.

Maybe it was simply BECAUSE everyone else loved them so much. You know… the Dave Matthews effect.

The Dave Matthews effect is when I avoid a band because everyone hardcore loves them and the hype is at an unbelievably high level. These go to 11 style. It’s why I avoided The Grateful Dead until Garcia was dead and I didn’t check out Dave Matthews for real until the 2000’s and had to admit that both were as good as everyone claimed.

Sub confession: I’m listening to Dave Matthews as I write this.

So who knows, The Ramones may be another victim of the Dave Matthews effect.

Or, it could be that the time that they could have really made an impression on me was when I was in a metal phase, or my “The 80’s will NEVER die” phase. It is true that my taste has morphed. I started with Linda Ronstadt and Neil Diamond and now listen to everything… rock, funk, jazz, ambient, country (limited), sitar music, African jazz, you name it. The Ramones may be my next big thing.

I vow to at least give them a try to see if they click with me. It seems I owe them and everyone who has ever recommended them to me directly or indirectly at least one chance.

Now that one member has passed as well as many many years… it’s time.

I’ll give it a go.