week on the Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show I start things off by regaling my woes

at the beginning of the week. Fortunately the second half was top draw stuff

with gigs from Reckless Love and the subject of this week’s show; Richie Ramone

at The Boiler Room in Guildford. Richie is over here to promote his debut CD “Entitled”

with his band comprising of friends of the show Alex Kane and Clare Misstake

both, as you should know, from the currently on hiatus AntiProduct and…..once upon

a time the other surviving drumming Ramone’s ‘Blitzkrieg Band’. During the

course of the band’s set Richie flits from drum kit to mic with rhythm guitarist

Ben Reagan picking up the sticks when necessary. Obviously choice cuts from “Entitled”

are played along with tracks from the three Ramones albums that Richie drummed

on. However Richie doesn’t overlook the early classic Ramones albums. Yes he

didn’t appear on those studio albums, that would be Tommy and Marky, but he did

play them live for over 500 shows over the course of five years. So he is, as

his album says, “Entitled”. In past interviews Richie has voiced his concerns

that he didn’t want to see his band viewed as a Ramones tribute. He hasn’t got

anything to worry about; Alex, Clare and Ben aren’t all dressed up in jeans and

leather jackets. Alex live still scares the shit out of me with his “I’m going

to kill you” facial expressions, off stage he is one of the most genuine people

you could meet. Sound wise? Probably the closest you’ll get to hearing The

Ramones. Admittedly Richie doesn’t sound like Joey, but why would he, who does?

The Ramones were a totally unique band as were all the individual ‘brothers’.

Not a tribute just continuing the legacy.