CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast

Hey kids!

The end is nigh. The leather jackets are battered, the engines are running on fumes, and the greatest punk rock ‘n’ roll band on the planet is staring down the barrel of its final studio album.

But Adios Amigos isn't quite the predictable last blast you might expect. There's more going on here than meets the eye…

This week, we dive into Side A of the Ramones' final record, from Tom Waits' ‘I Don't Want to Grow Up’—the unlikely cover CJ championed—to Daniel Rey's invaluable contribution behind the boa...

Hey kids! Welcome back…

Before she was dancing with zombies in The Return of the Living Dead, Linnea Quigley was a Midwestern kid who jumped ship for Los Angeles, found punk rock, picked up a guitar and started making some noise.

In this episode, Linnea takes us from the early LA punk scene and her adventures in music to cult horror movies, chainsaws, prosthetics and the wonderfully deranged world of The Return of the Living Dead.

And then there’s the Ramones…

Linnea takes us behind the scenes...

For the penultimate episode of the CJ Says Deep Dive Series, Matt Stocks and CJ Ramone dive headfirst into Acid Eaters—the Ramones’ glorious trip through the songs, sounds and sub-genres that first inspired the band back in 1977.

For Matt, this record is personal. Acid Eaters was the first proper Ramones album he ever owned after being seduced by the album cover and the promise of whatever was happening inside.

And CJ was there, in the studio, with the band, and he’s got the intel on all of it.What started life as an...

Hey kids! Welcome to another episode of CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast.

This week, we're joined by Joe Sib—singer, storyteller, comedian, label boss, lifer, and all-round punk rock renaissance man.

We dive deep into the Ramones universe in this interview, from Joe's recollection of first meeting CJ on the Escape from New York tour in 1990 and discovering they were two kids with the same musical background, to why CJ felt like “one of us” when he stepped into the shoes of Dee Dee Ramone.

We also head way back to the...

Hey kids! Welcome back to CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast.

This week, we’re going deep into Side A of Mondo Bizarro with a man who was there. The one and only CJ Ramone…

We kick things off with ‘Censorshit’, Joey Ramone’s furious, funny and unapologetically political response to the music-censorship battles of the early ’90s. CJ takes us inside the recording of the track, explains why it was an obvious choice to open the album, and recalls how the Ramones worked out the sequencing in the studio, moving songs around on the board as...

Hey kids! Welcome to another episode of CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast.

This week, we're stepping into the wonderfully deranged world of Dirty Donny — artist, hot-rod obsessive, Ramones fanatic, and one of the great modern custodians of the all-American art forms of rock 'n' roll, lowbrow and car culture.

Drawing inspiration from legends like Coop and Big Daddy Roth, Donny has spent decades creating a visual universe packed with flames, monsters, skulls, chrome and enough gasoline fumes to permanently alter your brain chemistry. And then there was the small matter of spending six mo...

Hey kids! Welcome to another Deep Dive episode of CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast.

This week, we drop the needle on Brain Drain—the Ramones' eleventh studio album, released in 1989, and a record that arrived at one of the most turbulent moments in the band's history.

By this point, the cracks were beginning to show. Richie Ramone was gone, Dee Dee was battling his own demons, and the band were facing the increasingly familiar struggle between artistic credibility, commercial success, and simply keeping the machine moving. And yet, somehow, Brain Drain produced some of...

Hey kids! Welcome to another episode of CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast.

This week, we're heading north of the border to Vancouver to sit down with one of the great survivors of the punk rock underground: Joey Shithead, frontman of DOA, and a man who’s spent nearly five decades making noise, causing trouble, and proving that punk was never supposed to be a spectator sport.

Joey takes us back to the beginning—to the first time he saw the Ramones and The Clash and realised that this strange, furious thing called punk rock...

Hey kids! Welcome to another Deep Dive episode of CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast.

This week, we drop the needle on Halfway to Sanity—the Ramones' tenth studio album, released in 1987, which proved that after eleven years of broken hearts and internal warfare, the brothers weren't ready to lie down and die.

By this point, the musical landscape had changed beyond recognition. Punk had mutated, MTV had taken over the airwaves, and the Ramones were deeper into their career than most bands ever survive. Yet here they were, still writing songs, making records, an...

Hey kids! Welcome to another episode of CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast.

This week, we throw the doors of the punk-rock asylum wide open and invite onto the show the illustrious Blag Dahlia—frontman of the Dwarves, professional troublemaker, underground philosopher, solo artist, and one of the few men alive who can discuss the Ramones, Frank Zappa, jazz, rock 'n' roll, swing, and the decline of Western civilisation without even pausing for breath…

In this interview, Blag explains why the Ramones changed his life, not because they were the most technically accomplished musicians, but...

Hey kids! Welcome to another Deep Dive episode of CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast.

This week, we drop the needle on Animal Boy—the Ramones' ninth studio album and one of the most idiosyncratically awkward records in the band's back catalogue.

Animal Boy is a far from perfect record. Yet, there are flashes of brilliance buried beneath some questionable production, strange sequencing, curious keyboards, and moments where Johnny's guitar sounds like it’s been away locked in a cupboard. But underneath the sonic clutter is some seriously great songwriting—and, perhaps more importantly, a fasc...

Hey kids! Welcome to another instalment of CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast.

We've got a great artist interview lined up this week.

Before New York became a cultural phenomenon, it was a state of mind—a city where punk rock, fashion, nightlife, and art collided inside smoke-filled clubs beneath neon lights.

This week, we're joined by one of the true architects of that world…

Miss Guy is a musician, DJ, performer and trailblazer whose journey into New York's underground began with a chance meeting with Malcolm McLaren and...

Hey kids! Welcome to another Deep Dive episode of CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast.

This week, we drop the needle on Too Tough to Die — the album that didn't just save the Ramones…it reminded the world who they were…

By 1984, the musical landscape had shifted beneath their feet. Punk rock had splintered into a thousand different directions, mainstream success remained frustratingly out of reach, and the band themselves seemed caught somewhere between experimentation and lack of direction. Then came Too Tough to Die.

With Tommy Ramone back behind the consol...

Hey kids! Welcome to another episode of CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast.

Long before Manic Panic became one of the world's most recognisable hair colour brands, its founders, Tish and Snooky, were simply two young sisters trying to carve out a place for themselves in the beautiful chaos of New York's underground scene.

This week, we sit down with the creators of the legendary company to explore a story that stretches far beyond hair dye and make-up—from their childhoods and the early days of CBGB to forming the gloriously named Sick Fucks, sc...

Hey kids! Welcome to another Deep Dive episode of CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast.

This week, we explore the bizarre world of the Ramones' seventh studio album, Subterranean Jungle—a record that divides fans as much today as it did back in 1983.

An unexpected pair of cover songs kick things off, and the production is notably more ‘experimental’ than anything the band had attempted to date, which begs the question: were the Ramones consciously evolving their sound... or simply fighting to survive as the musical landscape of the early '80s drifted further and fu...

This week on CJ Says, we sit down with one of the true originals of American punk rock 'n' roll. Nikki Corvette is a singer, songwriter, and unapologetic rock and roller whose story begins—much like proto-punk pioneers The Stooges and MC5—in the Motor City of Detroit.

Emerging from a scene that prized attitude and authenticity, Nikki quietly embodies both. Equal parts primitive punk rock and infectious girl-group pop, her music proves you don't need to scream and shout to be tough. Long before female voices were finally given the musical recognition they deserved during the...

Hey kids! Welcome to Episode 011 of CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast.

This week, we drop the needle on the Ramones' sixth studio album, Pleasant Dreams, which might just be the most underrated record of their entire career.

Before we begin, a huge thank you to everyone who’s already subscribed to the show over on Patreon. Your enthusiasm, support, and belief in this little corner of the Ramones universe continues to inspire us every single week. This podcast simply would not be gathering the momentum it has without you. So, thank you!

There are photographers who take pictures, and there are those who capture culture itself in their images. Bob Gruen firmly falls into the latter group.

In this week’s guest interview, we sit down with the legendary rock 'n’ roll documentarian whose images helped define the look and spirit of 1970s New York - and beyond.

While other photographers exclusively chased stars, Bob Gruen was drawn to the raw energy of downtown Manhattan and the Lower East Side, where he documented all the artists busy reinventing rock 'n’ roll—including the Ramones!!

Wh...

In Episode 009 of CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast, we step into the strange and fascinating world of the Ramones’ fifth studio album, 'End of the Century' — an album forever suspended between the neon glow of pure pop ambition and the battered leather jacket of punk rock purity.

It’s 1980. The Ramones have already helped redraw the map of modern music, and now they find themselves in the hands of eccentric production wizard Phil Spector, chasing a bigger sound, bigger audiences, and perhaps something even more elusive: mainstream success.

What emerged was their most commer...

When the topic of punk rock comes up in conversation, the Ramones are often at the forefront of the discussion. Their raw energy and unique sound changed the landscape of music indefinitely.

In Episode 008 of CJ Says, we enjoy a fascinating conversation with Kid Congo Powers - former president of the West Coast Ramones Fan Club and guitarist in The Gun Club, The Cramps & Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - in which Kid shares his personal encounters with the band and the impact that they had upon him and countless others...

Here...

Road to Ruin was the last of the "Big Four" Ramones’ records.

This album marked a turning point for the band. With new drummer Marky Ramone stepping in to fill Tommy’s shoes, and Tommy & Ed Stasium manning the production dials, the sound of the band transformed in their quest for commercial success.

The energy was still raw, but by this point the Ramones were also pushing boundaries and experimenting with new styles, and this album showcases their growth as songwriters & musicians.

As we reflect on the band’s legacy and de...

Ever wondered how Harley Flanagan’s chaotic upbringing shaped his hardcore spirit?

In Episode 006 of CJ Says, Harley shares how his wild childhood fuelled his passion for music and community - from his misspent youth running loose on the mean streets of NYC, to his introduction to skinhead culture in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to making music that was louder than the noise inside his head, it’s all part of his survival story…

This episode explores how punk rock was more than just a genre; it was a lifeline for all those who felt l...

This week we’re taking a Deep Dive into the third album by Ramones, which many people believe to be their defining musical statement, Rocket to Russia, released November 4, 1977.

From the razor sharp production to its pop-infused singles that defined a generation, come with us now as we discuss what makes this record a true punk rock masterpiece, and why it remains a firm favourite among fans and critics alike. 

Ramones truly hit their stride with this album, making it a milestone in the band’s legacy & trajectory.

Significantly, it was a...

Slim Jim Phantom from Stray Cats joins CJ & Matt this week for the second CJ Says Guest Interview...

If you've ever wondered how Stray Cats developed their unmistakable style of punk-infused rockabilly with a New York twist, then look no further, because The Honest Mechanic is here to spill the beans in this week's in-depth interview.

According to Slim Jim, Stray Cats drew heavily from the early rockabilly records of Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly, and Elvis Presley, blending the signature sound of Sun Studios with the raw punk rock energy of their contemporaries...

Welcome to Episode 003 of CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast.

We're back on the record reviews this week, and our second Deep Dive episode delves into the sophomore album by Ramones, Leave Home, released on January 10, 1977.

With their second LP, the band aimed to refine their sound, striving for a more polished product in their quest for mainstream success, while still staying true to the raw punk energy that made Ramones such a timeless, classic & beloved debut.

The doo-wop, surf rock & bubblegum pop influences continue to inform their signature sound, propped...

Welcome to the first ever CJ Says Guest Interview, featuring the legendary Duff McKagan of Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver.

In this episode, Duff shares his personal journey from his humble punk rock beginnings to playing in some of the biggest bands in the world, and the music and experiences that shaped his life along the way.

Duff's love for punk rock dates back to his childhood growing up in Seattle. In this interview, he reveals how one of his early Seattle bands, 10 Minute Warning, inspired local musicians Stone Gossard and Jeff...

Welcome to the first official episode of CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast. 

We begin where all good stories should: at the start!

The debut self-titled album by Ramones was released on this day, fifty years ago…

What better date to launch a Ramones-centric podcast than the 50th anniversary of their classic debut record? 

Whether you're brand new to the music of Ramones, or a long-time fan of the band, understanding their debut album, Ramones, is essential...

Released on April 23, 1976, this record didn’t just revolu...

Hey kids! Welcome to your new favourite podcast...

CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast.

A weekly deep dive into the music, legacy & impact of the world-famous Ramones.

Hosted by CJ Ramone & Matt Stocks.

Everything you need to know about the podcast is in this introductory episode - so dive in, and let's begin, as we embark on a sonic exploration of the greatest punk band of all-time.

Be sure to check out the CJ Says Patreon page also...

This is your one-stop...