It's been a little more than five months since the publication of my book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones. In the giddy process of promoting the book, one of the many highlights--maybe THE single biggest highlight, and that's sayin' sumpin--was the book release party at The 443 Social Club and Lounge. You can read my recap of that event here.
The book release party included live sets by 1.4.5. and Perilous (both of whom I'm looking forward to seeing again at a big rock 'n' roll show on October 27th at The Lost Horizon, on a bill with the Grip Weeds, Preacher, and Kenne Highland's Airforce). And one of my highest of lights on that Saturday night at the 443 back in May has gotta be getting to sing "Rockaway Beach" on stage. A book published! Singing live with a rock 'n' roll band! Two dreams come true within the space of a single boppin' month.
My guest appearance channeling Joey Ramone for a single-song performance with the combined forces of the Perilous 1.4.5. grew out of an idea I had for a unique medley honoring the unlikely roots of the Ramones' signature tune, "Blitzkrieg Bop." Logistics didn't allow any plausible opportunity to arrange and rehearse such a thing, so unrehearsed li'l me instead warbled "Rockaway Beach," a song the musicians already planned to play anyway.
So! This is a view of what might have been. Take it, Tom O'Reily!
1-2-3-4!
Hey-ho, let's go!
Hey-ho, let's go!
Hey-ho, let's go!
Hey-ho, let's go!
They're forming in a straight line
They're going through a tight wind
The kids are losing their minds
The Blitzkrieg Bop
They're piling in the back seat
They're generating steam heat
Pulsating to the back beat
The Blitzkrieg Bop
Hey-ho, let's go
Shoot 'em in the back now
What they want, I don't know
They're all revved up and ready to go
They're forming in a straight line
They're going through a tight wind
The kids are losing their minds
The Blitzkrieg Bop
WAITWAITWAITWAITWAITWAIT!
Johnny Ramone told me that when the Ramones started out, they thought they were a bubblegum band. Around that time, the biggest teen pop band in the world had a # 1 hit with a song that had a chant in it. So the Ramones figured they needed a song with a chant. They wrote "Blitzkrieg Bop." Hey-ho, let's go! The Ramones wanted a catchy chant like that song they heard on AM radio. "Blitzkrieg Bop" was inspired by the Bay City Rollers.
What day is today?
And it's night time, right?
Do we have to spell it out?
1-2-3-4!
S! A! T-U-R! D-A-Y! NIGHT!
S! A! T-U-R! D-A-Y! NIGHT!
S! A! T-U-R! D-A-Y! NIGHT!
S! A! T-U-R! D-A-Y! NIGHT!
Gonna keep on dancing to the rock 'n' roll
On Saturday night, Saturday night
Dancin' to the rhythm in our heart and soul
On Saturday night, Saturday night
I-I-I-I I just can't wait
I-I-I-I got a date
At the good old rock 'n' roll road show
I gotta go
Saturday night, Saturday night
Gonna rock it up
Roll it up
Do it all
Have a ball
Saturday night, Saturday night
S-S-S-Saturday night
S-S-S-Saturday night
S-S-S-Saturday night
S! A! T-U-R! D-A-Y! NIGHT!
S! A! T-U-R! D-A-Y! NIGHT!
S! A! T-U-R! D-A-Y! NIGHT!
S! A! T-U-R! D-A-Y! NIGHT!
1-2-3-4!
Hey-ho, let's go!
Hey-ho, let's go!
Hey-ho, let's go!
Hey-ho, let's go!
They're forming in a straight line
They're going through a tight wind
The kids are losing their minds
The Blitzkrieg Bop
They're piling in the back seat
They're generating steam heat
Pulsating to the back beat
The Blitzkrieg Bop
Hey-ho, let's go
Shoot 'em in the back now
What they want, I don't know
They're all revved up and ready to go
They're forming in a straight line
They're going through a tight wind
The kids are losing their minds
The Blitzkrieg Bop
They're piling in the back seat
They're generating steam heat
Pulsating to the back beat
The Blitzkrieg Bop
Hey-ho, let's go
Shoot 'em in the back now
What they want, I don't know
They're all revved up and ready to go
They're forming in a straight line
They're going through a tight wind
The kids are losing their minds
The Blitzkrieg Bop
They're piling in the back seat
They're generating steam heat
Pulsating to the back beat
The Blitzkrieg Bop
Hey-ho, let's go!
Hey-ho, let's go!
Hey-ho, let's go!
Hey-ho, let's go!
"Blitzkrieg Bop" written by Tommy Ramone, Joey Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, and Johnny Ramone, published by Taco Tunes and WB Music Corp.
"Saturday Night" written by Phil Coulter and Bill Martin, published by Colgems EMI Music c/o Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Arranged by CC Ramone. CC? Dat's ME!!
If you like what you see here on Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do), please consider a visit to CC's Tip Jar.
Carl's new book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones is now available, courtesy of the good folks at Rare Bird Books. Gabba Gabba YAY!! https://rarebirdlit.com/gabba-gabba-hey-a-conversation-with-the-ramones-by-carl-cafarelli/
If it's true that one book leads to another, my next book will be The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1). Stay tuned. Your turn is coming.
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl airs Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, streaming at SPARK stream and on the Radio Garden app as WESTCOTT RADIO. Recent shows are archived at Westcott Radio. You can read about our history here.
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