First and foremost, you
are from Long Island and continue to live there, how are you and your family
after Hurricane Sandy?
We made
out ok. Lost power for about 12 hours, had to rebuild a fence and do some minor
roof repair, otherwise undamaged. A hell of a storm though!
You were part of The
Ramones for seven years, how did you get involved with playing with them?
I
went to an open audition at SIR studio on 25th st. in NYC. It was a
seedy, rundown industrial area in the late '80's. Now it's all art galleries
and the old elevated train trestle that runs over the street is a
walkway/park. I'd heard about the audition from a friend that was playing
drums for Joeys brother Mickey. I was in the Marine Corps at the time, but
went to the audition just to meet the guys. Of course I got more than I'd
bargained for in the end!
When you came on board,
you replaced Dee Dee in the band. What was it like stepping into those shoes?
I
tried not to think of my position as a replacement for DeeDee. He is the
original, no one does it better. He was also a huge influence. I
looked at like I'd been hired to do a job and I needed to do it to the
best of my ability. I did not want to disappoint Johnny and Joey!
By the time you came on
board they were a well oiled touring machine, what was the work ethic like? Was
it strange being the new guy in the band?
Johnny
ran the band. There were rules that were not negotiable and if
you screwed up, you answered to him. He was not very forgiving. I was
"Baby" Ramone til the band retired. Being the new guy never
went away. I didn't mind a bit.
Where you a fan of the
band when you joined them or did you look at this as a good job and some work?
I
was a huge fan, but I still considered it work.
Since the band were road
dogs, what was it like being on the road with The Ramones?
The
road was like everything else. Moments of greatness, moments of pain,
boredom, and suffering. Mostly just fun. Countless
hours in airports, on planes, driving hundreds of miles in vans or
busses. The joke was we don't get paid for shows, we get paid for the
other 22 and 1/2 hours of endless traveling and eating crappy road food.
Not to mention jetlag!
What is your greatest
memory about playing in The Ramones?
Probably my first show. September 30th, 1989 in Leicester, England. I got
hit with coins and bottles and was covered with spit by the end of the
show. I loved every second of it.
When the band had their
final show in LA in 1996, what was it like when the gig ended?
Anti-climatic. No one said good bye or shook hands. I didn't even
realize the band had left til Johnny's roadie came over and told me that they
had left and that Johnny said I could have the bass amps
9. Like I
said DeeDee was my hero, I was as excited to play with him as I was when I got
the Ramones audition. He was one of a kind!
You are about to release your debut,
Reconquista, what was it like making your first solo record?
The actual recording was one of the best experiences I've had in the
studio. Steve Soto from the Adolescents helped me put together an album I
am really proud of and deserves to have the Ramone name on it. My buddy
Jose Medeles did drums and percussion and we rounded out the record with guest
players from Bad Religion, X, Social Distortion, The Adolescents, The Street
Dogs, Flogging Molly, and Blondie.
Now that you are on your own,
what is it like making music for yourself?
I'm a band guy. I like being part of a team where everyone kicks in.
Doing it on my own is fun, but I miss the band thing. The best part, no
arguing, egos or attitudes!
When
did the idea come about to finally ditch being a band and just record under
your own name?
After my last band Bad Chopper split. I'd had enough and thought it was a
good time for a CJ solo act.
What
has been the most rewarding experience you have had being a musician?
