Marky Ramone

Marky Ramone is best known for the 15 years he spent drumming for the legendary Ramones. Prior to joining the Ramones, Marky played with an array of influential musicians dating back to his high school years when he was a member of the Brooklyn based hard rock band, Dust. Recording two albums with his friends, Richie Wise (guitar and vocals) and Kenny Aaronson (bass) for Neil Bogart's Karma Sutra/Buddha label.

While Dust was disbanding, Marky began hanging out at Max's Kansas City, where he met Max's house D.J. Wayne County. He joined forces with Wayne to form Wayne County and The Backstreet Boys. Wayne's outrageous stage performance and cross-dressing attracted many fans and help solidify a cult following. After a year and a half of playing in the New York area and not able to generate record company interest, they decided it was best to move on.

In 1976, Marky was introduced to Richard Hell. Along with Bob Quine and Ivan Julian, they formed Richard Hell & the Voidoids. The Voidoids released their groundbreaking debut album in 1977 on Sire Records, entitled "Blank Generation". Shortly after the Voidoids historic U.K. tour with The Clash, Marky found himself at the bar at CBGB with Dee Dee Ramone. Dee Dee asked him if he would be interested in joining The Ramones.

The spring of 1978, Marky joined the Ramones. In a matter of weeks he was in the studio recording his first album with The Ramones entitled, "Road to Ruin", which features one of the biggest Ramones songs "I Wanna Be Sedated". The following year the Ramones filmed the cult classic "Rock 'n' Roll High School". Later that year, they joined forces with producer legend, Phil Spector to record "End Of The Century".

After several tours and a two more studio albums, Marky was asked to leave the band 1983, only to rejoin his band mates in 1987 until they decided to call it quits in 1996. His tenure with the Ramones spanned a total of 15 years. Performing over 1700 shows and more than 15 releases, including songwriting credits on both Mondo Bizarro and Adios Amigos, the bands farewell release.

In 2000, Marky reunited with long time friend Joey Ramone for Joey's solo effort "Don't Worry About Me". In 2001, Marky along with his former band mates (Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy), were inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame. That same year, U2's Bono presented the Ramones with the MTV's Lifetime Achievement Award.

The DVD release, "Raw", a compilation of mostly home videos filmed predominantly by Marky was release in 2004 and entered the Billboard video chart at number 5. Certified gold in three countries and currently the best selling Ramones DVD release to date.

In the spring of 2009, Marky launched a capsule collection clothing line with Hilfiger Denim. In 2010, Marky shared his recipe for pasta sauce by introducing Marky Ramone's Brooklyn's Own Pasta Sauce.

In February 2010 The Ramones received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. It was the first Grammy for the punk rock pioneers.

In early 2010 Marky Ramones Blitzkrieg with Michale Graves released their first single "When We Were Angels" with former member of Sheer Terror, Mark Neuman, playing bass and guitar.

With no signs of slowing down, Marky Ramone continues to tour the world with his band, Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg, featuring various lead vocalists including Andrew W.K. and Michale Graves.

Marky is currently in his eighth year as a D.J. on SiriusXM Satelldite Radio hosing "Marky Ramone's Punk Rock Blitzkrieg". Marky has also appeared on numerous TV shows including The Simpsons, Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations and ZRock.

Website:

https://markyramone.com/

The Black Tones

Punk blues

The Black Tones welcome audiences into their musical family every time they take the stage. Once you see them live, you've then become a part of their extended sonic kin. Founded by twins Eva and Cedric Walker, the Seattle-based rock ‘n' roll band has grown from humble beginnings in their grandmother's basement to receiving recognition from Guitar World, AfroPunk, KEXP, American Songwriter, Under the Radar and NPR, which said, "The Black Tones are redefining Seattle music."

Over the past handful of years, the rock group has shared stages with Weezer, Mavis Staples, Death Cab for Cutie, Tank and the Bangas, Fishbone and many more. The group has also worked closely with Pearl Jam's Mike McCready on several projects, including a cover of U2's "Pride (In the Name of Love)." And in 2019, The Black Tones released their debut LP, Cobain & Cornbread, which was engineered by the legendary Godfather of Grunge, Jack Endino.

That album garnered the group many accolades, including the rank of #17 on KEXP's Best Albums of 2019 list. Not to be outdone, The Seattle Times dubbed the group one of the 15 Most Influential Artists of the 2010's. In 2020 The Black Tones released a limited edition 7" ("Where Do We Go Now" b/w "The Devil & Grandma'') on McCready's record label, HockyTalkter Records. And in 2022, the rock band caught the attention of Sub Pop Records, which released their single, "The End of Everything" b/w "Mr. Mines."

While these accomplishments are lofty, Eva and Cedric keep their feet firmly on the ground, maintaining warmth and humility, joy and a sense of familial freedom. To wit, The Black Tones boast their own hate group-fighting 8-bit video game, "They Want Us Dead," inspired by their hit single, "The Key of Black." In the game, players can fight hate groups like the alt-right, slave owners and more as either Eva or Cedric, traveling back through time.

Truly, for the band, music is as much entertainment and expression as it is a chance at activism. To change the world-or even a single person's perception of it-through songs is an honor for Eva and Cedric and one it does not take lightly. Whether singing songs about the danger black bodies incur daily, spiders in their childhood bedrooms or fantastical "ghetto spaceships," The Black Tones' charisma and infectious blues-punk approach is exemplary, essential and the stuff of deep roots.