Out of the music doldrums of the mid-seventies, the Ramones came roaring out of the Forest Hills neighborhood of Queens, New York, to assert themselves as purveyors of a new sound called “punk rock.” Formed at least partly as a reaction to the self-involved musicianship and obnoxious disco of the era, the Ramones style was like nothing else. Loud, fast, repetitive, and concise, the Ramones music was filled with themes of dangerous topics: drug use, gay prostitution, alienation, broken families, anger, and more. Their style was reflected in their stage presence, in their signature ripped jeans and leather jackets, and in the artwork that frequented their albums and T-shirts.
The Ramones formed in 1974 with the following line-up: Joey Ramone (vocals), Johnny Ramone (guitar), Dee Dee Ramone (bass), and Tommy Ramone (drums). They had been listening to the Stooges, and would drive into the city to watch glam rock bands. After seeing the New York Dolls, their musical approach began to foment. Joey’s mother owned an art gallery off Queens Blvd where the Ramones practiced in the early days. It was during this stage that they wrote “Judy is a Punk.” Tommy recognized the potential of the music, and they recorded a demo at 914 Sound Studios.
