The Ramones might be wellknown, but their eponymous name’s origin is shrouded in mystery for many. Emerging from the Forest Hills neighbourhood of Queens, New York, in 1974, the American punk rock ensemble was pivotal in spearheading the punk movement in both the US and around the world.
Despite not hitting the jackpot in terms of record sales during their active years, today the Ramones are hailed as punk culture icons. Curiously, each member donned the Ramone moniker yet shared no familial ties.
Their initial line-up featured Joey Ramone on vocals, Dee Dee Ramone rocking the bass, Johnny Ramone on guitar and Tommy Ramone on drums. A burning question among fans has been the rationale behind their adoption of “Ramone” – and the truth certainly piqued interest.
A curious Reddit user posted: “How did ‘the Ramones’ come up with their name? Yeah, I know I can Google it, but I’m being lazy and I’m sure someone in here knows the answer.”
The query sparked a flurry of speculation and discourse online. One fan retorted: “I think it was from a fake name Paul McCartney used checking in hotels and stuff.”
One more fan chimed in with: “By the late 60s, to avoid fans and general Beatle-mania, Paul McCartney and later his wife, Linda McCartney, would check into hotel rooms under the false names Mr. And Mrs. Ramone’.
“Douglas Colvin, a big Beatles fan, read about this in a magazine and dubbed himself Dee Dee Ramone in tribute.”
Another added: “Turns out these four random dudes had the last name. Later, they met a few more who also had that same last name.”
Meanwhile, someone else shared: “At their first practice they realized they coincidently all had the same last name and decided to go with it.”
What’s the real story behind the name Ramones?
The band name Ramones is often hailed as one of the greatest in rock history, and it seems the Beatles played a part in its origin. Far Out Magazine reports Johnny Ramone once disclosed: “Paul would check into a hotel using the name Paul Ramone.
“Dee Dee was a big fan, so he changed his name to Dee Dee Ramone. We decided to call the band the Ramones.”
This intriguing tale gains further credibility from Marky Ramone’s account: “The Beatles used to tour… before they were The Beatles, they were called The Silver Beatles, and all the girls running after them, even the guys.
“So the next thing you know, Paul McCartney would sign into a hotel room as Paul Ramone. [Bassist] Dee Dee looked at this and said, ‘Let’s call ourselves The Ramones.'”
Marky put to rest the enduring myth of his band’s name creation. He clarified: “There’s another story, too: they opened up the phone book and threw a dart at it – that didn’t happen.
“So it was from Paul Ramone, who used to check into a hotel room. But he should have gotten rid of the name Paul because immediately you go, ‘I wonder if he’s still doing that.’ So it should’ve been like Carl Ramone, or Bobby Ramone, you know what I mean, something like that. But it all worked out.”