Douglas Glenn Colvin, known professionally as Dee Dee Ramone, was a German-American musician, singer and songwriter best known as founding member, songwriter, bassist and occasional lead vocalist for punk rock band the Ramones... (wikipedia)
I got tired of the Ramones around the time I quit and I really got into rap. I thought it was the new punk rock. LL Cool J was my biggest idol.
I'd like to congratulate myself, and thank myself, and give myself a big pat on the back.
I'm really lucky I'm still around. Everybody expected me to die next... But it was always someone else instead of me.
I like the guitar better these days. I like the bass, too, but it's hard to fit a bass amp in a small car.
When I got into rap I didn't exactly win any popularity contests. I called myself Dee Dee King, after B.B. King, to the total dismay of my fellow Ramones.
I haven't done rap... I can't do that too well.
I think it would be nice to be a prince.
The main issue was deciding what to play: Should it be old Ramones material or new material? I had about three albums worth of new material, but I knew that people would rather hear the Ramones songs.
No one in the group was really growing up besides me, which is pretty weird 'cause there was no one in that group more self-destructive than I was.
I started listening to and playing other music in the '90s. It was after hearing other bands, like Bad Religion, cover Ramones songs that I started to like our songs again.
I was a big troublemaker in the group. I put them through a lot of pain, but as much as I gave to them, they gave right back to me.
Metallica - they're so demonic, they're crazy, I don't know how they do it.
I couldn't do rap. I was trying. I don't know how. I'm not good enough to know.
I didn't have the confidence to leave the band because of a solo career, or anything like that. I just wanted to grow.
I like California a lot more than New York these days.
Ricky Nelson... I couldn't believe it when he died. He was a great rock star.
We didn't do an American tour because it I know it wouldn't go down well.
It was sad when Sid Vicious died... I was freaked out when Phil Lynott died from Thin Lizzy. I cried. It was too crazy.
Billboard called my solo album, 'Standing In The Spotlight,' a great party album and even said that my raps put the Beastie Boys to shame.
I loved rap, especially in the early days. But I wasn't trying to shove it down anybody's throats.
It's very expensive to bring a band to New York.
I used to be a hairdresser.
I'd like to thank myself, and congratulate myself, and give myself a big pat on the back.
Wondering what I'm doing tonight I've been in the closet and feel all right
When I met Ronnie Spector, she walked in and said, 'You look like me.'
I've always liked extreme performers; I don't think I am one, but my mentality is in line with that.
I get starstruck really easily. I love music so much - it sounds so silly to say that - so if I'm playing a festival and somebody I love, like [Primal Scream's] Bobby Gillespie, is there in the backstage area, I'm like, "Wow this is amazing! There they are!"
Initially, I was very much concerned with having absolute control. But as time has gone by, I'm not. I mean, the whole first record was really just how I spent my free time: stoned and drinking coffee in my house, spending three hours on a song.
I've always just wanted to sing in a rock band.
I think the Internet shortens the distance between people, and that can often lead to inappropriateness.
Progression is important. I'm always going to play music in the general vein of rock'n'roll, but when I started I was very much associated with the West Coast lo-fi thing and I didn't want to get anchored in with anything that was just in vogue for the time being.
Visuals are as artistic as sounds, so being serious about both isn't a contradiction to me.
All of my favorite records have vocals high in the mix, even if it's music that wasn't necessarily mainstream.
I like to do what I do in my house and I love to play shows, but I don't want to have to go out and talk to a bunch of people I don't know.
There's a side to being in a band that some people embrace and some don't: the fact that you're performing and you care about how it comes across.
I had a really intense flying dream most of my childhood into my teens. I would go out at night and fly all over the city and I could facilitate other people to fly with me.
I've always admired people with really strong presences and felt that caring about the visual component of what you do is not intrinsically superficial or vain.
I get really affected by songs as a music listener - they mean so much and they feel so significant.
Because I'm quiet, people think I'm really cold, or rude, or snobby. But I'm literally scared to talk to them.
It's very hard to tour.
I try to be nice. Part of the privilege of being in a band is giving something back to the young people. If you can do anything for them, you should.
I like it when Iggy Pop plays his old stuff, so I know how the fans feel. But it was my show, so I made the final decisions on what was played.