NASHVILLE |FR: LIBBY HENRY/KRISTINE ASHTON-MAGNUSON
RAMONES
AS SEPTEMBER 28 RELEASE DATE
FOR THE GROUP’S FIRST-EVER DVD ‘RAMONES RAW’ APPROACHES,
IN-STORE APPEARANCE AND SIGNING CONFIRMED
AT VIRGIN MEGASTORE-TIMES SQUARE IN NYC ON SEPTEMBER 29
U.K. PREMIERE OF ‘RAMONES RAW’ AT RAINDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
SET FOR OCTOBER 2
To mark the arrival of RAMONES RAW–the pioneering group’s first-ever DVD–MARKY RAMONE and RAMONES RAW producer director JOHN CAFIERO will be meeting fans and signing autographs at the VIRGIN MEGASTORE-TIMES SQUARE in New York City (1540 Broadway) on Wednesday, September 29 at 6:30 PM, the day after the DVD’s release via Image Entertainment. The DVD marks the final contribution JOHNNY RAMONE leaves behind in the RAMONES legacy, as he, MARKY and CAFIERO offer a hysterical audio commentary of the main feature.
On October 2, fans in the U.K. will have the chance to see RAMONES RAW on the big screen at the 12th annual Raindance Film Festival in London, the U.K.’s largest independent film festival. The DVD–which received a personal invitation from festival organizers—will be screened at UGC Shaftesbury Avenue at 5:00 PM (GMT). Festival programmer Ronni Raygun praised RAMONES RAW:
“A perfectly blended looney tune cocktail–directed and edited by John Cafiero and executive produced by Marky Ramone–the film approaches the documentary genre in a unique format. RAW steers clear of being painstakingly linear and keeps the pace moving by jumping from one insane childish antic to the next. No talking heads here, it’s ripe with some of the best live footage ever shot of the band in their prime. The honesty of the film will plaster a perpetual smile on your face. You get the impression that the energy and jumpy nature of their music is in direct relationship to the playful personalities presented in the film. In the end, this is the closest thing to hanging out and touring with one of the greatest groups in the history of Rock & Roll.”
With over five hours of rare material spanning the RAMONES’ history-making career (circa 1979-1996), RAMONES RAW offers fans an unprecedented look at the inner-workings of JOHNNY, JOEY, DEE DEE, MARKY and CJ. In his recent feature for Billboard.com, writer Barry Jeckell hailed, “The DVD’s main feature plays like a lighthearted scrapbook of the Ramones…the prize bonus is I Ramone, a half-hour of concert footage captured in Rome in 1980, just after the release of the band’s Phil Spector-produced album, End of the Century. Shot on film, it laid forgotten in the vaults of an Italian television station for two decades after its one-time broadcast.”
Described by writer James Moreland in the LA Weekly (8/6/04) as “relentlessly satiating,” RAMONES RAW offers a glimpse into the madness and mayhem of one of the world’s most legendary punk rock bands. Packed with 20 vintage live performances including “Blitzkrieg Bop,” “I Wanna Be Sedated” “Judy Is A Punk” and “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker.”
From their humble beginnings in NYC’s East Village at CBGB’s to their 2002 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the RAMONES have stood the test of time with their immortal brand of music which continues to influence generations around the world today.
Check out some early critical soundbites on RAMONES RAW:
“…the DVD Ramones Raw (out September 28th) is downright hilarious. The collection features rare live footage and slice-of-life material shot mainly by Marky while on tour in the late Eighties and Nineties.”
–Matt Hendrickson, ROLLING STONE (9/30/04)
“If a clip of the Ramones meeting The Munster’s Al “Grandpa” Lewis doesn’t cause heart palpitations, maybe the priceless prime-era concert footage will entice you to pick up the O.G. punks’ first authorized DVD release.”
–Marc Weingarten, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY (9/17/04)
“Ramones Raw lives up to its name. It’s an intense, no holds barred look at this legendary band…a spellbinding work…there is one undeniable fact forged from Ramones Raw: when they wanted to, the Ramones could kick the ass of any other punk rock band in the game, either before or since.”
–Gill Gibron, DVD TALK (8/31/04)
Check out the following links for up-to-date information: www.ramones.com and www.raindance.co.uk (Raindance Film Festival).
Contact MSO:
Libby Henry Kristine Ashton-Magnuson
818-380-0400 ext. 224 818-380-0400 ext. 233
Lhenry@msopr.com Kashton@msopr.com
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