Historical Figure
Dee Dee Ramone
1952–2002
American musician (1951–2002)
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Biography
Douglas Glenn Colvin, better known by his stage name Dee Dee Ramone, was an American musician. He was the bassist, occasional lead vocalist and a founding member of the punk rock band the Ramones. Throughout the band's existence, he was the most prolific lyricist and composer, writing many of their best-known songs, such as "53rd & 3rd", "Chinese Rock", "Commando", "Wart Hog", "Rockaway Beach", "Poison Heart" and "Bonzo Goes To Bitburg". The latter won the New York Music Award for best independent single of the year in 1986, while Animal Boy, which the song is from, won for best album.
In Their Own Words (2)
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.
QuoteHD, Rap Quotes (2001) http://www.quotehd.com/quotes/words/Rap , 2001
I hope no one thinks we really sniff glue. I stopped when I was eight.
on the song "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue", Rombes, Nicholas (2005). Ramones. 33⅓. Continuum International Publishing Group. , 2005
Timeline
The story of Dee Dee Ramone, told in moments.
Born Douglas Glenn Colvin in Fort Lee, Virginia. His father was a U.S. Army sergeant stationed in Germany. He grew up in Munich and Berlin before moving to Forest Hills, Queens, as a teenager.
Co-founded the Ramones with Johnny, Joey, and Tommy Ramone. Dee Dee wrote most of their songs and played bass. He counted off nearly every song with "1-2-3-4!"
The Ramones' debut album cost $6,400 to record. It didn't chart. But it changed music. Nearly every punk, post-punk, and indie rock band that followed cited it.
Left the Ramones to pursue a brief hip-hop career as Dee Dee King. The album Standing in the Spotlight was widely mocked. He returned to punk.
Died of a heroin overdose at 50 in his Hollywood apartment. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Ramones the same year.
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