I Slept with Joey Ramone: A Family Memoir Review

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(More customer reviews)I will preface this review by saying I am not what you would call a huge Ramones fan. I know their music well and appreciate their tremendous influence on subsequent acts but I am by no means a fanatic. As such, this is the first full-length book I have read on the band or a member of the band, though I know there is much out there. One of the main reasons I decided to read this book was to hear firsthand of their role in the birth of punk in the '70s. I had read Legs McNeil's book on the history of punk and seen many documentaries that highlight the Ramones importance in this respect. I, however, came to know the Ramones long after the release of _Rock 'n' Roll High School_ and mediocre record after mediocre record. I wanted to experience and learn about the impact the early Ramones had on the music scene and the lasting influence of that impact. Mickey Leigh (and co-author Legs McNeil) do not disappoint in this respect. They do an excellent job of capturing the excitement of how Joey Ramone and his band built on the sound of the New York Dolls and Iggy and the Stooges to become the first true punk band. However, many before them have done this well.
One reason why I enjoy reading biographies of musicians is to get insight into the musician in their formative years, to find out what it is that inspired them. That is the second reason I decided to read this book. I figured Joey Ramone's brother could provide unique insight into what made Joey Ramone and the Ramones who they were. Again, here he did not disappoint. In fact, I would argue that the strongest part of this book are the scenes of Joey and Mickey (their names were actually Jeffrey and Mitchell Hyman then) growing up in the Forest Hills area of Queens. I was fascinated to learn what music and what song first got the Hyman brothers excited about music. Mickey provides a real insight into their home life, the dynamics of the family, their mutual growing obsession with music, and the multitude of health (both physical and psychological) issues that Joey struggled with before (and during) his life as a rock star. Up until this point, this is an exceptionally entertaining read.
However, once the reader gets to the point that Joey and The Ramones start to encounter success, things seem to change. Mickey is constantly making snide comments about the musical ability of the band and how lacking it is. He is quick to remind the reader--in not so subtle ways--that he is a more talented musician than the members of the band. In one instance, he discusses a contribution he made to a song but that was dropped because the guitar riff was too hard. There is simply far too much of this type of resentment scattered throughout the second half of the book. Micky may have good reason for this resentment. He did contribute to the writing process of several songs and help the Ramones in many ways and never really receive credit. However, the book began to make this reader feel uncomfortable. It began to feel like Micky was using the book to pay back anyone who had ever wronged him--no matter how slightly. This extends beyond just the Ramones and their inner family. But it is his depiction of the members of the Ramones that is so unsettling. If for no other reason, than the three core members are no longer alive to defend themselves. This reader kept wondering why he waited until they were gone to write this book. It feels very much like Mickey feels like he deserved the success Joey had. And, somehow, this book--at times--feels like another attempt to achieve that fame.
Having said that, there are many other points in the book where Mickey comes across as someone who genuinely loves his brother. The scenes toward the end of Joey's life are particularly touching. Plus, there is value in the story of how both brother's relationship is repeatedly strained and mended as one achieves the fame and success that both crave. So, with the caveats mentioned above, I will say that, although parts of it might lead to frustration, this is an entertaining and informative book that will appeal to most music fans--and especially to fans of the Ramones. Despite the flaws, the strength of this book is that Leigh and McNeil provide a first-hand (which is of course not objective) account of how a misfit overcame (and continued to overcome) challenge after challenge to become a legend and icon to millions of music fans--including some of the most influential and successful people in music today.

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