Punk music is often disregarded and misunderstood. It’s often regarded as a chaotic and entirely unstructured sound, with the charm stemming from its inaccessibility. Granted, this may be the case for many punk bands, but not all. Some bands adhere to a strict musical structure and are passionate about their trade. The Ramones were an excellent example of one of these musical groups. While they had a sloppy style and a sound that was distorted and far apart from the other music that was ruling the charts, there was no denying that they cared completely about the music they were creating and were complete perfectionists.
This is best exemplified by the fact that before a gig, they would run through their whole set in their dressing area, with amps turned down and sound stripped back, to guarantee that everything was as fantastic as it could be before taking the stage. Then, when they took the stage, what appeared to be a wild performance was actually the result of meticulous planning and execution. When the Red Hot Chili Peppers backed the band on tour, Anthony Kiedis was a tremendous fan and surprised by how serious they took their music. He and the rest of the band wanted to express The Ramones appreciation for their hard work one night, and they accomplished this in the only way that
“We decided it would be a great moment of homage if we danced across the stage naked during the Ramone set,” he added, reflecting on the performance. “At that time, I had never seen The Ramones play, and I didn’t realise they were all business on stage, and they had their idea of what a show should be in their own aesthetic and their own presentation.” The Ramones worked hard to perfect their performances because they wanted to give their audience the best experience possible. This required carefully picked music and a well-thought-out stage presence—it did not include a nude Red Hot Chili Peppers running onstage during one of the songs.
