NEW YORK - APRIL 1997: (EDITORS NOTE: THIS IMAGE WAS CREATED USING CROSS-PROCESSED FILM) (L-R) Rancid bandmate Lars Fredericksen, The Ramones Joey Ramone and Rancid leader Tim Armstrong pose together for an April 1997 portrait at Joey Ramone's apartment in New York City, New York. Rancid's Tim Armstrong and Lars Fredericksen met Joey for the first time, to discuss their planned tour, where the Ramones come out of retirement for a final performance at Lollapalooza. (Photo by Bob Berg/Getty Images)
Prior to the film adaptation of his best-selling 1983 horror novel Pet Sematary, author Stephen King, who was a huge fan of The Ramones, invited the band to his home in Bangor, Maine. During their meeting, King gave bassist Dee Dee Ramone a copy of the book; an hour later, Dee Dee had the lyrics to “Pet Sematary” ready.
“Pet Sematary” was released on the Ramones’ 11th album Brain Drain and was also used in the 1989 film based on King’s iconic book.
Co-written by the band’s longtime producer Daniel Rey, who helped flesh out the song, “Pet Sematary” was also co-produced by Jean Beauvoir of the Plasmatics.
The Meaning
The film (and book) follows the story of the Creed family, who move from Chicago to the rural town of Ludlow, Maine, and have to survive a legion of pets that have returned from the dead.
The Ramones’ “Pet Sematary” is a free-for-all of ghosts, ancient goblins, and warlords. The lyrics also reference King’s Pet Sematary character Victor Pascow, a university student who died in a fatal car crash and visits Louis Creed to warn him of the haunted burial site.
