It's the ultimate call to rock and roll arms, the anthemic cry of the first really disenfranchised youth movement. But instead of turning inward and focusing on the personal pain, punk asked kids to do it for themselves, to take back the music that made life more livable and revitalize it. It is safe to say that when the great volume to the history of rock and roll is finally written, The Ramones and their speed demon power pop punk will be one of the few entries actually credited with creating a specific genre. From the moment Jeffrey "Joey Ramone" Hyman, John "Johnny Ramone" Cummings and Douglas "Dee Dee Ramone" Colvin got together to make music, something indefinable happened. Melding so many divergent influences together that the music turned into a form of incendiary concrete, and upon adding Tom "Tommy Ramone" Eredelyi to the lineup (he would later be replaced by Marc "Marky Ramone" Bee) the parameters were set for one of the greatest examples of rock and roll perfection ever created. Taking up residence at New York's infamous CBGB's and donning the name a certain Sir McCartney took when he went on tour (Paul "Ramone" anyone?), the world's first punk band rewrote the rules of music and single-handedly jumpstarted the DIY mentality that transformed England into a hotbed of hardcore acts. Indeed, without this band of "bruddas" from the Burroughs, there would be no Damned, Clash, Sex Pistols, Jam, U2, or Buzzcocks. Far more influential than famous in America, the Ramones spent 20 years of almost negligible domestic popularity. But what the USA discarded, the rest of the world embraced.

Now, only three years after their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and with the passing of both Joey and Dee Dee, Image is releasing a DVD collection of backstage footage gathered across the entire career of this all-important band. And if Ramones: Raw teaches us anything, it's that with great influence comes great sacrifice...and isolation. So busy being icons that they eventually forgot how to connect to each other, this amazing documentary shows how four guys from NYC became international superstars...and why that didn't make a whole lot of difference, interpersonally, between the band members.

The DVD:
It may come as a surprise to even longtime fans, but for over 18 years, Marky Ramone kept a kind of video diary of the band's travels around the world. Utilizing a handheld camcorder and capturing moments both monumental (the Berlin Wall, post-topple) and standard rocker ridiculous (the near riot they cause in places like Brazil) Marky wanted a memento of his time with punk's pioneers, and Ramones: Raw is a scrapbook collection of such souvenirs, culled from over 200 tapes the drummer compiled. More a random collection of events and environments than a straight ahead narrative (it does try to follow the band's post-mid 80's career arc) this quasi-documentary meshed with a home movie clip compilation wants to give us the feel and the face of the seminal band as hard working road act. And it doesn't skimp on the songs. Along with stellar live versions of "Blitzkrieg Bop", "I Just Wanna Have Something to Do", "Pinhead" and many others, the band can be seen in a fan created video (for the song "Touring") as well as in several TV appearances. The overall effect is being right there, along side the members of the group, as they make their way through rabid fans, flummoxing interviews and unprepared PR productions. However, this may not necessarily be a good thing.

Ramones: Raw is a mesmerizing experience, one that diehard fans will find delightful...and disquieting. Like watching The Beatles self-destruct in front of the camera over the course of Let It Be, Raw shows us a band in post-personality clash freefall. After decades of endless touring, mostly ignored musical output and frequent battles with inner and outer demons, The Ramones were dying, the reality of scarred relationships rushing up to them like the hysterical fans that surrounded their touring van. The disintegration is subtle at first. When we see the band pantomiming to "I Wanna Be Sedated" on local NYC kid vid extravaganza, The Uncle Floyd Show, the group dynamic is direct. Each member has a steadfast stake in the band's importance to pop music and they play out their particulars very well. But slowly, as concert footage evolves into backstage joking and disorganized excursions, the cracks begin to appear. First, Dee Dee becomes more remote, seen in several shots functioning and fraternizing with fans alone (Marky, of course, is around to film the solo moments). Then Joey begins to fade into the woodwork, growing more isolated (and, apparently, hated – if you believe the rumors) from the rest of the band. By the time Dee Dee has left and the youthful irreverence of his bass-playing replacement C Jay enters the group, the concept of brotherhood that had once formed the basis for the band is dead. All that was left were numerous performance obligations and a searing sense of overdone nostalgia.

Indeed, one of the saddest aspects of the Ramones saga (and one that seeps into and stains this supposedly fan-friendly film retrospective) is how utterly defeated the group felt at the hands of its homeland. Never EVER popular in America, this member of the holy trilogy of important, influential modern musical acts (along with The Beatles and Elvis) just never connected with Americans. Then to add insult to inexplicability, The Ramones had to sit back and watch as their compadres from CBGB's – Talking Heads, Blondie – got hit records and near-universal acceptance. And all they could do was struggle for just some minor recognition (and even more paltry album sales). Some might blame the lack of chart success and cultural respect on the times: after all, they arrived smack dab in the middle of the mindless disco inferno sweeping the country. Others could point to Sire and suggest that the band's longtime record company failed to fulfill the promise that the guys provided, saddling them with strange producers (Phil Spector, Graham Gouldman) as an obvious grab at mainstream acceptance. It didn't help matters that The Ramones sounded the same in 1994 as they did in 1974 – loud, fast, silly and brash – and that such a sonic image would not be popular worldwide until sometime before the new millennium.

What Ramones: Raw suggests is that, their lack of rock stardom meshed with their own interpersonal flaws began to decay the band from the inside out, playing a crucial roll in their lack of crossover appeal. Anyone who has heard their albums understands that the band produced some of the most classic punk pop in the history of the genre: no group, before or since can touch the quadrilogy of quality that comes from their Debut, Leave Home, Rocket to Russia and Road to Ruin. But the music was really guided by Joey's love of 50s and 60s pop and Dee Dee's connection to the burgeoning New York scene. It leaves Johnny (who while an amazing guitarist, is not known as a songwriter) and Marky (whose musicianship falls mainly in the backbeat department) holding up the less artistic ends of the career, and such a burden provided instant dissention amongst the ranks. By the end of their time on the stages of the world, the members functioned like a journeymen set of troubadours, scouring the globe for one last bit of gratitude while resembling sad shadows of their formal selves. This is why Ramones: Raw is so depressing at times. For every shot of the band at the "top" of their game, we are given scene after scene of disgruntled group members complaining about some minor issue. True, for a band that toured relentlessly, living life more or less on the road, little problems become overwhelming. But to see some of the half-assed run-throughs of their classic songs ("Sheena is a Punk Rocker" is almost unrecognizable) show that time was not kind to this no-longer band of "bruthas".

Ramones: Raw does keep us at a distance, never letting us get in really close. The images scrawling across the screen are supposed to suggest something like The Beatles A Hard Day's Night combined with the teenybopper mania of insane fans out of control. Suggesting rock and roll supremacy but really underlying the microcosmic chaos of several smaller locales, every place there is pandemonium is discovered to be just another foreign stopover. America gets short shrift, and considering how they treated their potential pop saviors, the reason for this rejection is obvious (or, perhaps, just waiting for a sequel to this DVD package). To argue that this DVD is rife with tension is to point out something far to obvious. To say that it is also filled with friendship and fun is another issue all together. We never truly get the feeling that The Ramones, circa 1986 to 1996 were still really "a band". Even when they travel together, they seem separated by personality and/or position. As the veritable face of the group, Joey is protected, only addressing the camera directly on a couple of occasions. As stated before, Dee Dee is featured in some isolated moments and C Jay is usually in the background, making jokes. This is really Johnny and Marky's showcase, and while they are friendly and forthcoming, it's like only hearing half the story.

To ditch the soapbox and state what is right about this "film", it is safe to say that even longtime fans have never ever seen the band like this. Relaxing, reminiscing, playing off each other's identity with cheerful goodwill, the balance of joy with jealousy keeps this DVD presentation from falling over into overly sensational sour grapes. Dee Dee could occasionally come across as a drug addled asshole in interviews and appearances, but behind the scenes he was a quiet, clever jokester, able to poke fun at himself and his ever-present past foibles. Johnny, outwardly stern to the point of stasis most of the time, becomes a comfortable captain, embracing and trading on his horrible group nickname – 'Sloth'. Perhaps the most enigmatic member of the group, gangly frontman Joey Ramone is, sadly, still as mysterious as ever. Though capable of eloquence and openness, he is never really given a chance to shine. Marky, as a kind of irritable narrator, walks us through much of what we are seeing (essentially because he is shooting it as well) and adds very colorful commentary when necessary. Only C Jay seems out of place here, looking more and more like a hired hand as the documentary rolls along. Along with dozens of unnamed and unidentified crewmembers, Ramones: Raw is indeed like thumbing through a stranger's scrapbook.

For someone who has followed The Ramones since first reading about them in the pages of Circus Magazine, to see such an important and influential band relegated to an endlessly-touring nostalgia act is a little disheartening. While no one faults them for chasing the fame (and the cash that comes along with it) it seems like the desire for appreciation drove the band to self-destruct. Never able to understand why Green Day, Rancid, The Offspring and others got the multi-platinum status while they had to play one night stands in Chile for chump change, tempers apparently turned inward and slowly dissolved the bonds between band mates. Ramones: Raw shows some of that degeneration, but it also focuses on giving us a glimpse of the group in the better, more meaningful times. The career of this greatest of punk rock acts has always been filled with missed opportunities, wasted efforts and untimely setbacks. For every critic that embraced the miscreant musicians, another dismissed their power as "bubblegum on speed". The fact that the Ramones and their music have managed to survive the decades to still signify rebellion and a back to basics approach to rock and roll is far more important than the petty personal problems and the overheard gossip. While it would have been nice to see some manner of structure to this random collection of camcorder captures, the overall effect is both invigorating, and a tad miserable. The Ramones should be as popular as other acts that changed the dynamic of popular music forever. Thankfully, we have the complex portrait of Ramones: Raw to remind us of why this band is still one of the essential components of today's modern rock and roll.

The Video
Mixing home video footage, professionally shot segments, some old archival material and a newly unearthed broadcast from Italy (a castle side concert from 1980), the mixed media menagerie of Ramones: Raw means that the visual elements here are rather unpredictable. For the most part, the 1.33:1 full screen presentation is clean, clear, offered with nice color correction and missing many of the defects (flaring, bleeding, halos, etc.) that render low budget pictures pathetic. Instead, this is a very nice collection of clips, held together by a consistently acceptable image. While this is not some sort of artistic testament to the band, the print here is very nice.

The Audio
Perhaps more important than what it looks like, the sound of Ramones: Raw is also a little schizophrenic at times. Since Marky captured almost all the backstage stuff with the internal mic of the camera, the cacophony of noises that accompany all talking are very annoying. It is sometimes hard to hear what the guys are saying as fans scream, phones ring, hotel employees banter back and forth and other ambient intrusions interrupt their conversations. Still, for basically a handheld happenstance, Ramones: Raw has some nice clarity. Far superior, however, is all the musical material. The concert footage is always mix-board pristine, with even some older elements (that Italian concert) sounding equally evocative. Providing an excellent Dolby Digital Stereo experience, this is one great sounding DVD...at least from a musical standpoint.

The Extras:
Some may be wondering where all this wounded, worrisome talk comes from. After all, the issues facing the band were never this open or obvious, even to most insiders. Well, the answer is painfully clear, especially after listening to the commentary track by ex-Ramones Johnny and Marky and director/compiler John Cafiero. Functioning as chief cheerleader and narration moderator, Cafiero leads Mark and John through a literal oral history of the band, and the anecdotes drip with acid. These guys sound disinterested and disengaged, and Cafiero must chide them to get even the most basic information onto the track. When asked about themselves, they are fountains of facts and figures. But they go uncomfortably silent when the subject of Joey comes up. Neither says anything the least bit respectful regarding his passing (and when the subject of his having a street named after him comes up, the guys as gob smacked). This is not to say that Marky and Johnny are bitter: they could be paralyzed with grief. But the overall impression is one of self-righteous indignation, something that seems oddly out of place on a DVD commentary. The good thing about this track is that both band members add important insights into what is going on. They provide name and background on heretofore-unknown crewmembers, and describe certain in-jokes and arcane references made throughout the film. Actually, the addition of this data makes Ramones: Raw a much more satisfying experience. Without the added understanding we gain for the material presented, this would just be a backstage souvenir. Together with this track, the documentary becomes a true and telling look behind the scenes.

The other extras here are also excellent. We are treated to about 18 deleted scenes, many of which repeat material we've already seen in the film, and the additional TV appearances merely add back in the footage that was cut to incorporate the segments into Raw itself. Highlights include the entire "Fifth Ramone" skits from USA Network's Up All Night, featuring a very funny Gilbert Gottfried interacting with the band. The DVD cover also lists 12 hidden Easter eggs, but this critic could only find two (none of which were worth the search). Perhaps once the title has been poured over by film geeks and DVD freaks, they will be able to add information as to what else is available here. But by far the best bonus is the 35-minute concert from Italy – the one constantly showcased throughout the documentary. Featuring the classic lineup of the band (Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee, and Marky) crashing through more than a dozen songs, this open-air offering is a true magical moment of magnificent music. The group is as tight as a snare drum head and Joey even jokes a little with the crowd. From Dee Dee's demented playing to Johnny's jackhammer axemanship, this is a great concert and makes the extras here almost better than the documentary they support.

Final Thoughts:
Like This is Spinal Tap without the jokes or Metallica: Some Kind of Monster without all the rehab and therapy, Ramones: Raw surely lives up to its name. It is an intense, no holds barred look at this legendary band and the demoralizing extremes they had to endure to simply get their songs to the fans. While those with just a superficial interest in the group will find all the anger and animosity part of the rock and roll reality, those who know a little more of the boys' history will have a hard time separating the bitter feelings from the fun. This is a spellbinding work that occasionally becomes too painful to endure, as one of the top three musical acts of all time are treated like paupers at the table of pop culture. Sure, the foreign fans lavish praise upon them in ever more dangerous fashion, and to see them honor the band the way the rest of the world should have is enriching. But when we see the guys failing to connect, when we hear the crass, even cruel, comments about Dee Dee's desire to go solo, Ramones: Raw becomes far too unrefined. So ahead of their time that it took two additional decades before the music they created became chart topping fodder and yet never able, even then, to capitalize on said influential fame, The Ramones remain an entertainment enigma to this very day. While some can point to management or artistic decisions, 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...except there was no one before them. As pioneers, they have no peers. But as people, they were as flawed as anyone else. Ramones: Raw illustrates those haunting human qualities exceptionally well.

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