Kirk Hammett are among the musicians that have contributed testimonials to the enduring influence of Johnny Ramone and his seminal punk rock outfit the Ramones in the latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine.
Kirk Hammett: "I would come into contact with Johnny in the mid-Eighties, and I was intimidated. I'd heard the legend — how much of a hard-ass he was. But when we met in 1996 on the Lollapalooza tour Metallica did with the Ramones, he was completely different. He told me, 'I never used to hang out with other bands, because I considered them my competition. Now that the RAMONES aren't together anymore, I can hang out and feel comfortable.' He was enjoying his retirement. He was getting into wearing these Hawaiian shirts that my wife would buy for him. He would call my wife and say, 'You need to get me some more of those shorts.' It was really funny: Here's the godfather of punk rock, and all he wants to do is wear Hawaiian shirts."
According to Hammett, he and Ramone would spend time playing records and videos of Johnny's favorite bands. "We'd watch old clips of Slade and the Move," Hammett said. "He turned me on to the Sonics. And he loved Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath — only the early stuff."
But after the Ramones, Johnny rarely played guitar again. "There was always one around," said Hammett. "But his attitude was, 'I'm retired. I just want to hang out and watch horror movies.' And he did that. He did it very well."
As you might remember, Metallica recorded the song 53rd & 3rd for the "We're A Happy Family" Ramones tribute album.
Johnny Ramone, 55, died in his sleep at his Hollywood Hills home on Sept. 15 after a five-year fight against prostate cancer.
Source: blabbermouth.net
