Ramones live on

For months, Johnny Ramone had been working on the band's first official DVD, even as he neared the end of a five-year battle with prostate cancer. Now "Ramones Raw" comes out less than two weeks after the guitarist's death. It's a retrospective of the career of one of rock 'n' roll's most influential groups, culled mostly from home movies the band shot between 1979 and 1996.

Johnny, who died Sept. 15 in Los Angeles, is the third original member of the New York punk quartet to pass on, leaving only drummer Tommy Ramone. Singer Joey Ramone and bassist Dee Dee Ramone died previously; later members Marky and C.J. are still alive.

"We were lucky enough to talk and hang out a few months ago when he was strong enough to do the commentary track on the DVD," Mark said, "which was his last professional contribution to the Ramones."

"Ramones Raw" has all the illicit thrills, blurry focus and jumpy camera joy of a bootleg video, albeit one made by the band itself. It's a fitting, fast-paced, funny retrospective on the lovable lunkheads' career, narrated by the guys themselves as they goof on security trying to clear a path through a throng of fans ("What do these kids want?" one asks. "Our limbs," replies another), tease each other about the girls they were with last night and generally look bored.

Source: Associated Press/Reuters
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