BP: What was it like touring with a successful punk

band? Was that hard?

LR: That was always a lot of fun. They weren’t a big

band yet. We always traveled in a van, and buses in

Europe. Everything was very modest. We stayed in a

Holiday Inn. It wasn’t like we were flying First Class.

And Coach for Joey was hard. Six foot six. Only later,

!231did they get promoted to First Class. It was so

exciting that the band was getting bigger.

BP: Did Johnny ever get to feel comfortable and live

a better life? Were they around for the success that

the Ramones had become?

LR:When Johnny retired, we moved to L.A. He kept

saying no one would want to talk to us but when we

got to L.A., everyone wanted to be our friends. It was

shocking. Johnny was in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of

Fame, so he got a taste of that type of fame. Joey got

a little with Lollapalooza where the Ramones played

with Soundgarden, Metallica, and Rancid. They got to

see how important they were because all the bands

were so nice and respected the Ramones.

It was a different time but they were able to see

how important they had become.

BP: I’m grateful you are here to keep their dream

alive. He had a vision.

LR: Well, for me, it’s great because Johnny left me

this legacy. When he was dying, he said he would

rather be here and do it himself but if I had to pick

one person out there it would be you. That is why the

tributes and everything I do is important.