Ramones or Sex Pistols

 

RAMONES or Sex Pistols?

All Rise!

This is the Rock Judge.  Let's kick this session off with a bit of a Sophie's Choice. It was an impossible task but there had to be a verdict.  Subsequent rounds will probably a mix of the blog and videos.

Right off the bat, response was ridiculous.  Of the most verbose respondents I would include the Sex Pistol’s advocates. For the Ramones, you could tell they took a half a second to reply Ramones.  As in there was no question about it and I don’t need to justify it.

An example Sex Pistols Remark: “ Only fair way I see to compare them is to freeze them both in time around '77 since the Pistols were basically done shortly after.

Pistols were dangerous. Regardless of what we've learned over time about them, it still shook up the world, no way around it. They were a cultural force pushing boundaries. And everyone took notice. Plus, their record is an all-timer, and that's the most important thing.

Ramones were cool and more fun. Miscreant nerd punk. Still a huge cultural influence, but in a different way and I think that grew over time. Two different vibes but similar outcomes. Everything else has already been hashed out by someone else above. I agree with Daniel P, Mike S, Paul B. Love em both, but if there can only be one for that moment.. Pistols for me.” - Stan G.

An example Ramones remark:  “Ramones without a second thought”. John H.

This is not a judgement of the jurors or the advocates.  All answers and discussion contributed to the judgement.  Everyone played well together. Now let’s get this closing session on by running down the criteria for judgement.

 Criteria

Body of work:  This is an aggregate of the records they put out.  Usually just studio records and official releases.  Nothing posthumous unless someone died during making or if it wasn’t released while alive.

- This goes to the Sex Pistols.  Ramones had more records, some great some just good. Quantity doesn’t matter unless they are all 5 stars when compared to Never Mind the Bullocks which is the best punk record period.   Yes, you read right, the best punk record ever made.

Timeliness:  The Pistols emerged from a burgeoning punk scene.  Ramones started THE punk scene.  Ramones.

Reception:  Sex Pistols.  It was shocking, on the news, considered a social threat across the UK and USA.    

This is a tremendous NBC news report.  “Couple of empty boxes of Clearasil”.  This is one of the best things I’ve ever seen.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoO591pGkjA

The rest of us read about the Ramones in CREAM magazine.

Impact to Music:  Sex Pistols on this.  Ramones had the first and initial impact.  Ironically, with that impact even “making” the Pistols.  However, Punk blew up with the Pistols.  There is no question about that.  Sex Pistols impacted all of rock for the good or bad.

No Ramones, no Sex Pistols. 

No Sex Pistols, no punk rock for the last 40 years. 

Impact to Culture:  Fashion and attitude here.  Sex Pistols for sure.  They were manufactured for that.  Most people didn’t get the gimmick until much later.  No points subtracted for them technically being bred in a lab.

Coolness: Ramones.  Period.

The Look:  Pistols and punk looks like the punk we know.  Ramones looked like, well, only the Ramones.  It was tough guy punk.  If you are a punker just think of all the bands with long hair you tolerate.  Is it just one?  Ramones look is iconic.  I have to go with Ramones because of something about the uniform-ness of it.

Overall likeability:  Should this be a punk rock criterion at all?  Sex Pistols were legitimately the most hated band in the world.  For a summer.  Ramones have been beloved for 40 years.  This is about consensus for the Ramones.

 

JUDGEMENT TIME

We pretty much had a tie criteria so I deliberated for a while, re-read everything and what-not.  I put this on and it was immediately decision time.

 

Gavel smacks, Decision rendered.

RAMONES!