For millions of punk fans, the Ramones are the blueprint and foundation of so many punk bands today. Stepping into the role once held by Dee Dee Ramone might sound impossible to most people, but for CJ Ramone, it started with something simple: showing up early.
During our C² spotlight, CJ opened up about auditioning for the world famous Ramones, joining one of the most influential punk bands of all time, navigating legacy pressure, and why being an introvert became one of his biggest strengths.
Watch our full interview below:
From the Marine Corps to the Ramones
When CJ first heard the Ramones were auditioning bass players after Dee Dee’s departure, he didn’t even believe he had a chance.
“I had no expectation to get the gig,” he admitted.
At the time, CJ was a finger-style bass player heavily influenced by Iron Maiden and classic punk, he rushed to buy picks beforehand because he knew showing up to a Ramones audition without one would be career suicide.
Then came the moment. Johnny Ramone asked him what song he knew. “I Wanna Be Sedated.” That was enough to start.
What followed was a surprisingly relaxed first audition, conversations about Yankees baseball, and eventually multiple callbacks. Out of 30–40 auditioning bass players, Johnny Ramone later admitted he knew almost immediately CJ was the right fit.
Why? Stability. After years of chaos surrounding Dee Dee, Johnny wanted someone disciplined, reliable, and mission-oriented, qualities CJ carried directly from military life into punk rock.
Not Replacing Dee Dee, Just Being CJ
One of the most interesting parts of CJ’s story is that he never tried to imitate Dee Dee Ramone.
Before joining the band, he once told a friend:
“I’ll never go to another Ramones show because it ain’t the Ramones without Dee Dee.”
Ironically, he would go on to perform every remaining Ramones show until the band retired.
Rather than attempting to become a copy of Dee Dee, CJ focused on bringing his own energy into the band.
“There’s nobody who could be Dee Dee,” he explained.
Instead, CJ approached the role like a job with massive responsibility. He learned multiple songs in just five weeks before his first tour and threw himself into preserving the fiery live energy that made him fall in love with the Ramones as a fan years earlier.
Carrying the Ramones Name
Even decades later, CJ says he still feels the weight of operating under the Ramones legacy.
“I’m always hyper-aware that I am operating under the Ramones flag,” he said.
That responsibility extends beyond music. Whether it’s interviews, live performances, or podcasting, CJ makes a conscious effort to protect the integrity of the band’s history, especially after years of misinformation and mythology surrounding the Ramones.
“People join those little pieces of information together with a whole lot of bullshit,” he laughed while discussing decades of rumors surrounding the band.
That desire to preserve real stories eventually inspired his podcast, CJ Says.
CJ Says: Punk Rock Deep Dives and Real Conversations
Unlike traditional interviews, CJ says podcasting allows conversations to become something deeper and more human.
The podcast features interviews with legends, but one of CJ’s favorite aspects is the “deep dive” series where he breaks down Ramones albums track-by-track, discussing songwriting, production, lyrics, timing, and hidden details fans may have overlooked for decades.
For someone who spent much of his childhood quietly obsessing over music, literature, astronomy, and encyclopedias, podcasting became a surprisingly perfect fit.
Advice for Introverts and Outsiders
One of the most unexpectedly heartfelt moments during the interview came when CJ reflected on growing up as an awkward, introverted kid. This conversation hit home for me as I was introverted, too.
Rather than trying to force himself to fit in, he eventually leaned fully into his own interests, whether it was music, literature, astronomy, or songwriting.
“When I stopped trying to fit in… it became easier to find people I connected with,” he shared.
That advice still shapes how he raised his own kids, encouraging them to pursue their passions deeply instead of trying to conform.
“You’re not the only one out there,” he said. “You just need to find your people.”
“Don’t Squander Your Talent”
When asked about the best advice he’s ever received, CJ shared a story about a high school teacher who recognized his writing talent long before music even became his career.
After assigning him an article for the school newspaper, the teacher told him something that stayed with him forever:
“You have a talent. Don’t squander it.”
It’s advice that still defines the way CJ approaches creativity today.
CJ Ramone continues to approach music and storytelling with the same humility, honesty, and passion that first got him through that Ramones audition decades ago and even after all these years, he still sounds like a fan first.
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Disarray Magazine is an independent media platform established in 2009, spotlighting punk, hardcore, alternative culture, live music, food, nightlife, and the chaos in between. Created by journalist Christy Buena, C² exists to document the bands, people, and moments shaping the scene.
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