I remember a time in my sophomore year of high school that someone asked me what kind of music I liked, and I replied to them saying, “FAST AND LOUD!” This week we’re looking at a piece inspired by the debut album cover of one of my favorite bands of all time, the Ramones.
I remember a friend of mine once asked me, “Who do you think invented Punk Rock?” Anyone who is educated in this particular genre of music knows that this is not an easy question to answer. With any genre of music sometimes it is hard to see where a genre begins and where it ends. With that said, there is no doubt that the Ramones are a very important band to consider in the Punk Rock conversation.
In 1976, the Ramones released their debut album. Something that stands out about them compared to other artists in the punk rock genre is that they are less about world politics unlike a lot of the other bands of their genre and time. The Ramones’ songs are more focused on having fun and finding independence, which is a big reason why teens and young adults identify with their music.
When I was planning to make this piece, I wanted to make the background in a Jackson Pollock style for a very particular reason. Oftentimes whenever an artist comes out and does something new, their work can be endlessly criticized for not being “real art.” This was the case for artists like Jackson Pollock. I personally believe that there is no wrong way to create whether that be music, art, writing, etc.
There are very few artists who come out and invent something entirely new. The large majority of artists are influenced by other artists’ work and add their own twists and spins to make it their own. Musical artists like the Ramones had their influences to get their sound and style. They have gone on to influence so many others in the history of music. The uniqueness of the Ramones’ and Jackson Pollock’s art has stood out and whether you love them or hate them – there’s no denying their important impact on the world.
