Transmission Impossible

The gigs and shows played by the Ramones between 1977 & 1980 were perhaps the finest they ever performed. Despite having, during their 22 year career, played live over 2000 times – more than The Grateful Dead ever did, and without all the hoo-ha – it was the three years following the release of the groups debut album on the Sire label (issued in February 1976) that their most electric, dynamic and passionate live appearances took place. The recording and release of The Ramones had instilled a communal confidence in the group and this translated into making their shows less chaotic, somewhat longer and certainly featuring a lot more new material than had ever surfaced prior to the album coming out. What remains a huge advantage for fans of this unique collective is that many of these concerts were broadcast live on FM Radio, by various supportive stations local to where such gigs were taking place, and thus a library of these shows in excellent quality, remains in existence.