I Slept with Joey Ramone: A Punk Rock Family Memoir

A great read!!!!

I just started reading this book and so far it's really keeping my interest . If it takes a nosedive at any point I'll amend my review .----------- Well , I finished the book and it's my favorite of all the Ramones books that I've read (#2 being -On the road w/the Ramones #3 being Poisoned Heart by Vera Ramone King #4 being Commando by Johnny Ramone .) What I like about this book is that it starts at the VERY BEGINNING and continues to the VERY END of Joeys life and it doesn't skimp on the in between . You come away from reading this book feeling like you actually got to know him. It's very professionally written (No doubt in large part because of Leggs McNiel's contribution) .I even came away from this a big fan of Mickey Leigh's . Throughout this book I thoroughly enjoyed looking up references to music that inspired them growing up and band s that Mickey was in such as Birdland with Lester Bangs etc. on Youtube . There is a song that was played for Joey on his Deathbed as he drew his final breaths , I had never heard this song before so I looked it up on Youtube and somebody had made a video montage of joey over this song . It is VERY moving to say the least . Not a whole lot of photos in this book but it's not a big deal because the writing more than makes up for it . No stone goes unturned in this book and I came away feeling like I learned about as much as a person possibly could about Joey Ramone's life and times. Great book !

A good but not great account of the Ramones and Joey, a great story about the love of two brothers. As for the Ramones, not a lot new here. Like Monte Melnick, Mickey uses a lot of quotes you've read before or seen in youtube interviews. I've read all the Ramones books now, and have yet to read a great one, but maybe cause it wasn't that great an experience for them. Johnny was a tyrannical jerk, Joey was often sick and suffered with OCD, and Dee Dee was Dee Dee. They drove eachother nuts, which I think was a product of growing up in a time & place where kids picked on each other. These guys never stopped. I'd heard Dee Dee claim it was a sad life and I believe him.The brother dynamic was really interesting. Joey was dealing with problems he couldn't understand, and that naturally affected his whole family. I think Mickey does a good job explaining how he felt and what he went through as "the kid brother of Joey Ramone". Like most, he doesn't hide his disdain for Johnny "Furor", and most of his Ramones writing is about the early years when he was the roadie. If you love Joey though, and who doesn't, this is worthwhile. This is as good as Melnick's book. Dee Dee's are fun too, but more like fiction. Commando was Johnny's "version" and the worst, and Marky's book was just okay. Long live the memory of the Ramones!

I loved this book! I was a fan of the Ramones the instant I heard the first chord they played back in the 70's. I tried to attend every show remotely close to me along the East coast and was blessed to be able to get to know Joey as a person, not just as the lead singer of my favorite band. Mickey's book is written in a way that draws you into his family life warts and all. He doesn't hold back anything. You truly can't appreciate the Ramones or Mickey Leigh without knowing what made them tick as individuals and Mickey Leigh did a great job telling their story through his eyes and experiences. Most of all, you feel the love of two brothers even in the midst of termoil. You come away with even more respect for Joey and Mickey knowing the challenges they faced and overcame and the ones they just could not get past. It's a fascinating story whether you're a Ramones fan or not, and I highly recommend reading this book.

Mickey (Joey Ramone's brother) did a great book!! Very insightful, entertaining, interesting and just a great read. What a "catchy" title too!! Just like the Ramones songs! It is so sad they never made it big, but maybe that was a good thing, as it kept them putting out song after song, album after album of great music. They all had such an impact on the music world and many, many bands that are huge today owe many thanks to the Ramones as it was their inspiration. Jeff's Joey) untimely death was so sad, as the death of all the original band members is sad. Marky, C.J. and Ritchie are still with us, Marky and C.J. still going strong, but there will never be another Ramones. I was blessed to have "grown up with the Ramones", not in the same neighborhood, but with their music, from their very first album, I had it and it only got better. The concerts were truly a treat, with all the members being a STAR, Dee Dee on Bass, Johnny blasting away on the strings, Tommy (then Marky) beating the drums and Joey, grabbing the mic and pounding his fist in the air. There was nothing like it before and can never be another, it was THE RAMONES!!

Fantastic book, Mickey is great storyteller

Even if you're not a Ramones fan, this book is an amazing read. There were points in the book where my heart literally broke for him as a human being, the way he was treated by people. Such a tortured soul with so much talent. Read this book -- you won't regret it.

Wer weiß wohl mehr über Joey Ramone, den Vater des Punks, als sein Bruder mit dem er sich jahrelang ein Zimmer geteilt hat und der immer bei ihm war?Mickey Leigh bereitet großartige Einsicht in das Leben seines Bruders und den Rest der Ramones. Außerdem ist er sehr daran bemüht das Stigma an OCD etwas zu brechen, was ihm super gelingt. Als großer Ramones fan könnte ich gar nicht noch zufriedener sein als ich bin!

Comment ne pas re-tomber amoureux(se) de ce groupe mythique ?Mickey Leigh nous fait revivre le parcours hors norme de son grand frère, avec humour et amour. "...sans les Ramones, Joey n'aurait pas survécu..." ; (et pourtant, est-ce qu'on ne ressent pas un peu d'amertume dans le discours de Mickey ?).How not to fall (again) in love with this mythic band?Mickey Leigh brings to life his big brother's so special journey, with humor and love. "...without the Ramones, Joey wouldn't have survived..."; (yet, doesn't one feel some bitterness in Mickey's speech?).Just great! Ramones for ever !!! Joey I love u... <3go to mon-site-joey-ramone.monsite-orange.fr

If you like Joey Ramone, this book is for you. Yes, Mickeytalks about himself too. But he is the brother of Joey. Andit all gives you a deeper look at things. Very interesting!