I Slept With Joey Ramone: A Punk Rock Family Memoir

of course it's sad. we know how it ends, and being a story involving a ramone, it was bound to be anyway! never a more dysfunctional collection of individuals ever got together to make music! ah, but what music! sublime and practically perfect pop music (well, for the first 3 albums at any rate!). mickey leigh, with assistance from legs mcneil, has produced an affectionate, at times touching, account of his older brother's life, through a very troubled childhood and, well, through an equally troubled adulthood as well. joey was no ordinary individual, and didn't everyone know it and make his life miserable - until through his love of music he became the face of u.s. punk music - that changed things. or did it? the story of the relationships among ramones is well known, but leigh manages to add to this from his view from ringside, and is able to relate joey's perspective on events on his behalf.personally, i don't know any of leigh's music, and i have read criticism that this book highlights too much of his own career, but seeing as how most of the brothers ventures were intertwined in one element or another, i don't see how he could have left much out. plus, it's always interesting to learn about people on the ramones periphery. there were many in joey's support circle, none more so than leigh and their mother!johnny ramone doesn't come across well here, but he doesn't come out of any of the accounts well, and this lends more credence to the general belief that he was the major 'spoiler' as the ramones career plunged sadly downwards toward mediocrity (sharing my theory that 'too tough to die' was the last great ramones record). strangely, though dee dee gets little mention, but then wasn't in the same 'faction'. complex inter-band relationships, but saddening all the same.however, this is a great and appropriate addition to my expanding library of ramones books. the most compulsively addictive (poor choices of words!) story in music! there are a few available that i wouldn't touch with the proverbial, but this is securely lodged on the essential list!

Fantastic book, Mickey is great storyteller

A really good insight into the dysfunctional life that was The Ramones.

I've read about 6 Ramones related books and this was definitely the most enjoyable. There are a number of key issues which affected the band hugely that appear in print for the first time. Even the parts about points you already know about are an interesting read and that's down to the author being likeable, so his opinion is worth your time. Leigh also comes across as credible so you don't find yourself questioning the validity of what you are reading, unlike Dee Dee's 'Poison Heart - Surviving The Ramones'.There are quite a number of Ramones books available plus Marky's is released in a few months, but between this book and 'Please Kill Me' you get the full story.

Great insights growing up with Joey. I felt it was unnecessary to run a parallel story about Mickey’s musical career though.

Just the title of this book is great. But also the contents. Mickey Leigh gives an unique insight about his famous brother and the legendary band where he singed.

An excellent insight to one of the greatest rock and roll singers, one of my top 10 biographies

I got this for my husband who said it was great, Thanks.