Ramones AT&T Wireless Ad

This is a post I made on my family blog back in May 2003. Talking about hearing the Ramones song Blitzkrieg Bop used in AT&T GO Wireless ad. Still not sure about it.
I hear it on the radio and see it on tv. I'm happy to hear the Ramones instead of Journey or REO Speedwagon, but is it okay to sell products with their music?
I just despise AT&T so maybe that's it. They bastardized Oasis too.
Anyway here's the post:

Friday, May 09, 2003

I was about to get on I-580 in Livermore this afternoon as the Giants-Marlins game played on KNBR radio. Suddenly I hear a familiar chant, "Hey ho, let's go..." followed by that familiar 3 chord intro to the "Blitzkrieg Bop". Then it happened. Yes, AT&T's GO Wireless has managed to take the punk anthem of my generation and reduce it to a commercial for their service. "Good grief" I thought, "is nothing sacred anymore?" What is worse is that I'm not sure who to be angry at. Or if I should be angry at all. On one hand it is nice that the Ramones have attained the mass popularity that they never really had (albeit many years after their heyday). I see lots of young teenagers wearing Ramones t-shirts lately. On the other hand AT&T has managed to bastardize the Blitzkrieg Bop into an advertisement for their crappy wireless service. People were up in arms when Cadillac used Led Zep in it's ad a few months ago. I never thought I'd see this day. You don't do this. Was this created by a Ramones fan? Or some corporate dote who thought the words fit in with their ad campaign? Are they targeting these teens and their renewed interest in the Ramones? Obviously somebody made some $$$$ here. The world has changed since 1978, it's all about the Benjamin's. Listen in to the Giant's games and I'm sure you will hear it yourself.

Ramones Giant Mosrite Guitar

The Ramones giant Mosrite guitar at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland was featured in this year's SI swimsuit issue. Model Anne V was photographed in front of the giant Mosrite. It was certainly a surprise to see the Ramones guitar featured in the swimsuit issue. Not typically where you would expect to see the Ramones.
The photos are below:

Ramones Kid Records

2 Ramones records that may appeal to the very young.
First there is Brats on the Beat, a Kidz Bop version of Ramones songs.
With some help from real rockers these songs kick Kidz Bop right in the ass.
Personal favorite is California Sun w/ Brett Anderson from the Donnas.

Second there is Lullaby renditions of Ramones songs.
Dreamily put your little newborn to sleep with these versions of Ramones classics.
A bit more difficult to ID these songs but a cool concept anyhow.
You can check them out and hear song clips at the two sites below:

Ramones Lullaby Songs
Brats on the Beat

Joey Ramone in Unauthorized Doc Martens ad

Doc Martens had some ads created for a British magazine that feature 4 alternative rock icons as angels wearing Doc Martens boots in heaven. Joey Ramone, Joe Strummer, Sid Vicious, and Kurt Cobain were the 4 deceased punk rockers used in the ad. Aside from being in very poor taste, not obtaining permission to use any of these people's images, and making a good attempt to alienate a huge base of fans, Joey was Jewish and according to his brother never wore Doc Martens.
Converse sneakers were usually what I saw him wearing. Anyway Courtney Love got the campaign shot down quickly as it should be. The estates of the other deceased punk rockers joined her in that. Now Doc Martens is blaming the ad agency and they are blaming Doc Martens. Can't imagine any of these 4 guys would have agreed to this if they were still alive. Many fans are simply asking why??????

If you really want to see the photos click here

After Hours - repost

The Ramones song Blitzkrieg Bop (which seems to be advertisers favorite lately) was featured in a Diet Pepsi ad called "After Hours". We hear the Ramones song playing on a boom box as Diet Coke cans complain "that kid left the music on again". Some French water bottles also complain about it, as do some Sporty Ade drinks on the shelves below. We then see all the Diet Pepsi cans rocking out to the Blitzkrieg Bop as one smashes through the cooler window glass and lands on the floor below. The music stops momentarily and the can begins dancing again as the music resumes...hey ho let's go...
This has to be one of the coolest ads ever made.
You can download it here.

Shrek 3 Trailer / Soundtrack

The Ramones song "Do You Remember Rock & Roll Radio" from End of the Century appears on the Shrek 3 movie soundtrack, and is played as background music in the trailer and the film. In the film Shrek & Co. arrive at a high school looking for a new king to be and the song plays in the background. Cuts out before the words begin, so only the intro music is played.

Joey Ramone Still Idolized

Was working at a high school recently, and while strolling the halls I noticed many posters for the Student Activities Club. One of the posters had a picture of Joey Ramone and it said "Joey Ramone wants you to join the Student Activities Club".
Thought it was cool. Didn't get to meet the student who created it to tell them it was cool though.