Lobotomy: Surviving the Ramones

by Dee Dee Ramone and Veronica Kofman

Book Overview

Lobotomy is a lurid and unlikely temperance tract from the underbelly of rock 'n' roll. Taking readers on a wild rollercoaster ride from his crazy childhood in Berlin and Munich to his lonely methadone-soaked stay at a cheap hotel in Earl's Court and newfound peace on the straight and narrow, Dee Dee Ramone catapults readers into the raw world of sex, addiction, and two-minute songs. It isn't pretty. With the velocity of a Ramones song, Lobotomy rockets...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0306824981
• ISBN13: 9780306824982
• Release Date: March 2016
• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

GABBA GABBA HEY!

Great read! Interesting to see things from the viewpoint of the outcast. Love the photos! I highly recommend this book- especially for anyone who loves the Ramones.

The best Dee Dee Ramone book period!...

This is the best sorce to find out how it's really like to be one of the ramones.Dee Dee gives you great insight on life of a drug addict,musican,and one of the most influencial bass players of all time. If you like the ramones at all you will love this book. The best part about it is that is is an easy read all chapters are less than 20 pages long...short like a ramones song! Long live Dee Dee Ramone, may he rest in peace.

Gimme Gimme My Money Back or Now I Wanna Be a Good Book

Just kidding, it wasn't that bad, I just couldn't resist. I waited over 10 years for this book, and I wish I could say it was 100% worth the wait. I agree from the reader who happens to be married to me--I can't beleive that after all those years with the Ramones, Dee Dee does not have ONE nice or positive memory or thing to say. Don't get me wrong, I liked the book. Dee Dee has a great sense of humor, and even at his worst there's something so loveable about the guy. It sounds corny but there really is an innate sweetness under all that drug abuse and New York attitude. It's really just kind of depressing that he seems to have had such a miserable time, and can't let go of most of the bitter memories and look back on the good times. The book seems to be a series of wretched stories about being broke, taking drugs, turning tricks, getting beat up, taking more drugs, overdosing, getting beat up or stabbed by insane girlfriends, or out trying to cop drugs. He tells the stories well but it would be nice if he had something positive to say. And I've spent time with the Ramones and agree that Joey can be moody and Johnny can be crabby and bossy, but that they are also nice people in general and can be fun to be with. I can't beleive there wasn't ONE show, ONE night when Dee Dee was up there, playing bass and jumping up and down and thought, "Man, this is pretty fun." Obviously there are a LOT of bad feelings left, which is too bad. This book is also a very, very effective example of why not to do drugs. You see Dee Dee go from looking like a heart-breakingly goodlooking, healthy young man in his 20's to The Cryptkeeper by 40. Swear to God, you see a picture of him now and you would never recognize him as the fine, babyfaced man he used to be. When you see him today he looks to be in his 60's (Sorry to hurt your feelings, Dee Dee, if you're reading this). Don't look at the pictures taken after 1989 if you want to remember him like he was. I do also agree, though, with the reader who says "Please Kill Me" gave you a better idea of the Ramones and the New York punk scene back then, and even of Dee Dee's life. Now that's a solid, satisfying read and includes almost as many of Dee Dee's words as this rather slim autobio does. Another thing that bugs me is there's absolutely NO mention of his wife of over 10 years, Vera Ramone, who he loved so much he married her in a church and had her name tattooed on his arm. Like she never existed, and I really wanted to hear about their marraige. I assume either they have some kind of written agreement that he can't write about her, or she asked him not to and they are close enough so he respects her wishes, or he's so damn bitter about that too he doesn't even bring it up. I hope it's the middle one. Anyway, Dee Dee gets some good stories about the punk scene in, is a good sport about the stupid decisions he's made in his life ("Putting out a rap album didn't exactly win me any po

Poison Heart is a "must have" for any Ramones fan.

A must read for any ramones fan, or those interested in the American punk rock counter- culture of the early 70's. In his book, Dee Dee weaves an ugly tapestry of drugs, filth, anger, and bitterness in a book--which took him five years to write. We suffer with him through countless attempts at detoxification, and tales of excess, whether it be drugs or women. The book gets quite graphic--not for those with a weak stomach. However, the book is a great read, and a great buy. Please excuse Dee Dee's grammar and spelling. (I found it charming.)