I fell in love with the Ramones the first time I saw Rock‘n’ Roll High School, when I was 10 years old. To
this day they are one of my favorite bands, possibly my very favorite. So, when
I heard about this book on Marky’s Punk Rock Blitzkrieg, I had to check it out.
I am so glad I did.
Poisoned Heart, by Vera Ramone King, is the story of Dee Dee
Ramone and the life that Vera and Dee Dee spent together, told in a way that no
one but Vera could tell it. The book keeps you reading. It has a quick pace and
gives insights into the behind-the-scenes life of the Ramones and the tension
within the band that may come as a shock to many fans.
Although preceded by a few legendary bands such as Iggy Pop
and the Stooges and The New York Dolls, the Ramones are considered by many to
be the first punk rock band in history. The Ramones came before the Sex
Pistols, and were together for over 20 years. They had a unique sound and style
which immediately won over their audience, but the radio stations would not
play their songs and it took years of hard work and constant touring for them even
begin to get the recognition they deserved.
Dee Dee was a prolific songwriter and wrote most of their
songs. Even after he left the band, he continued to write for them. By the time
Vera and Dee Dee met, in 1977, the Ramones were well established on the live
music scene and had released three albums, but it was not easy going. They
struggled to make ends meet and save up for their own place.
Dee Dee and Vera married in September, 1978. They were very
much in love, and the love that they held for each other endured through all
the hard times and even after they parted ways after 12 years as a couple. In
the beginning, Vera could never have guessed what was to come. Dee Dee became
the center of her universe. He struggled constantly with his addictions and was
eventually diagnosed as bipolar. Holding Dee Dee together, and sometimes just
keeping him alive, was more than a full-time job for Vera. It was 24/7.
Just reading Poisoned Heart is an emotional rollercoaster.
The ups and downs of Vera’s life with Dee Dee were so extreme, but yet she
manages to tell the story with balance. She tells us about Dee Dee’s great
side, how loving and thoughtful he could be to her, how generous he was to
others, and what a talented man he was. She does not hold back in describing
his bad side, either. Dee Dee put her through Hell, and more than once came
close to killing her. But she never dwells or wallows in self-pity over those
episodes. She tells it all in a very straight-forward manner. Vera tells us
about Dee Dee’s demons, giving us an insight into why he behaved the way he
did, without making excuses for it.
Vera wrote this book to tell Dee Dee’s story. She wants us
to remember him for his good points and the way he touched people’s lives, not
just the turmoil and self-destruction that is so often a part of the image. But
make no mistake, this book is Vera’s story, too, and her story in itself is both
amazing and inspiring.
The Ramones were one of the most influential bands of all
time. Dee Dee and Vera Ramone were often called the Royal Couple of Punk Rock.
Poisoned Heart is Vera's story of their time together.
A NOTE ABOUT THIS REVIEW:
I originally published this review on Associated Content in
2010. Shortly thereafter, Associated Content became Yahoo! Voices. Then in
2014, Yahoo! Voices shut down. Now I am discovering that some of my articles,
including this review, have been stolen and republished without credit. For
those who want to know more about that story, here
is an article about that subject by another former Associated Content/Yahoo
Contributor Network author.
