The Ramones
The Ramones were a four-member New York punk band formed in 1975. Band members were Joey Ramone, Johnny Ramone, DeeDee Ramone and Tommy Ramone (later replaced by Marky Ramone).
Songs were typically introduced with a simple count of "1-2-3-4!" The band played extremely fast, and with minimal ostentation. When playing live, the Ramones attempted to play their set as quickly as possible, just to get it over with.
Though containing members widely at variance in their personal philosophies (Joey was a hippie, Johnny was a Republican ex-marine), the band used their differences constructively to generate a synergistic effect, their basic lyrics and fast-played music managing to somehow transcend their sound's apparent simplicity.
Later in their career, the Ramones made surf-themed and psychedelic records, as well as developing a heavier, more metallic sound, though never abandoning their endearing no-nonsense approach.
Though chart success eluded them to some extent, one Ramones song sounding much like another, the band were nevertheless extremely popular, and today are among the best-loved of all American bands, regularly placing highly in listener polls. [1]
A film, Rock'n'Roll High School, featuring the Ramones was made in 1979.