Marky Ramone (born Marc Steven Bell, July 15, 1952 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American drummer. He is best known for being the drummer for the Ramones, but has also played in other notable bands like The Voidoids and The Misfits.
He started playing drums for hard rock band Dust. He recorded two albums with the band, before getting into the punk scene. In the mid 1970s, he joined Richard Hell & The Voidoids. He played on the Voidoid's first album, Blank Generation.
When Tommy Ramone decided to quit the Ramones in 1978, Bell was asked to be Tommy's replacement, and was renamed Marky Ramone.
Marky played drums with the Ramones for 15 years. He was asked to leave the band in 1983 due to alcoholism (or "to fight his demons" as he put it). He returned in 1987 and played with the band up until their retirement in 1996.
In 1995 Marky appeared with the Ramones on an episode of The Simpsons.
In 1996, Marky joined Dee Dee Ramone and his wife 'Barbara Ramone' to play with The Ramainz, performing Ramones songs for fun.
In 2000, Marky joined Joey Ramone, lead vocalist of the Ramones, to record Joey's only solo album, entitled Don't Worry About Me. That year he also joined the touring incarnation of horror punk progenitors The Misfits, with Jerry Only of the original Misfits and Dez Cadena of Black Flag. He toured extensively with the band on its 25th anniversary tour, and recorded one album with them, Project 1950, released 2003. He left the band in 2005.
In October 2001, Marky appeared on MTV accepting a lifetime achievement award presented by Bono of U2 to the Ramones.
In March 2002, Marky was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, at New York's Waldorf Astoria as a member of the Ramones.
He recorded some albums with his solo band Marky Ramone & the Speedkings, as well as many 7" releases. Marky Ramone & the Speedkings toured the world from 2002 to 2003.
In September 2004, Marky served as Executive Producer and released a Ramones DVD entitled Ramones: Raw on Image Entertainment, which featured footage of the band while on tour all over the world along with other various rare, vintage footage. Much of the candid footage is courtesy of Marky Ramone's personal video library. The DVD was finished just in time to include commentary from Johnny Ramone, who died from prostate cancer on September 15, 2004. The commentary also includes Marky Ramone and producer/director John Cafiero. Ramones: Raw is the only certified Gold selling Ramones DVD and one of only two US gold selling releases in the Ramones entire catalog. The other being the greatest hits double LP Ramonesmania released in 1988. Ramones: Raw is also the highest charting release in the Ramones history.
In January 2005, Marky started tour, that called 'Ramones Night Tour 2005: Marky Ramone & Tarakany!'. In that tour he invited Russian punk band 'Tarakany!'(Тараканы!). In 2003 he played with them in Russia as Marky Ramone & the Pinhead Army.
Many times Marky toured around the world for a 'spoken word' tour, where he would speak about his time with the Ramones and other bands he was in. Marky would have a Q&A with the audience and show rare video and slides. He now tours with his band, Marky Ramone and Friends, and plays for punk rock supergroup Osaka Popstar. He also hosts the Marky Ramone Punk Rock Blitzkrieg radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio on Punk Channel 29 Tuesday from 8 - 10 PM EST.
On April 22, 2008, Marky Ramone released a new CD in Canada where he plays drums with the Canadian punk band called Teenage Head. The CD is called "Teenage Head with Marky Ramone" and it was released in the USA on June 10, 2008. It was produced by Daniel Rey, who's worked with the Ramones among others. It was recorded in 2003 on two separate visits by Marky to Canada.
Marky will shortly be going to Mexico to play a few shows and in June will be playing in Europe.
The following is a list of albums and singles Marky Ramone has played in.
With Dust:
With Estus:
With The Voidoids:
With the Ramones:
With Marky Ramone and the Intruders:
With Dee Dee Ramone:
With The Ramainz:
With Joey Ramone:
With Marky Ramone & the Speedkings:
With The Misfits:
With Osaka Popstar:
With Tequila Baby:
Solo:
Marky also did a blues album with Johnny Shines when he was nineteen
Marky is writing a book based on his times in the punk scene.
