I’d look over and see Johnny and Joey next to me, and I’d
be saying to myself, “how did I get here?” And that was right up to my last
days in the band. I still had that attitude.
Bassist CJ Ward was a member of the Ramones from 1989 to
1996, playing over 800 shows with fellow Ramones Joey (vocals), Johnny (guitar), and Marky (drums). CJ brought renewed energy and enthusiasm to the band, and played a big part
in its longevity.CJ was a huge fan of the Ramones, and joining the band was a dream come true. Hell, it’s EVERY fan’s dream come true! But CJ did it - and it was not without its challenges. Not only did he have to play well enough to meet the fans' high expectations; he was also replacing legendary Ramones' bassist Dee Dee Ramone, a punk icon and fan favorite.
CJ will release a new solo album, Last Chance To Dance, next
month. The first single from the album, Understand Me?, can be heard here. If the album is
anything like the single, we’ll have a treat on our hands in just a short time.
You can learn more about CJ and his current projects at his website and his Facebook page, and I also commend a 2009 interview with Mark Prindle that is well worth
the read.
