Rock History

1995 – The Ramones release “Adios Amigos.’‘ It’s speculated to be the band’s last album ever.

¡Adios Amigos! is the Ramones’ last studio album. It was released in 1995. It features “Making Monsters For My Friends” and “It’s Not For Me to Know” originally recorded by Dee Dee Ramone on his album I Hate Freaks Like You which he did with I.C.L.C, and “The Crusher” from Dee Dee Ramone’s short rap career as Dee Dee King, as well as a cover of Tom Waits’ “I Don’t Want to Grow Up” and a cover of Johnny Thunders song “I Love You”. The Japanese version of the album features the bonus track “R.A.M.O.N.E.S.”, originally recorded by Motörhead as a tribute to the Ramones on their “1916″ album. The American version of the album features a hidden track, “Spider-Man”, slightly different from the same song the Ramones originally recorded for the Saturday Morning. C.J. Ramone, Dee Dee’s replacement, sings lead vocals on tracks two, four, eight and ten, as well as the bonus track R.A.M.O.N.E.S. Dee Dee Ramone himself appeared on “Born to Die in Berlin”, while singing in German.

In a reverse decision, many tracks on this album are performed at a slower pace because of Joey’s maturing, ailing vocals, a factor the band had acknowledged in previous years. In preceding tours the band had originally played faster with negative reviews of the shows being the result.

The album cover is a painting of artist Mark Kostabi. The backcover shows the band tied and before being excecuted by a firing squad. The mexican man seated next to the band is their longtime road manager Monte Melnick, considered by many as “The fifth Ramone”.

Track listing

1. “I Don’t Want to Grow Up” (Tom Waits/Kathleen Brennan) – 2:46
2. “Makin’ Monsters For My Friends” (Dee Dee Ramone/Daniel Rey) – 2:35
3. “It’s Not For Me to Know” (Dee Dee Ramone/Daniel Rey) – 2:51
4. “The Crusher” (Dee Dee Ramone/Daniel Rey) – 2:27
5. “Life’s a Gas” (Joey Ramone) – 3:34
6. “Take the Pain Away” (Dee Dee Ramone/Daniel Rey) – 2:42
7. “I Love You” (John Genzale) – 2:21
8. “Cretin Family” (Dee Dee Ramone/Daniel Rey) – 2:09
9. “Have a Nice Day” (Marky Ramone/Skinny Bones) – 1:39
10. “Scattergun” (C.J. Ramone) – 2:30
11. “Got a Lot to Say” (C.J. Ramone) – 1:41
12. “She Talks to Rainbows” (Joey Ramone) – 3:14
13. “Born to Die in Berlin” (Dee Dee Ramone/John Carco) – 3:32

Bonus tracks

* “Spider-Man” (in the U.S.)
* “R.A.M.O.N.E.S.” (in Japan)

Personnel

* Joey Ramone – lead vocals
* Johnny Ramone – lead guitar
* C.J. Ramone – bass, backing vocals
* Marky Ramone – drums