Marky Ramone Looks Back On The Ramones As Riot Fest Kicks Off In Chicago

“I see the representation of the Ramones,” said drummer Marky Ramone with a chuckle, taking stock of Riot Fest during a conversation Friday afternoon backstage in Chicago. “It’s like, you’ve got the Misfits and they were influenced by the Ramones. You’ve got the Descendents - influenced by the Ramones…” he observed, running down some of the weekend’s headlining acts. “Thank you. I’m very grateful for that.”

Riot Fest stands as one of America’s preeminent festival celebrations of punk rock and metal, with a diverse Friday lineup further spotlighting pop (Bleachers), alternative rock (My Chemical Romance) and more.

Marc Bell took over for original Ramones drummer Tommy Ramone in 1978, becoming Marky Ramone, first playing on the group’s fourth album Road To Ruin (and seminal Ramones tracks like “I Wanna Be Sedated”), while appearing in the 1979 cult classic film Rock ‘n’ Roll High School.

Following a summer spent abroad waving the flag for the punk progenitors, Riot Fest marks just the fifth U.S. show for Ramone since 2019.

“Two and a half years after playing, I really didn’t think about it,” explained the drummer of getting back on stage. “I just wanted to beat the COVID thing. I went to Hawaii for three months. I wanted to be isolated. So I started painting,” said Ramone. “I didn't want to have anything to do with music at that moment. Because I just wanted to see if I could do something else, the painting thing, which I did. After two and a half years we rehearsed once, played in Chile at Lollapalooza with Foo Fighters and it was like we never stopped, you know?”

In classic Ramones fashion, Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg was a frenetic force on stage at Riot Fest, plowing through Ramones classics at breakneck speed. “1, 2, 3, 4!” came the trademark count as the group moved from “Beat on the Brat” into “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue,” digging deep in the Ramones catalog for cuts like “Havana Affair,” nary a backing track or any other trick to be spotted during the group’s one hour set.

“We do 35 Ramones songs. We did 45 songs in Argentina - non stop. No samples. No auto tuning. None of that stuff. I think it’s unfair to the audience,” he said. “It’s amazing. I don’t question it - because when you question things, things go away,” said Ramone, 70, of the group’s virtually unparalleled ability to continually reach new generations of fans. “I’m amazed how the lyrical content and the power of the songs, they really appeal to youth. It just keeps going and going. What can I say?”

Friday on a sunny afternoon in Chicago, the temperature made its way north of 80 degrees, perfect weather as Riot Fest got underway in Douglass Park on the city’s near southwest side.

“Does anyone have a smaller pair of sunglasses?” joked Lagwagon guitarist Chris Rest, setting up the 90s punk group’s take on “To All My Friends.” “This is the part where we tune down the guitar like we’re a metal band and play our poppiest song in drop D,” joked the band.

Florida alt rockers Anberlin put forth a fun, 45 minute set Friday on the Rise stage.

“This is your cue to yell ‘Speak!’” said singer Stephen Christian, Anberlin heading for the finish line with “The Resistance.” “Off your feet!” screamed the singer, the crowd jumping in time to “Feel Good Drag” as the performance drew to a close, Sparta warming up across the field on the Riot stage.

“Before we start, we’re called Sparta from the great state of Texas,” said singer and guitarist Jim Ward on stage Friday. “I was gonna wear my nice, fancy show shirt tonight - but we need help,” said the singer, clad in a “Beto For Texas” t-shirt, advocating for Texas gubernatorial candidate (and punk bassist) Beto O’Rourke during the afternoon’s first political moment.

Sparta was an early highlight Friday afternoon in Chicago, kicking things off with “Breaking the Broken” before moving into “Miracle.”

Power trios were a thing Friday, Alkaline Trio opening up with “Time to Waste” later as fans waited for Bleachers to start.

It’s an easy trip between stages at Riot Fest and Portugal. The Man offered up “Feel It Still” as Marky Ramone opened up with “Sheena is a Punk Rocker” nearby.

But Friday night belonged to Bleachers, Jack Antonoff’s ensemble conjuring up images of Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street Band with a pair of live saxophonists facing off on stage, the sound of a big band wafting across Douglass Park during “How Dare You Want More.”

Antonoff climbed up onto an amp as “Let’s Get Married” got things started Friday night in Chicago, slowing things down later during the poignant “Everybody Lost Somebody.”

“I came to play Chicago!” asserted Antonoff on stage. “We got a bar crawl going on stage! Let’s hear it!” said the singer, strapping on a guitar. “Chicago is the best there is.”