Blitzkrieg Bop – Ramones | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop (#111); 1976

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

With Blitzkrieg Bop, the opening blast in the Ramones’ debut sonic assault on 1970’s sensibilities, American punk exploded across America. Formed in Queens, N.Y.

in 1974 by singer/drummer Jeffrey “Joey” Hyman, guitarist John “Johnny” Cummings, and bassist Douglas “Dee Dee” Colvin, plus Tom “Tommy” Erdelyi as the band’s manager, the group adopted an alias used in 1960 by Paul McCartney of the Silver Beatles, Paul Ramone.

After the band’s first concert gig in March of 1974, Tommy moved over to drums, and the Ramones took up residency in New York’s famous CBGB’s nightclub. In the waning months of the following year the band became the first NY punkers to secure a record deal.

Six thousand dollars in recording costs later their first album hit the U.S. record bins to immediate acclaim and impact. A seminal performance at London’s Roadhouse on July 4th struck a chord with rebellious U.K. kids too, and left an avalanche of punksters in its wake.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

  • Craig Leon

Lyrics Written by:

  • Tommy Ramone
  • Dee Dee Ramone

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Ed Osborne

Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).