Too Tough to Die - Ramones Tribute Concert DVD

'Too tough to die' is a recording of the tribute concert that took place on September 12, 2004 at the Avalon in Hollywood. By that time, Joey Ramone had died of lymphoma in 2001 and Dee Dee Ramone overdosed on heroin in 2002. Three days after the concert, Johnny Ramone died of prostate cancer leaving just one original member alive.

Like all such gatherings, the concert is a mixed bag with a wide variety of musicians paying their dues. Unfortunately no one could play Ramones stuff quite like The Ramones, so you're left with a well-meaning if slightly disappointing 90 minutes.

'The Dickies' are first up and, despite being early entrants into the geek punk race (with their cover of the Banana Splits theme song and a breakneck cover of Black Sabbath's 'Paranoid') the band just don't cut the mustard anymore - least of all when covering a Ramones track.




'X' are next up. Popular in the US, they made very little impact here in the UK and they look a little long in the tooth, though turn in a spirited performance despite the female lead packing a few pounds - quite a hefty contrast to The Ramones beanpole look.
The 'Red Hot Chili Peppers' do four songs and sound like the 'Red Hot Chili Peppers' rather than a bad Ramones which kind of works and may please fans of the band.

The remaining songs (11 of them) have the powerhouse of C.J and Marky Ramone, Ramones Producer Daniel Rey standing in for Johnny on guitar and a parade of noteworthy guests - including Tim Armstrong (Rancid), Henry Rollins, Steve Jones (Sex Pistols), and Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam).




There are occasional cuts to interviews with The Dickies, Vedder, Rollins as well as with other notables who did not perform at the tribute - like Debbie Harry, Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon (who can always be counted upon to intellectualise about the music) as well as Flea and Rob Zombie who hosts the show.



Finally, there are some touching tributes from Tommy and CJ Ramone, Rob Zombie and Eddie Vedder at a memorial service for Johnny. He is clearly sadly missed by friends and the tributes seem candid, emotional and real.

The concert footage is OK - pretty standard three camera DV coverage with a nice mix from the desk, mixed judiciously with some live miked stuff to retain some of the original atmosphere.



There are a couple of extras. An audio commentary by producer/director Mandy Stein, Johnny's widow Linda, and Joe Sib of SideOneDummy Records which is reasonably informative; and a brief trailer for the film.

Overall, it's an entertaining and fitting tribute though not one likely to bear repeat viewings. Not when you can watch the real deal on any number of other DVD compilations.



Here's the whole set list.

The Dickies:
• "Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World"
• "You Drive Me Ape (You Big Gorilla)"
X:
• "Los Angeles"
• "Because I Do"
The Red Hot Chili Peppers:
• "I Just Wanna Have Something to Do"
• "I Wanna Be Sedated"
• "She's the One"
• "It's a Long Way Back"
Daniel Rey, C.J. Ramone, and Marky Ramone:
• "Durango 95"
• "Wart Hog"
• "Don't Come Close" (with Pete Yorn)
• "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" (with Pete Yorn)
• "My Brain is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes to Bitburg)" (with Lawrence Katz and Dicky Barett)
• "Cretin Hop" (with Tim Armstrong and Brett Gurewitz)
• "I Believe in Miracles" (with Eddie Vedder, Tim Armstrong, and Brett Gurewitz)
• "Sheen is a Punk Rocker" (with Eddie Vedder, Tim Armstrong, and Brett Gurewitz)
• "Judy is a Punk" (with Henry Rollins and Steve Jones)
• "Commando" (with Henry Rollins and Steve Jones)
• "Blitzkrieg Bop" (with Henry Rollins and Steve Jones)