Monte A. Melnick
Question - Whats the difference between a tour manager and a toilet bowl ?
Answer - A toilet bowl only has to deal with one asshole at a time
That's Monte Melnicks line from the lifestyles of the Ramones video, and Monte should know. He was the Ramones tour manager from the first time they played C.B.G.B.'s right up until their very last show
You'd expect a man who spent 22 years with The Ramones to have a few stories, and he has, from playing to as many dogs as paying customers in a dive bar on the Bowery to the 'Top of the pops' appearances and sellout tours of Europe to the stadiums of South America
Luckily for us, you can read them in a new book that's coming out
Co-written with Frank Meyer of the
Street Walking Cheetahs, this is the story of the Ramones from the inside by the man at the sharp end - like all managers, all you hear are complaints, its seldom anyone thanks you whether it's the four dysfunctional band members or the roadies or the club owners who arent too happy about having their place wrecked by the over exuberant fans
Monte was a friend of Tommys from junior high school days in Forest Hills (read about it in the book), he released two albums playing bass in the band "THIRTY DAYS OUT" and was studio manager at Performance Studios where the Ramones rehearsed and played their first gig in 1974 and wound up being their tour manager until the end and continued to work with various members in various capacities after The Ramones retired
I got the chance to ask Monte some questions about his book and life with and without the Ramones - here it is, Murray and Monte
1. I've actually seen you a couple of times before, once was at the stage door of the Edinburgh Playhouse in 1986 - you were saying 'Arty, get in the van !' and once in London in 1988 at a totally unadvertised and empty signing of Ramones Mania in a record shop - you were saying 'Dee Dee, get in the car !' - does this sum up a fair part of life on the Road with the Ramones ?
Here is a quote from my book.
Shira B. Wild (Montes Ex-Girlfriend): To the Ramones, Monte was a tour manager, mom, dad, teacher, doctor, baby-sitter, bill collector, voice of reason, referee, host, guest, shoulder to cry on, head to beat on, hand to hold, driver, negotiator, pat on the back, pat on the ass, life saver, the boss, the peon and the whipping boy. And when his talents weren't necessary, he was there in the shadows.
2. Touring with a band is a better way of seeing the world than joining the Navy (you dont have to kill people for a start), but looking at the tour schedules you didnt have many days off - did you manage to sightsee much when you were on the road, did it give you an appreciation for others cultures or were you too busy seeking out McDonalds on behalf of the band members ?
We managed to get back to most cities numerous times so I had some time to see the sights and enjoy the cultures.
3. You played in bands yourself before the Ramones, did you think that they'd get far with their sound when you first saw them ?
At first I didn't like them. I came from bands that had great musicians and three part harmonies so they were quite radical to me.
But they grew on me after a while.
4. What made you choose Frank Meyer as your co-writer ? How was the book written, with him interviewing you or did you write your stuff and he added the rest ?
Frank is a great rock journalist and musician. Being that he is in a band that was and still is on the road I can easily relate to him my life on the road for him to write.
5. It seems to me that the Ramones are bigger now than they have ever been, every record shop has a Ramones section in the racks and I cant turn on the TV without seeing a Ramones T-shirt on some young pop star (often someone who obviously doesnt have a clue who the Ramones are) - does that feel gratifying, or does it bother you that it didnt happen so much at the time - you could've been travelling first class and employing someone else to yell 'Get in the van !' ?
In certain parts of the world the Ramones were very big so we did travel first class.
It would have been nice to have that happen everywhere. However it's very satisfying to know that I was a part of rock 'n' roll history and part of a musical revolution that changed American pop culture forever.
front cover designed by John Holmstrom www.punkmagazine.com
6. I've just seen the cover of the book, another classic John Holmstrom creation. The Ramones didnt like being called cartoons, but like cartoons they all seemed (from the outside) to have very defined personalities, does your book show a side of the Ramones we dont know about ?
You're going to have to read the book for this one.
7. With Dee Dee and Joey gone, was there a sense of closure writing this book - did you find it therapeutic, or just hard work ?
The book was very therapeutic for me. Talking to people I hadn't talked to for quite some time and going over so many years was hard but satisfying. A big closure for me.
8. If you hadnt had a life on the road with the Ramones, what do you think you would have been doing ? Is there another band you would have liked to have tour managed for or is tour managing something you never really wanted to do in the first place ?
You have to chose the path you travel. Sometime that path takes some strange and winding turns. The main point is to have fun, enjoy the ride and take advantage of that path. You never really know where it will take you.
9. Since you've finished the book and been talking about it, is there any stories that you've since remembered and wished you'd put in ?
The big problem we had with this book was we were limited to it's size. I actually had enough material for two books so editing it down was very difficult.
10. Whats next for Monte Melnick ? do you keep in touch with any of the band/crew ?
I talk to some of them from time to time.
I have a great job now as the Audio Visual Associate at the New York Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens, NY.
On The Road With The Ramones by Monte A. Melnick + Frank Meyer is out in November 2003 on Sanctuary Publishing