New York City was caught off guard in 1974 by the angry scream of punk. Raw and unrestrained, it was a sharp contrast to the banality of soft rock and disco. At the forefront of the scene were the Ramones, headed by Joey; who was often accused of geekiness but later on went on to redeem countless others from that agony, troubled bassist Dee Dee; burdened by the weight of his own genius, guitarist and master drill sergeant Johnny; and drummer Tommy (who was followed by a parade of other drummers, including Marky and Richie Ramone). Looking like extras from THE WILD ONES with their black leather jackets, bowl haircuts and Converse sneakers, they ripped through three-chord songs about sniffing glue, the neighborhood, teenage sex and angst. They were a gang of misfits from Forest Hills, Queens, united in the belief in salvation and deliverance through the power of rock 'n' roll. 

It was a rocky road for the pseudo-brothers: the success that always seemed around the corner continually faded in the distance, as British bands they inspired were crowned the “originators of punk” by the mainstream music press. The film's title refers to their 1980 album of the same name, produced by the infamous, gun-toting, hit song guru Phil Spector, an endeavor that strained the already tenuous relation between band members. Poor record sales turned dreams of rock glory into gigging as a means of employment. All the frustration they felt against an industry that gave up on them and abandoned their cause divided them further as they seemingly turned their anger against each other.

New York-based filmmakers Michael Gramaglia and Jim Fields share a life-long love of punk music and their passion is evident in this candid portrait of a band torn by internal struggles and consequences of the lifestyle. END OF THE CENTURY moves from the band's CBGB and London heydays, the decade-long silence between Joey and Johnny caused by a dispute over a girl, through to the deaths of Joey and Dee Dee Ramone and their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame in 2002. Together with unseen live and studio footage, extensive interviews with ex-band mates, family, friends and figures from New York City's punk scene, END OF THE CENTURY not only documents an important chapter in music history, but also chronicles the bonds of childhood friendship and their gradual breakdown.
 
EXTRAS:
End Of The Century trailer
Deleted scene-Clem Burke as Elvis Ramone
Joey Ramone radio interview excerpts from FM 106.3
Marky Ramone drum technique
Johnny Ramone interview excerpts
Richie Ramone interview excerpts
Dee Dee Ramone interview excerpts
Joe Strummer interview excerpts
Tommy Ramone in Forest Hills interview excerpts
Debbie Harry and Chris Stein interview excerpts
Neighborhood friend Ritchie Adler interview excerpts
Who Wrote What On The First 3 Albums by Tommy Ramone
 

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