I got a Joey Ramone action figure for my birthday and I just ♥ it. He stands next to my laptop on the desk where I write every day. At night, when I light a nearby candle, he throws a spectacular, bouncy little shadow on the wall.
It's fitting that someone made Joey into an action figure because I think Joey was a creative super hero. As it's been pointed out in numerous Ramones books and documentaries, he took everything that was wrong with his life and celebrated it through his love of music. He crafted the crap into something of value.
In a 1994 interview, Joey characterized punk rock as being about revolution, individualism, uniqueness and liberation. Being a punk, he said, "is about being yourself and standing up and saying this is who I am."
I love researching non-fiction projects, but have often found myself getting frustrated over trying to fit my work into a mold. Formulas that have been proven to "work." Endlessly fighting the urge to be unique in how I express people's stories. Joey's philosophy reminds me that I don't have to follow any formula that doesn't reflect who I am as a writer, and let the chips fall where they may.
So that's why I decided to give this little 7" replica of Joey's larger than life 6' 6" frame a place of honor on my desk. Inspiration from an unlikely hero. I'm not a punk rocker, but by his definition I am punk. We're all punks, if we dare to follow our individual visions. I dare, do you?
For more information about Joey (1951-2001) visit JoeyRamone.com.
In a 1994 interview, Joey characterized punk rock as being about revolution, individualism, uniqueness and liberation. Being a punk, he said, "is about being yourself and standing up and saying this is who I am."
I love researching non-fiction projects, but have often found myself getting frustrated over trying to fit my work into a mold. Formulas that have been proven to "work." Endlessly fighting the urge to be unique in how I express people's stories. Joey's philosophy reminds me that I don't have to follow any formula that doesn't reflect who I am as a writer, and let the chips fall where they may.
So that's why I decided to give this little 7" replica of Joey's larger than life 6' 6" frame a place of honor on my desk. Inspiration from an unlikely hero. I'm not a punk rocker, but by his definition I am punk. We're all punks, if we dare to follow our individual visions. I dare, do you?
For more information about Joey (1951-2001) visit JoeyRamone.com.
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