I know not everyone has had the same musical experiences, so this week’s Muggle Music Monday is about a band that I need to make sure everyone knows about – the Ramones!

I’m pretty sure most of you do know a Ramones song, though. The Whomping Willows’ ‘Ginny is a Punk Rocker’ is actually a filk of a Ramones song, ‘Sheena is a Punk Rocker’.

As far as the punk rock scene is concerned, the Ramones were a very important influence, both here in the U.S. and in the U.K. Their music came about as a direct opposition to the popular music of the day – things like Led Zeppelin and The Grateful Dead. These sort of bands were based on long jams, guitar solos, and overproduction. The Ramones wanted to pay homage to the bubble gum, pop-ier music of the 50s and 60s, which they did with simple chords, short songs, and an unbridled enthusiasm for their fans. Instead of interacting with each other onstage, the Ramones brought back the idea of playing directly at and for the fans.

The Ramones have an extensive discography, so I think I would recommend you start with Ramones Mania, an album with 30 of their most popular songs.