I thought the band was terrible; screechy, ear-splitting guitars and a jumble of sounds that "I just didn't get." I said, " NEVER AGAIN!!!" After much cajoling and haranguing, however, Terry Ork persuaded me to let them play again with another "hot' new rock group from Forest Hills, Queens. They were called "The Ramones." Terry said that the Ramones had a big following and the combination of the two bands will make a great show. I thought, "What the hell, what do we have to lose!!?....Ha!"
Well the anticipated night came, and there were not many more people than before.
As for the Ramones, they were even worse than Television. At that first gig at CBGB, they were the most untogether group I'd ever heard.
They kept starting and stopping-equipment breaking down- and yelling at each other. They were a mess.
Little
did I suspect that both Television and the Ramones would eventually get
it together and become two of the most important punk bands of the 70's.
It taught me to be more forgiving in judging new bands, and to listen
a little more closely. I think both the Ramones and Television teach a
valuable lesson for aspiring artists. They were wonderfully talented,
they believed in themselves, they had integrity, they were persistent,
and they worked hard. The Ramones to this day have millions of fans all
over the world and to many kids they are still the quintessential punk
band. Television was an inspiration and a great influence on bands that
came after. Rock critics today, still rate Television's debut album as
one of the ten best albums of the 70's.
Since their inauspicious beginnings, both groups have played over a hundred
sets each at CBGB.
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