RAMONES Too Tough To Die (Sire)

by Billy Altman

In my mind’s eye, the Ramones’ new album comes in a completely different package. Instead of the shadowy figures lurking ominously off in the mist, I envision another one of those great Ramones cartoon covers, built around a caricature of Joey as the weatherbeaten Statue of Liberty, with folks like Lee Iacocca and Sgt. Slaughter running around the island giving out paper bags and little flags that say Hey Ho! Let’s Go! while Johnny, Dee Dee and new Ramone on the block Richie peek out from underneath Joey’s dishevelled moptop. At the base of the statue, between the untied sneakers, there’s the plaque—about to be stomped on by an army of assorted pinheads, skinheads and spikeheads^bearing an inscription that reads “Give me your headbangers, your pogoers, you slamdancers seeking refuge for the pit...” Album Title? One Nation Under Leather.