| C.J. Ramone | |
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C.J. Ramone at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Christopher Joseph Ward |
| Also known as | C.J. Ramone |
| Born | October 8, 1965 Queens, New York |
| Genres | Punk rock |
| Occupations | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Bass guitar, guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | Sire, Radioactive, Chrysalis |
| Associated acts | Ramones, Los Gusanos, Bad Chopper |
| Website | www.cjramone.com |
Christopher Joseph Ward (born October 8, 1965), better known as C. J. Ramone, is an American musician best known as working as the bassist (and sometimes the vocalist) of punk rock group Ramones from 1989 to 1996.
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Christopher J. Ward was born in Queens, New York City, though he lived in Deer Park, New York for most of his early life.
He attended Ss. Cyril and Methodius School and graduated from Deer Park High School in 1983.
Prior to joining the Ramones, Ward served in the United States Marine Corps.[1] He was a fan of the Ramones, particularly of Dee Dee Ramone, before joining the band, and later played with him in a band called The Remains or The Ramainz, which was formed by Dee Dee Ramone, Marky Ramone and Dee Dee's wife, Barbara Zampini (Barbara Ramone). He also played in Guitar Pete's Axe Attack, Los Gusanos, Bad Chopper, and is currently touring as CJ Ramone.
Ward replaced original band member Dee Dee Ramone, though Dee Dee continued to write songs for the group. C.J. sang many well-known Ramones songs, and gave The Ramones a younger image. In the documentary End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones it states that when C.J. joined the Ramones he was seen as a breath of fresh air into the band. Johnny Ramone says he knew immediately when C.J. auditioned to replace Dee Dee that he was right, commenting that he "had the right look". When the Ramones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame original Ramones drummer, Tommy Ramone, credited C.J. with "keeping the band young". C.J. also had the idea for the band to cover Tom Waits' "I Don't Want to Grow Up" on the album ¡Adios Amigos!.
C.J. Ramone was the youngest member of the Ramones when he joined, by 9 years. (He also shared a birthday, October 8, with bandmate Johnny Ramone.) His first show with The Ramones was on September 30, 1989, in Leicester, England, and he played with the band until they retired on August 6, 1996.
C.J. has used Ampeg Amplification throughout his career. When he joined The Ramones, they gave him a black Mexican Fender Precision Bass, with a white pickguard and a maple neck and that was his main bass for the first gigs with The Ramones. He also had two cream Fender Precision basses, one with a white pickguard and another with a black. (These can be seen on various backstage photos.) He then bought a white American Fender Precision with a white pickguard (later switched to a black to make it look more like Dee Dee's bass guitars). Then he finally got a vintage 1979 Fender Precision, like the basses that Dee Dee used to play. He would use that bass mainly the rest of his time with the Ramones.
While in the Ramones, C.J. had a Custom made Mosrite Bass made for him by Semie Mosley, white with a tortoise shell Pick guard. He used it in Bad Chopper. He has since sold this bass. He then used a Mosrite bass that he designed with Mr. Yuasa of the Filmore Company, the Mosrite copyright owner in Japan. It was white with a black pick guard (serial number 000CJ). This bass was stolen when he toured Japan in February 2010.
Before the Ramones, Ward played in a band called Guitar Pete's Axe Attack, it is said they recorded an album. After the Ramones disbanded Ward started a side project, a hard rock band named Los Gusanos. They recorded one self-titled album in 1997 produced by Ramones' producer Daniel Rey. After the album they called it quits in 1998. After the breakup of Los Gusanos Ward formed Bad Chopper, which was originally called The Warm Jets. Their debut album was released on December 4, 2007 on ACME Records [1].
C.J. was married to Marky Ramone's niece, Chessa, with whom he has two children. He is now married to attorney Denise Barton with whom he has one daughter, Mia Dove. C. J. is working with Daniel Rey and drummer Michael Stamberg to finish a new solo album.
C.J. frequently speaks on the subject of autism because his son Liam has the condition.
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