- The Ramones, Rock ’n’ Roll High School, 1979. Difficult to find a band to (almost) close the movie in The Roxy concert. Todd Rundgren wasn’t keen, Cheap Trick and Tom Petty also passed. (Rungren alone regretted it). Director Allan Arkush took his problem to a contact at Warner Bros Records. Devo was suggested. And Van Halen – but Warner execs said they were raucous and difficult to handle. Finally, an exec really lit Arkush’s fire by mentioning one of his favourite bands. Legend insists that after getting only $25,000 for the movie, the Ramones had to play Californian gigs to help pay their hotel bills – and Dee Dee’s hospital bill after he ODed in jail following an assault arrest. No wonder he couldn’t remember his seven-word dialogue “Hey, pizza! It’s great! Let’s dig in!” was cut to “Hey, pizza!”
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Usual occupation: SingerCasting Calls: 1