A Prisoner of His Punk Past

Life after the Ramones isn’t so hot for original member Dee Dee Ramone. The liberating charge he once felt as a punk-rock pioneer has turned to anxiety and self-doubt.

He was the bass player and primary songwriter of the Ramones, then left in 1989 and was replaced by C.J. Ramone until the group disbanded in 1996. He has pursued other interests, including writing an autobiography (“Poison Art”) and recording his first solo album (the import-only “Zonked!”) He even briefly relocated from New York to Michigan a few years ago and started playing a bit of R&B; and blues.

Although Dee Dee (a.k.a. Douglas Colvin) enjoyed the chance to shed his punk-rock skin, just about everyone else--particularly promoters and fans--has shown little interest. Unable to move forward, Dee Dee has turned to the glory days of his past.

Two years ago, he formed the Ramainz, featuring himself on lead guitar and vocals, his 22-year-old wife, Barbara, on bass, and ex-bandmate Marky Ramone on drums. The trio--which performs tonight at the Shack in Anaheim--primarily resurrects the vast Ramones catalog, sprinkling in an occasional original or cover, such as Johnny Thunders’ “It’s Not Enough,” or the Ohio Players’ “Fire.”

If Dee Dee is giving longtime Ramones fans a fix, he’s also satisfying a need of his own. But only partially.

“There’s this energy and humor to the Ramones, and it makes me happy when I play those songs,” said Dee Dee recently from a Los Angeles hotel room after a gig at Jack’s Sugar Shack. “There’s a lot of spontaneity with the Ramainz because our set list changes all the time. Plus, I’m far more comfortable with the pacing and tempo changes. . . . We don’t play every song as fast as the Ramones did.”

Ramone said they have tried out some original new tunes on audiences, but “no one cared.

“I’d like to play some blues, but everyone wants to hear stuff like ‘(I Wanna Be) Sedated,’ ‘Teenage Lobotomy’ or ‘Go Mental.’ So, we’re trying to preserve a bit of the historical thing. . . . Just playing authentic punk rock with the kind of creepiness that I feel couldonly come from New York.”

Ramone added that he often feels confined by those around him and his own personal demons, which include wildly fluctuating mood swings. That the Ramainz is a volatile experiment is evident in some promotional literature, which says: “Both Marky and DeeDee are guaranteed to be at all shows.”

What prompted that kind of statement? Is going AWOL a possibility?

“No, no,” Dee Dee Ramone said. “But these concerts do really wear me down. It’s hard. . . . I’m always complaining there’s no label behind us; the promoters are on our backs; my wife wants to domesticate me.

“Then I get cranky and I’m ready to quit. The band hasn’t been together that long, and already I want my freedom. Marky is like a brother to me, but a lot of the time I’m happy being alone--only I rarely am.”

Restrictive too is his punk image.

“I do love the Ramones songs, but it’s like I said to this 18-year-old kid the other day: “I’m 47 years old. . . . What can I do now that’s gonna last?’ I’d like to grow up, but no adult will ever take me seriously.”

While Dee Dee struggles for answers, the Ramainz offers the closest thing to seeing the Ramones in concert. Still, is it right to basically revive the Ramones without the participation of original band members (guitarist) Johnny and (singer) Joey Ramone?

Marky Ramone thinks so.

“There are so many copy bands out there--some even wearing wigs--so why not (offer) the real thing?” said Marky Ramone, who with the Intruders has a new album, “The Answer to Your Problems,” due for release next month on Zoe/Universal Records.

“Johnny is happily retired, and Joey just wasn’t committed to the band anymore,” he said. “Since they have no interest in reuniting the Ramones, it’s up to us.”

The question, however, did give Dee Dee Ramone pause.

“If people think we’re ripping those guys off, then maybe we are,” he said. “Who’s to say? But I wrote most of the songs and have as much right to them as anybody. If Joey and Johnny want to take my place, they’re welcome to it. I honestly wish the Ramones would get back together--without me--so everyone will leave Dee Dee Ramone alone.”

* The Ramainz, Sloe Jamm the Punk, Prohabition, Pistol Grip, APB and It’s Casual perform at 7 p.m. tonight at the Shack, 1160 N. Kraemer Blvd., Anaheim. 18 and over. $13. (714) 630-0121.

Please see Ramone, F26