American Standard: Ramones Rip-Off Ts

by Benn Ray

Last night, when I saw a photo online of a Baltimore Ravens t-shirt co-opting the classic Ramones logo I was incensed despite the fact that The Ramones were sports fans.

Football is not punk rock. In fact, football is the opposite of punk rock. If you were punk or in any way alternatively inclined in high school, remember the people beating you up? The people picking on you? They were the jocks. They played football.

So my immediate inclination was to email every person I know in a punk band and ask them what they thought about football fans co-opting punk iconography and design. But then, after I calmed down, I realized that realm of football is not necessarily known for its creativity. So if a Ravens fan had swiped a Ramones logo and co-opted it as a Baltimore logo (and this is not a criticism of the Ravens, I'm a Ravens fan too, so just relax. Yes, I can compartmentalize.), there are probably a lot of other folks doing that too.

So I did a little research, and sure enough, my hunch played out. The internet is lousy with Ramones logo rip-off Ts.

Here are my findings ranked by most appropriate rip-off to least appropriate rip-off (and ranked on a scale of 10 (very appropriate) to 1 (you'd look cooler topless)).

Note: I did not include bands in this list. Bands swiping the Ramones logo and repurposing it is a completely different beast.

Hot Dougs

Appropriate Rip-Off Ranking: 8

Hot Dougs is a restaurant in Chicago. It bills itself as "The Sausage Superstore and Encased Meat Emporium." Yes! Now this may seem like a completely inappropriate rip off, but  as far as meat served in tubular form goes, hot dogs are pretty punk rock. Plus the name of head chef and proprietor is Doug Sohn, which is coincidentally the name of one of my best friends. When we were in college, Doug wore a black leather jacket with the Ramones logo on the back of it. So, not inappropriate.

John McCain

Appropriate Rip-Off Ranking: 7

It may seem wrong to co-opt punk rock for a Republican politician - especially one like John McCain. But unfortunately, the Ramones have a history with conservativism and Republicanism (thanks mostly to Johnny Ramone). So it's not quite as inappropriate as it seems.

Baltimore Ravens

Appropriate Rip-Off Ranking: 6

This one is tricky.

As I said above, football is not punk rock. It will never be punk rock. But, as I also mentioned above, The Ramones were clearly not anti-sports. But, I think it's safe to assume they would be fans of New York teams (there's supposed to be a NY Knicks Ramones rip-off shirt). However, if any football team of jock millionaires could ever be considered punk, it's the Baltimore Ravens. It is NOT the Pittsburgh Steelers (who evidently also have their own Ramones-logo rip-off T).

Comix Connection

Appropriate Rip-Off Ranking: 6

The Ramones dug comics books. The Ramones were in comic books. Hell, the Ramones were basically comic book characters.

So it's not too terribly inappropriate that a comics shop would co-opt the Ramones logo. I think Joey might like it. After he was appropriately paid for usage rights, of course.

Lisbon Lions

Appropriate Rip-Off Ranking: 5

The "Lisbon Lions" is the nickname for the Celtic Football Club - a Scottish soccer team. Now, some may argue that soccer is more punk rock than football because Brits are way into it. Americans invented football AND punk rock. Not the Brits. There's nothing punk about soccer unless you mistake skinhead hooligans for punks instead of jock thugs. Plus, Lisbon? If anything, it'd be Chelsea. But as I said, sports are not punk.

Waffles

Appropriate Rip-Off Ranking: 1

Fuck waffles.

 

 

 

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Appropriate Rip-Off Ranking: 0

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia is about as punk rock as it is funny - which is to say it is not at all. "Oh but wait, the show his hilarious..." Shush shush shush. Stop. Just stop. It's not.

Comments

[Dug Sohn]

Ray Rice!