Great Lives

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Factual: Life Stories

Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.

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Great Lives: Rory Sutherland on Johnny Ramone

Rory Sutherland on Johnny Ramone

BBC Radio 4 - Great Lives, Rory Sutherland on Johnny Ramone

The advertising guru Rory Sutherland on the founder of the New York punk band, the Ramones

Johnny Ramone of the band the Ramones was a Republican who wanted to make a million so he could retire early. The marketing guru Rory Sutherland chooses this unexpected great life.

Johnny Ramone is a founding member of the seminal New York punk band, the Ramones.  Famed for their blisteringly short songs played at breakneck speed, the Ramones burst onto the scene in 1976 with tracks like 'Blitzkrieg Bop', 'I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You' and 'Judy is a Punk'.  When they played The Roundhouse in London journalist Chris Salewicz was there, and afterwards he said all the British punk bands started to play their songs twice as fast.  But, as advertising expert Rory Sutherland reveals, it's Johnny Ramone's contradictions that really form the basis for his choosing him as a great life.  Johnny was a staunch Republican at a time when punk was perceived as a largely left-wing movement.  In fact, for Rory, anything that aims to disrupt the status quo can be punk - including Brexit!  Johnny studied tapes of the Ramones performances to ensure that they looked, sounded and moved in what he felt was the right way, and his aim was to make a million dollars and retire early.  Matthew Parris presents, ready to shout "1,2,3,4".

Producer for BBC Audio in Bristol: Toby Field

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