There’s a particular electricity that crackles whenever someone from the Ramones universe steps back up to the mic. Not nostalgia — something sharper, more alive. That’s exactly the energy powering CJ SAYS, a brand‑new podcast launching April 23rd and helmed by none other than CJ Ramone himself.
For seven years — from 1989 until the band’s final bow in 1996 — CJ wasn’t just the new kid on bass. He was part of the engine room, playing shoulder‑to‑shoulder with Joey and Johnny during the Ramones’ most relentless touring era. Now, decades later, he’s ready to open the door to that world again… this time with the stories, scars, and hindsight to match.
CJ SAYS promises something rare: a guided tour through the Ramones’ history from someone who lived it at full volume. Each episode digs into a different album, but this isn’t a dry track‑by‑track dissection. Think dressing‑room confessions, airport chaos, songwriting breakthroughs, and the kind of road‑worn anecdotes only a band like the Ramones could generate.
CJ isn’t doing it alone. Joining him is long‑time broadcaster and former Kerrang! Radio voice Matt Stocks — a podcaster with a knack for pulling the good stories out of people. Together, they’re shaping a show that feels part oral history, part backstage hangout.
Expect a revolving cast of guests from music, film, and TV, each bringing their own angle on the Ramones’ legacy. But the real gold lies in CJ’s own memories: the late‑night drives, the studio sessions, the unfiltered moments that never made it into documentaries or biographies.
This isn’t myth‑making, think of it more as myth‑unpacking — told by someone who helped write the final chapters.
“This is something that I have wanted to do for a long time,” CJ says, and you can hear the grin behind the words. Teaming up with Stocks — “a true renaissance man and a legend,” as CJ puts it — gave him the final push. “We’re going to do a deep dive into everything Ramones on this podcast. So, get on board and hoist the anchor as we sail into the legend of thee greatest punk rock band of all time!”
It’s classic CJ: heartfelt, a little theatrical, and full of the spirit that made him such a natural fit for the band in the first place.
The Ramones’ influence has only grown since their retirement. Punk, pop‑punk, garage rock, indie — their fingerprints are everywhere. But the band’s final years remain the least documented and most misunderstood. CJ SAYS arrives as a chance to fill in those gaps, to hear the human stories behind the leather jackets, and to reconnect with a band whose simplicity masked a surprisingly complex world.
For long‑time fans, it’s a treasure trove. For younger listeners discovering the Ramones through playlists and patches, it’s a gateway into the real thing.
CJ SAYS launches April 23rd across all major podcast platforms. Whether you’re a lifer, a casual fan, or someone who just loves a good behind‑the‑scenes yarn, this one’s worth tuning into.
