Rating: 
Summary: This is like a Ramones Bible!
Review: The music of the Ramones has changed my life. The Ramones are the reason I love punk. This book is probaly the best book a Ramones fan will ever read (unless you're a Ramones fan as well as a George Orwell fan). If you don't know much about the Ramones and are interested, this can serve as your education.The book is written by a true fan,not some dopey writer who thinks the only thing punk rock is Johnny Rotten.
Rating: 
Summary: Save your Money
Review: This book does not provide any useful information about The Ramones. One of music's most pivotal bands deserves more than the brief overview Bressman offers. He has the reader believe that through good times and bad these guys always loved each other-anyone see Dee Dee at the rock and roll hall of fame ceremony?
American Band is like a thin sandwich. What you get is a year by year account from 1974 to 1992 with very little to chew on in between.
Read Dee Dee's books if you want more information-if you can follow his train of thought. 'Please Kill Me' is a good starting point if you want to get a good overview of the whole punk phenom.
American Band's saving point-it had some pictures I hadn't seem before.
Rating:
Summary: History of the greatest Rock and Roll Band
Review: This book gives you the essential history of the Ramones. Not many other bands would right down important dates in their careers, but fortunately for us Johnny Ramone kept a good log of historical dates. This book is a must read for the informational part of it. As well as the pictures inside the book show you how the Ramones never sold out to any fashions trends.
Rating:
Summary: The essential book for all the Ramones fans.
Review: This is the book that any Ramones fan in the world would be anxious to read. A complete view into the most famous punk-rock band life through 20 years. You simply can't be a Ramones fan and do not read this book. It made me happy.
Rating:
Summary: Highly anticipated, falls flat !
Review: While full of facts and history, The Ramones : An American Band seems to have been written by the band's biggest fan. Usually, that would at least provide some first person perspective. However, in this case, it falls somewhat flat as the writer appears to be a drooling sycophant. That itself makes it a somewhat unintersting read, as even tragedies and misfortunes are sterilized so much that the reader can't even feel them.The most significant problem with this book is that founding member and collaberator Dee Dee Ramone, was not interviewed for it, rather his quotes were lifted from other sources. Known by fans and critics alike as the "heart & soul" of the Ramones, his perspective is sorely missed, and it is noted in this book that he was, at the time of publication, writing his own account. That account eventually was released as Lobotomy : Survivng the Ramones, which this writer highly recommends, as the good, the bad and the ugly are exposed and allowed to be felt to the fullest !
Rating:
Summary: Highly anticipated, falls flat !
Review: While full of facts and history, The Ramones : An American Band seems to have been written by the band's biggest fan. Usually, that would at least provide some first person perspective. However, in this case, it falls somewhat flat as the writer appears to be a drooling sycophant. That itself makes it a somewhat unintersting read, as even tragedies and misfortunes are sterilized so much that the reader can't even feel them. The most significant problem with this book is that founding member and collaberator Dee Dee Ramone, was not interviewed for it, rather his quotes were lifted from other sources. Known by fans and critics alike as the "heart & soul" of the Ramones, his perspective is sorely missed, and it is noted in this book that he was, at the time of publication, writing his own account. That account eventually was released as Lobotomy : Survivng the Ramones, which this writer highly recommends, as the good, the bad and the ugly are exposed and allowed to be felt to the fullest !
Rating: 
Summary: Good band, mediocre book
Review: While the book is worth reading once to catch some interesting tidbits, Spellman is a mediocre writer. For instance, he several times refers to The Ramones as "the Grateful Dead of punk," which really doesn't make much sense. Both bands were together for a long time but the similarities pretty much end there. Are there many essential Ramones albums? Yes. Is this their essential biography? No.
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