Ramones

Ramones: Punk Rock in New York, 1975–1980

This collection brings together a curated selection of rare photographs documenting the Ramones at the moment punk rock emerged from New York’s underground and reshaped popular music.

From early performances at CBGB to street portraits and candid backstage moments, these images trace the band’s formative years and the raw visual language that came to define punk culture worldwide.

Together, the works in this collection offer a direct and unfiltered record of the Ramones’ presence in New York during the mid to late 1970s, capturing both the intensity of their music and the environment that shaped their legacy.

Ramones performing at CBGB, New York City, 1976, photographed by Bob Gruen.

Ramones Performing at CBGB, New York City, 1976TMPG·0742

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Ramones performing on stage at CBGB, New York City, 1976, photographed by Bob Gruen.

Ramones, On Stage at CBGB, New York City, 1976TMPG·4150

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Ramones, Forest Hills, New York, 1975, photographed by Bob Gruen.

Ramones, Forest Hills, New York City, 1975TMPG·3526

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Ramones in the subway, New York City, 1975, photographed by Bob Gruen.

Ramones, Subway, New York City, 1975TMPG·5990

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Ramones emerging from the subway, New York City, 1975, photographed by Bob Gruen.

Ramones Emerging from the Subway, New York City, 1975TMPG·3846

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Ramones. CBGB, NYC, 1975, photographed by Bob Gruen.

Ramones, CBGB, New York City, 1975TMPG·9958

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Ramones. Tower Theater, Philadelphia, PA. March 18, 1978, photographed by Bob Gruen.

Ramones, Tower Theater, Philadelphia, PA, 1978TMPG·7350

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Danny Fields, Joey Ramone and David Johansen outside CBGB in New York City, photographed by Bob Gruen in 1977.

Danny Fields, Joey Ramone and David Johansen, Outside CBGB, New York City, 1977TMPG·3878

Bob Gruen From $1,200

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Ramones, Forest Hills, New York City, 1975, photographed by Bob Gruen. Vintage silver gelatin print.

Ramones, Forest Hills, New York City, 1975TMPG·1094

Bob Gruen Price on request

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Roberta Bayley and the Birth of Punk

In early 1976, photographer Roberta Bayley was asked to photograph an unknown band from Queens for what would become one of the most influential debut albums in rock history. The resulting image — four figures standing against a brick wall on East 2nd Street in Manhattan — became one of the defining photographs of punk rock.

Released in April 1976, Ramones stripped rock and roll down to its essentials: short songs, loud guitars, and an attitude that rejected the excesses of mainstream rock. Critics initially struggled to understand what they were hearing, but the visual identity created by Bayley proved just as influential as the music itself.

Writing in August 1976, Rolling Stone famously declared: "The Ramones are punks and will beat you up." The statement captured both the confusion and excitement surrounding a band that was about to transform popular culture.

Today, Bayley's photographs of the original album cover session are regarded as foundational documents of punk's birth.

CBGB and New York

CBGB was more than a music venue. It was the laboratory where a new cultural movement emerged. Between 1974 and 1978, the Ramones shared the stage with Television, Patti Smith, Blondie, Talking Heads, Richard Hell and countless other artists who would redefine New York's downtown scene.

These photographs document the Bowery before it became a destination, capturing the clubs, streets, backstage rooms, and late-night encounters that shaped the visual mythology of punk.

Far from the commercial music industry, the Ramones became symbols of a city in decline but overflowing with creative energy.