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Great Forgotten Songs #98 – Ramones “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)”

Published on 12/17/2018

This Ramones song is from their 1989 album Brain Drain, their eleventh studio album. It is the last release to feature bassist/lyricist/vocalist Dee Dee Ramone, the first release to feature Marky Ramone since his firing after Subterranean Jungle, and the last studio album on Sire Records.

“Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight)” was included in the movie soundtrack Christmas With The Kranks.

Hear the song below:

Despite being featured on the album, Dee Dee did not play any bass and several session musicians played instead. About the making of the album, Dee Dee wrote in his autobiography, Lobotomy: Surviving the Ramones:

It was tough recording the Brain Drain album because everyone took their shit out on me. I dreaded being around them. It drove me away — I didn’t even end up playing on the album. Everybody in the band had problems; girlfriend problems, money problems, mental problems.

Dee Dee Ramone talked about the album in his autobiography:

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Related Topics:articles, CLASSIC ROCK, dee dee ramone, Featured, great forgotten songs, joey ramone, marky ramone, punk rock, ramones

Rafael Polcaro

I'm a Brazilian journalist who always loved Classic Rock and Heavy Metal music. That passion inspired me to create Rock and Roll Garage over 6 years ago. Music has always been a part of my life, helping me through tough times and being a support to celebrate the good ones. When I became a journalist, I knew I wanted to write about my passions. After graduating in journalism from the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, I pursued a postgraduate degree in digital communication at the same institution. The studies and experience in the field helped me improve the website and always bring the best of classic rock to the world! MTB: 0021377/MG