RAMONES: INTERVIEW WITH DOUG CAWKER

INTERVIEW WITH DOUG CAWKER

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Copyright© 1999 -> for everything in this page by Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone and Doug Cawker

Many directors and filmmakers are big Ramones fans and I got a chance to do interview with Doug Cawker. He's pretty famous a punk rock filmmaker and a record reviewer for Flipside (under the name Dooger). Doug Cawker was director of BORN TO LOSE. It's really great and just can wait what he does next. You can order Born To Lose-movie through homepage or hope you got chance to see it, don't miss your chance. Check it out. Also soundtrack is really great.

Doug has been lucky, because he saw Ramones first time on The Rocket To Russia Tour and also last Ramones show. He has met Johnny and Joey etc. So check this interview and his thoughs.

Jari-Pekka: 1.Ramones music is really "hot" in different movies and soundtracks. Which are your points for it, why Ramones is so hot stuff to filmmakers/ directors?
Doug Cawker: Probably because a lot of directors grew up listening to them and realized that they're one of the best bands in the world!! The Ramones make you want to jump around and have fun.
Jari-Pekka: 2.Tell me something about doing movie, great memories and etc?
Doug Cawker: It was amazing to watch something that I'd slaved away on for a number of years, slowly come to life with actors and a crew. I'd never made any films before so it was scary as hell and a lot of fun at the same time! I also enjoyed a screening that I had for the movie at Raleigh Studios in LA... a lot of punks and rock and rollers were there and they really seemed to enjoy my work... it was really rewarding.

Jari-Pekka: 3.Which are your favourite parts on your Born To Lose-movie?
Doug Cawker: I like the brief scene where the lead singer, Stevie, stumbles out of the Alligator Lounge, hammered out of his mind. His acting is unbelievable.... he REALLY seems drunk. All of the band scenes are really strong too... the group was very realistic.

Jari-Pekka: 4.You've seen Ramones in Toronto on the Rocket To Russia-tour. Probably you got there lot of shock treatment. Tell something of your memories?
(JOHNNY RAMONE PHOTO TAKEN BY DOUG CAWKER)

Doug Cawker: I was such a huge Ramones fan that I got to the El Mocambo club quite early (around 4:00PM) and tried to get into their soundcheck. Unfortunately, their manager, Monte, wouldn't let anyone in so I hung out downstairs until they finished their soundcheck (which was great, by the way... ). I was one of the first people through the door and I got a seat five rows back & directly in from of the stage, so I that could stand on my chair to take pictures. Tommy was drumming for them, and they were fantastic that night! The tiny club was packed and the Ramones DID provide some Shock Treatment! I was seated next to Mickey Skin from the local punk band, The Curse, too and if I'm not mistaken, Teenage Head opened the show...

Jari-Pekka: 5.You was enough lucky to see last performance ever in L.A.!!! Memories of the concert and feelings after last song?
Doug Cawker: The day of the show they moved the venue from the sort of awful, "Billboard Live," to a much better hall, "The Palace." Before they went on, I was standing near the front and a Hispanic gang member (who appeared to be on angel dust) starting messing with me, bugging me for cigarettes with a truly demented look in his eye. Seeing as how I'm no dummy, I moved to the back of the hall, near the bar, and the band took the stage... and they were great!! As we all know by now, a number of guests came out too but the most impressive one was when I turned around to get another in a long line of drinks and much to my surprise, Dee Dee Ramone took the stage! And he was great!! I also remember some people booing Eddie Vedder too, and a couple of things were thrown at him but nothing hit him. As it was being filmed, a number of people were running around with what looked like Super 8 cameras and honestly, it was sort of bugging me after a while... mostly because they were filming us for our reactions! I've seen the Ramones a number of times but they were definately ON for this gig. It was sad when it ended too... but I'm still hopeful that they'll get together for a few more gigs sometime...
Jari-Pekka: 6.Was there lot of other famous people than players?
Doug Cawker: Not that I saw but I almost bumped into one of the guys from Rancid.... The person next to me looked exactly like Morrisey too, now that I think about it! He was a big Dolls fan as well, so it's quite possible that it was him.
Jari-Pekka: 7.What you liked of the We're Outta Here-video and was nice to see same gig again by video?
Doug Cawker: I love the We're Outta' Here video... I enjoyed the early rehearsal and CBGB's footage, and the guest's comments (like Richard Hell & Debbie Harry) were great too. I also liked the Uncle Floyd stuff... The live show was well-filmed but it was more fun to be there guzzling beers, like the true Canadian that I am!
Jari-Pekka: 8.Have you seen other Ramones gigs?
Doug Cawker: I've seen the Ramones about six times.... my favorite show was at the Ritz in NY, in the mid-eighties... I fell down in the slam pit and the NY punks helped me back up! (unlike the scary scene in LA)....
Jari-Pekka: 9. When you was a kid and working at a radio station in Toronto, you met Johnny and Joey?
Doug Cawker: At CFTR in 1982, we were working on a pilot for a syndicated show called "Is This New Wave Or Old Water?" It was my idea to get the Ramones in for an interview and Joey and Johnny showed up. My friend Mike and I were so excitied to meet them... I did someting uncool at the time too, if I recall... I asked them if they wanted to get high because I had some pot and Johnny looked at me like I was the devil and said, "no way!" Anyhow, we went on from there and the interview was excellent. They explained that they were just rock n' roll and that new wave was a record company term that was sort of meaningless. Unfortunately, the show was never picked up and the interview never aired. I also believe that they freaked out the interviewer, Jim Johnson, with their appearance a bit too, which was funny!
Jari-Pekka: 10.Have Born To Lose-film been so big succesful than you thought?
Doug Cawker: It went really well. It's my first one so I made A LOT of mistakes, but I learned a lot too... I just hope that I get the chance to make another one (with someone else's money next time).... it bankrupted me!

Jari-Pekka: 11.You got free rights to Iggy Pop and the Modern Lovers songs, so if you got enough money/ free to choose some Ramones songs to next soundtrack. Which you choose and why?
Doug Cawker: It would have to fit the scene in the film but I really like "I Wanna Live," and "Glad to See You Go." I also love "Carbona Not Glue" and wish that they didn't have to pull it off of Leave Home... it's one of my favorite Ramones songs......

Jari-Pekka: 12.The most of the bands in soundtrack are Los Angeles area bands. Favourites of these?
Doug Cawker: I'll be diplomatic here and say that I like all of them equally... I AM sorta' partial to the Zeros though.... I've always felt that they should have been more popular. I also like Trash Can School a lot too.
Jari-Pekka: 13.Tell something about Spoilers?
Doug Cawker: I created the band in the movie and wrote the songs for them. I loosely based the lead character, Stevie, on Johnny Thunders... "More reverb!!" I wrote most of the band scenes from my memories of playing drums in about ten different groups, the best of which was The Michell Brothers in San Francisco, with East Bay Ray from the Dead Kennedys on guitar.
Jari-Pekka: 14.What are your future plans?
Doug Cawker: I'd like to get another film off of the ground farily soon.. The government in Canada supports independent filmmakers, so I've got my fingers crossed that they'll give me lots of money to film more of my sickness (as I call it....) If you're interested, check out the "Born To Lose site" too. Gabba Gabba Hey!!!!!!!!!
(Good skills with films and thanks of your time Doug Cawker)