Rocket to Russia' is, I think, my favorite Ramones record. We reached our peak at that point.

A lot of kids bought guitars and started playing rock'n'roll because of us.

When I was younger, I was ready to go off at any time. My wife, Linda, and I would go out to the Limelight in New York, and I would see people and be able to freeze them with a look. People were even too scared of me to tell me that people were scared of me.

Pure, white rock 'n' roll, with no blues influence.

I never felt out of control. It was just the way I lived my life. I was the neighborhood bully.

Some bands blow it before they even play. The most important moment of any show is when a band walks out with the red amp lights glowing, the flashlight that shows each performer the way to his spot on the stage. It's crucial not to blow it. It sets the tempo of the show; it affects everyone's perception of the band.

I never wore earplugs — that would have been cheating.