Episode 89 - Musician CJ Ramone (The Ramones)

Spike Slawson is the singer of Spike and Gimme Gimmes and former bass player for the punk band Swingin’ Utters. Spike and Gimme Gimmes are a punk rock supergroup who work exclusively as a cover band. They specialize in rapid-fire punk interpretations of a wide range of songs, often with a humorous edge. The band also incorporates melodies and riffs of classic punk songs into their performances, and have toured the world. 

Laura Moran is a TV writer and producer who has worked on shows such as How I Met Your Mother, Ground Floor, Undateable, Harley Quinn, The Neighborhood, Universal Basic Guys and Going Dutch. In 2023, she co-wrote and executive produced an animated comedy for Paramount+ with Daniel Cole. In 2024, she, Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt sold a workplace comedy to CBS. She currently has a book proposal out to publishers that's a memoir told through ten Bruce Springsteen concerts she went to in one year. She has been featured on Deadline and in Glamour, Written By Magazine, Silver Linings Magazine and others.

Today's guest is CJ Ramone. From playing bass in The Ramones during the band's final chapter to building a successful solo career of his own, and now with Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, CJ has spent decades living and breathing punk rock. We talk about joining one of the most iconic bands in music history, life on the road, and how he made it all happen.

 Chris Barker is a musician who is the singer and guitar player in Day at the Fair. Day at the Fair was previously on Rushmore Records, a subsidiary of Drive Thru Records and they spent years playing clubs, festivals, and tours across the country. Prior to Day at the Fair, Chris was also in the beloved New Jersey band, Lanemeyer. 

Drawing inspiration from surf culture, tiki culture, hot rods, vintage comics, and the Southern California lifestyle, Tom has spent decades creating a distinctive body of work that blends humor, nostalgia, and vibrant storytelling. His art has been exhibited around the world, featured in galleries, books, magazines, merchandise, and tiki collectibles, and collected by fans ranging from everyday enthusiasts to notable figures in music and entertainment. 

Terry Walters is an actor who has starred in films such as Crimes and Misdemeanors, La La Land, and Babylon. Her television credits include Euphoria, All Rise, Undone, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Desperate Housewives, and Santa Clarita Diet. Terry has also appeared in national commercials and stars in Facetiming with Mommy with Olivia Hamilton. She recently completed filming a recurring role on American Classic for MGM+/Amazon Prime, acting alongside Kevin Kline, Laura Linney, and Jon Tenney.

Steven Wiig is a filmmaker, musician and actor best known for his roles in Sean Penn's "Into The Wild", Gus Van Sant's "Milk" and James Franco's childhood-inspired "Yosemite". He’s also been part of the Metallica inner circle for decades working as a videographer and photographer, assisting Lars, and a number of other roles. 

Oliver Trevena is an actor/producer/entrepreneur who’s worked on a number of projects including “Hotel Tehran” with Liam Neeson and Zachary Levi, TIFF’s “The Cut” with Orlando Bloom, and “Ice Fall” opposite Joel Kinnaman, for which he also served as executive producer.  Oliver was honored by the Rome Film Festival with the “Breakout Actor” award by his friend and “Plane” co-star, Gerard Butler at the premiere screening of his film, “The Paradox Effect” in which he stars opposite Harvey Keitel and Olga Kurylenko. He recently released the film “Misdirection” which he also produced, and stars alongside Olga Kurylenko and Frank Grillo.  

After a year and a half away, The Artist’s Work Ethic Podcast is officially coming back.In this short relaunch episode, I share why I stepped away, what changed during the break, and how the podcast is evolving moving forward.This next chapter focuses less on schedules and numbers—and more on meaningful, in-depth conversations with artists across music, film, writing, and more.Expect a less formulaic approach, video episodes where possible, and a renewed focus on the habits, mindset, and work ethic behind creative success.

Tim Montana is a singer, songwriter and guitarist. Tim’s music ranges from country rock to straightforward radio friendly hard rock. He’s toured and collaborated with Kid Rock and ZZ Top, played on The Late Show with David Letterman, and is hitting the road with Bush, Jerry Cantrell and Candlebox.