Influence

The Ramones' first British concert was held on July 4, 1976. Prior to the performance, the band hung out with fans who turned out to be members of the Sex Pistols and The Clash. During the meeting Paul Simonon claimed The Clash had not played a show yet because they felt they were not good enough, to which Johnny Ramone responded, "We stink. You don't have to be good, just get out there and play".[23] Later that day The Clash would play their first show.[42] Likewise another band who met with the Ramones that day, The Damned, played their first show two days later.[43] Similarly, early Ramones concerts in California inspired early California punk groups like Black Flag, The Descendents, The Germs, the Dead Kennedys,[44] Bad Religion,[45] and Social Distortion.

Bands such as Screeching Weasel, The Vindictives, The Queers, The Huntingtons, The Mr. T Experience, John Cougar Concentration Camp and the Beatnik Termites have all recorded covers of entire Ramones albums; including Ramones, Leave Home, Rocket to Russia, File Under Ramones, Road to Ruin, ""Too Tough to Die" and Pleasant Dreams, respectively.

The first Ramones tribute album by multiple bands was released in 1991 under the title Gabba Gabba Hey: A Tribute to the Ramones, featuring tracks recorded by such notable bands as L7, Mojo Nixon, and Bad Religion. Many more tribute albums followed, We're a Happy Family being the most well-known, with artists such as Green Day, Kiss, Metallica, The Offspring, Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2, and Rob Zombie (who also did the album cover artwork).

Metal musician Lemmy first met the Ramones in 1976. His band Motörhead composed and performed the song "R.A.M.O.N.E.S" as a tribute, and Lemmy would perform at the final Ramones concert in 1996.[46] The band Bad Brains took its name from a Ramones song. Green Day members have gone as far as naming their children in honor of the band. Billie Joe Armstrong named his son Joey as tribute to Joey Ramone, and Tré Cool named his daughter Ramona for similar reasons.[47]