The Ramones’ debut finally certified gold after 38 years
In 1976, the Ramones released their debut, self-titled album, a record that would go on to be one of the first albums classified as “punk rock.” Over the course of its career, the band would become a default reference point for young punks, so much so that, when other groups adhered too closely to its template, they would get tagged as “Ramones-core.” With its status as a pioneer well established, it comes as something of a surprise that, almost exactly 38 years after the release of Ramones, it’s only now sold the requisite 500,000 copies for the Recording Industry Association of America to certify it gold.