Hey Is Dee Dee Home

MVDvisual

Ian Gormely (CHARTattack)

07/09/2009 1:03pm

Lech Kowalski made his biggest mark with the 1999 Johnny Thunders doc Born To Lose: The Last Rock And Roll Movie.

Four years after the fact, the director contradicted himself and released another rock doc, Hey Is Dee Dee Home the year after its subject, former Ramones bass player Dee Dee Ramone, died of a drug overdose.

In the director's defense, the interview which forms the basis of the film was originally conducted for Born To Lose, with Kowalski discussing his on again, off again friendship with Thunders. Ramone's various tattoos, which tell much of the bass player's life story, are also discussed.

Hey Is Dee Dee Home offers an interesting set of stories both about Thunders and Ramone, both prominent figures in rock history. But despite splicing in archival footage and photos, the whole thing feels more like a snippet from a larger film. It's release was absolutely necessary, but would have fit better as a bonus feature to Born To Lose.