signed to a recording contract

The band swiftly became regulars at the club, playing there seventy-four times by the end of the year. After garnering considerable attention for their performances—which averaged about seventeen minutes from beginning to end—the group was signed to a recording contract in late 1975 by Seymour Stein of Sire Records . Sire A&R man Craig Leon saw the band and brought them to the attention of the label. Stein’s wife, Linda Stein , saw the band play at Mothers; she would later co-manage them along with Danny Fields . By this time, the Ramones were recognized as leaders of the new scene that was increasingly being referred to as ” punk “. The group’s unusual frontman had a lot to do with their impact. As Dee Dee explained, “All the other singers [in New York] were copying David Johansen [of the New York Dolls ], who was copying Mick Jagger … But Joey was unique, totally unique.”