Marky Ramone & The Speedkings

Dirty Pik says:

This band has by far the most remarkable, amazing and unique story of the Belgian punkhistory. Nick Cooper (in the eighties active in bands such as XXX and Midnight Men) runs in 2000 an organisation which takes care of the backline of (mostly) American bands during their European tours. Occasionally he also does the opening act with his own band the Buckweeds. One of these bands on tour in January 2000 is Marky Ramone and the Intruders with whom they make friends. It happens that the Buckweeds' drummer quits the band in the summer of this same year just before the announcement of a new tour of the Buckweeds. Marky agrees to replace him for this tour (Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany) during which they keep the name Buckweeds. This went along well and by the end of 2000 Marky disbanded the Intruders and continued to play with these Belgian punx.

After the Buckweeds-trial, they play as The Marky Ramone Group, still the three piece band with the two Buckweeds left + Marky Ramone. Soon they change their name in Marky Ramone & the Speedkings. In August 2001 a second guitarplayer joins the band, in November 2001 the bassplayer is replaced by the ex-Definitivos-bassist, who plays only in the band until June 2002. In his place comes Glen (who at that time also plays in Revenge 88). Because of Marky's commitment with the Misfits in 2004, it stays quit around Marky Ramone & the Speedkings, and after 2004 the band never got really restarted, officially the band is "on hold".

Marky Ramone & the Speedkings played tours all over the world:

2001 - March and April: Scandinavian mini-tour (6 gigs)
2001 - June: Holland mini-tour (7 gigs)
2001 - September and October: South European Tour (21 gigs)
2001 - December: European Tour (27 gigs)
2002 - November: Japanese mini-tour (3 gigs)
2002/2003 - December and January: USA West Coast Tour (18 gigs).

They made 3 full length CD’s (of which one remains unreleased) and 6 vinyl singles/EP's, more information in the discography.