Almost 40 years after its release, one of rock's seminal albums, Ramones, has won gold status in the US.
Ramones – by the band of that name - was first released in April 1976, but was only certified gold by the Recording Industry of America in April. Gold signifies sales in excess of 500,000 copies.
"As a punk artefact, it separates the men from the boys," wrote Nick Kent in NME when the record first appeared. "If you love hard-ass retard rock, you'll bathe in every groove. If you pride yourself on being a sensitive human-being, this record will gag on you like a gatorade and vermouth fireball."
Ramones only climbed to number 111 on the US Billboard chart, selling a mere 6,000 copies in its first year. In the intervening years, the album has frequently appeared on Greatest Ever lists.
