Dee Dee Ramone was born Douglas Glenn Colvin in Germany in 1951. After immigrating to America he moved to Queens, New York, and became the bassist for The Ramones, a four-piece rock band that many credit for giving birth to the punk movement. Playing simple rock songs as hard and fast as possible, The Ramones, consisting of Dee Dee, Joey Ramone, Tommy Ramone, Johnny Ramone and later Marky Ramone, gained a loyal cult following that centered at the New York club CBGB's.

Dee Dee Ramone remained a band mainstay until 1989, when he left the band and was replaced by 'CJ Ramone' on bass. He became a rapper and performed under the moniker Dee Dee King, and later formed the band Chinese Dragons. He still occasionally played with the Ramones, and appeared on their farewell concert video, "We're Outta Here."

Dee Dee Ramone wrote two books, an autobiography and a novel about the infamous Chelsea Hotel. He released a solo album, called Latest & Greatest, in 2001, and along with the other Ramones was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.