Christopher Joseph Ward (born October 8, 1965), better known as C. J. Ramone, is an American musician known as the bassist for punk rock group The Ramones from 1989 to 1996. Christopher J. Ward was born in Queens, New York, though he lived in Deer Park, New York for most of his early life. He attended Ss. Cyril and Methodius School and graduated from Deer Park High School in 1983. Prior to joining the Ramones, Ward served in the United States Marine Corps. He was a fan of the Ramones, particularly of Dee Dee Ramone, before joining the band, and later played with him in a band called The Remains or The Ramainz, which was formed by Dee Dee Ramone, Marky Ramone and Dee Dee's wife, Barbara Zampini (Barbara Ramone). He also played with Axe, Los Gusanos, and is currently playing in Bad Chopper. Ward replaced original band member Dee Dee Ramone, though Dee Dee continued to write songs for the group. C.J. sang many well-known Ramones songs, and gave The Ramones a younger image. In the documentary End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones it states that when C.J. joined the Ramones he was seen as a breath of fresh air into the band. Johnny Ramone says he knew immediately when C.J. auditioned to replace Dee Dee that he was right, commenting that he "had the right look".[citation needed] When the Ramones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame original Ramones drummer, Tommy Ramone, credited C.J. with "keeping the band young". C.J. also had the idea for the band to cover Tom Waits' "I Don't Want to Grow Up" on the album ¡Adios Amigos!. C.J. Ramone was the youngest member of the Ramones when he joined, by 9 years. (He also shared a birthday, October 8, with bandmate Johnny Ramone.) His first show with The Ramones was on September 30, 1989, in Leicester, England, and he played with the band until they retired on August 6, 1996. C.J. has used Ampeg Amplification throughout his career. When he joined The Ramones, they gave him a black Mexican Fender Precision bass, with a white pickguard and a maple neck and that was his main bass for the first gigs with The Ramones. He also had an ESP Precision-based bass, creame with white pickguard. He then bought a white American Fender Precision with a white pickguard, which he later switched to a black to make it look more like Dee Dee's bass guitars. Then he finally got a vintage Fender Precision; like the basses that Dee Dee used to play. He would use that bass mainly the rest of his career. He has also used another Fender Precision, an Eastwood High Flyer Bass, (which is a copy of a Mosrite bass) (the color was similar to Johnny Ramone's famous Mosrite guitar) and also a sticker-covered Fender Jazz Bass. C.J. has a Custom made Mosrite Bass - made for him by Semi Mosley - White with a black Pickup guard - he uses it in Bad Choppers He spelt his name C-Jay while in the Ramones. Before the Ramones, Ward played in a band called Axe, it is said they recorded an album. After the Ramones disbanded Ward started a side project, a hard rock band named Los Gusanos. They recorded one self titled album in 1997 produced by Ramones producer Daniel Rey. After the album they called it quits in 1998. After the break up of Los Gusanos Ward formed Bad Chopper, which was originally called The Warm Jets. Their debut album was released on December 4, 2007 on ACME Records. C.J. was married to Marky Ramone's niece, Chessa, with whom he has two children. He is now married to attorney Denise Barton. C. J. is working with Daniel Rey to finish a live Bad Chopper album.