MARKY RAMONE AND FRIENDS AT THE BEIJING POP FESTIVAL IN CHINA ON
SEPTEMBER 9, 2007
BACK.
Copyright 2007 -> : Gao Yang (text), Lostgoat (photos) and Jari-Pekka
Laitio-Ramone.
Jari-Pekka's note, Public Enemy asked Marky to play Blitzkrieg Bop
with him at the Beijing Pop Festival day before this Marky's real
show.
Here begin review by Gao Yang.
I first heard the news about the special Ramones related show from a
Chinese network radio, the DJ told that the Ramones fans were lucky this
year. Of the some reason he didn't said why. It puzzled me several days
until the Beijing Pop Festival published their performers of this year.
The Marky Ramone was listed on the poster!!! It felt so awesome that I
couldn't believe it immediately. I am a member in a Ramones group in
Chinese website, in that site we talked about the show and we made plans
to go to see it together.
I started my trip on September 7, 2007. First I travelled 12 hours by
train to Beijing. The Beijing Pop Festival
lasted two days. First bands started at noon and last finished at night.
There were playing in a first day for example New York Dolls, P.E and
Brett Anderson. When I arrived to the Beijing Chaoyang Park, the bands
were already playing, and my favourite Chinese band Joyside was just
finished! It made me feel a little disappointed. The sunshine was very
hard and another band was boring. So I was lying down under a tree with
my Beijing friends. Of the some reason I missed most of the New York
Dolls show. I remember New York Dolls singer David Johansen dedicating
songs You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory and Lonely Planet Boy for
Johnny Thunders. Brett Anderson got the most success in a first day.
Many people sang his songs along. I didn't watch the P.E because I felt
tired. I heard some people telling next day that P.E. was invited Marky
Ramone to play drums in one song.
Marky Ramone and his friends were playing in a second day at the Beijing
Pop Festival. I got there very early. Sun was really hot again. The
first band was a good and young Chinese group, they were more
interesting than some older Chinese bands.
Set of the Marky Ramone started at 6:00PM. I went earlier to the front
of the audience. Marky brought his own drum set and someone put a big
flag behind the stage, it had Ramones eagle logo. Above eagle logo had
Marky Ramone's name and below in Chinese text: "The last Ramones." I
didn't liked the flag, it made me sad (the text in Chinese). The
show started after 20-30 minutes of tuning. So Marky was in drums. Joe
Queer of The Queers was guitarist, Dave Queer of The Queers was bassist
and Sebastian of the Expulsados was vocalist. Sebastian wore a
leather jacket, red T-shirt, jeans and sunglasses. His left leg was one
step forward and he kept microphone stand close of his body, just like
Joey Ramone.
Marky Ramone said first few words and then 1-2-3-4! The first song was
Blitzkrieg Bop, the people in a front of stage went crazy. There was a
steel fence between the stage and the audience area, so a
lot of people climbed that and dived. I and other people sang with them
songs like Sheena Is A Punk Rocker, I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You,
Beat On The Brat, Havana Affair, Pet Sematary, Judy Is A punk, I Wanna
Be Sedated, Psycho Therapy, 53rd And 3rd, Do You Remember Rock And Roll
Radio?, Rock And Roll High School, I Don't Care, Commando, Today Your
Love, Tomorrow The World, I Just Want To Have Something To Do etc.
Pinhead was the last song. During it came on stage man with a Gabba
Gabba Hey sign. After Pinhead ended, people shouted that they want to
hear more. Marky, Joe, Dave and Sebastian came back and
played four songs: The KKK Took My Baby Away for Johnny, Chinese Rocks
for Dee Dee, I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend for Tommy and as a last song What
A Wonderful World for Joey. During What A Wonderful World I called to my
friend who lives in my hometown and who is also Ramones fan. He couldn't
afford to pay train ticket and come to the show. After the show I had to
hurry that I got in time to return trip. 1-2-3-4 sound was over my
head!!!
Text by Gao Yang.