JOHNNY RAMONE MEMORIAL EVENT IN LOS ANGELES ON AUGUST 1, 2008

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Copyright 2008 -> : Text and photos: Gaston and Jorge Sanchez, Bobby London and Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone.

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BASIC INFOS OF THE EVENT BY JARI-PEKKA LAITIO-RAMONE:
Johnny Ramone's wife Linda Ramone was main person behind of cool outdoor event in loving memory of Johnny Ramone at the Hollywood Forever cemetary in Los Angeles, California, USA on August 1, 2008. For example Tommy Ramone, Marky Ramone and CJ Ramone attended this event. So Richie Ramone was only surviving Ramones member who couldn't attend this event (some people also count Clem Burke...). There was be shown lot rare Ramones footage, movie screenings, Ramones memorabilia etc.
First movie screening of the event in August 1st was Ramones live at the Provinssirock festival, Seinajoki in Finland in June, 1988. That show was then broadcasted on TV and many fans has seen it later. The Red Hot Chili Peppers does appearance at that show "as naked having only socks in their...".
Bassist Flea and guitarist John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers appeared in this event in LA on August 1, 2008. Flea told story behind of this their Provinssirock appearance. After Provinssirock show was shown legendary Freaks movie which for example inspired Ramones to write Pinhead song.
Also there was for example Ramones tour manager Monte Melnick, Dee Dee's wife Barbara and Allan Arkush who was director of the Rock And Roll High School movie. Admission was 10$ minimum, it was donation to Johnny's Prostate Cancer Research Charity.




SOME COMMENTS OF THE EVENT BY BOBBY LONDON
This event was in many ways better than Johnny memorial event in last year (click here to read of it). More people showed up this year. Sadly Arturo Vega Arturo couldn't attend this event. He was missed.
It was long line for autographs as Tommy Ramone and CJ Ramone sat in their own tent near the T-Shirt concession. I brought one item to be signed, a paper print of my caricature of the Ramones from the comic book (Jari-Pekka's comment: Bobby's drawing is included in a Weird Tales Of The Ramones collection). I introduced myself to Tommy and the look on his face was priceless as he signed the cartoon. CJ was a very outgoing guy, CJ knew the cartoon and signed by the Dee Dee figure with a doodle of a little face, winking one eye & sticking out its tongue under his sig. Nice, funny guy. I liked him very much.
Huge crowd over by the Johnny Ramone statue. Turned out to be Marky, on his feet the whole time, taking pics with fans, sometimes leaning on the statue to sign stuff. Marky showed great patience as fans handed him what had to be dozens of CD inserts to sign (that's what he was doing when he was leaning against the Johnny statue). He was flanked by a security guard. Some Ramones fan kept asking Marky to sign a Misfits cap, which Marky refused to do. The poor guy had to apologize to the crowd: "I came all the way from Canada! I'm sorry!"
Linda was walking around freely among the fans. John Cafiero was also there and he was signing Garbage Pail Kids trading cards that had Osaka Popstar logo in the background.
There was a simulcast from a radio station, interviewing the celebs and when it got dark, Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers introduced the show with a funny story about Johnny getting pissed off at the Chili Peppers for jumping on-stage naked in the middle of the Ramones' set in Finland. Then they showed it. It was hilarious. Joey Ramone was at this show actually stifling a laugh. Joey thought it was funny, Johnny stayed mad at them for some time afterwards. Great concert footage, though too often interrupted by Finnish TV commentaries as if it were a football game but they interviewd the Red Hot Chili Peppers who were very young and very funny and announced they were going to crash the Ramones' set naked when they played Cretin Hop ("Shaking our junk", as Flea said) and they did. Funny stuff.
Also my girlfriend Karen and my friend Maria Montoya-Kaye and her son Nathaniel attended this event and we had picnic together.

Bobby London


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