Photo: Upper photo: Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone singing Commando. Lower photo: Ramone$ Mania guitarist Tom, bassist Fitzy and singer Holgy. Both photos taken in Wacken Open Air festival on August 5, 2005.
Tom, Holgy and Fitzy were wearing a long time, in a real Ramones style, leather jackets. Of them Fitzy took it first away. He was moving most of them. Holgy did some special moves, like he was headbanging great way during Havana Affair, to the sides and to the front. I was videotaping beginning of the show with my videocamera. I was decided with Tom and Marky that I do sing songs Commando and I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You. In the end we confirmed that I do sing only Commando. It was sixth song in a set. Commando is one of my favourites and this was first time I sang it at live. Stage was really big. It was a good thing because I tried to move a lot and be energetic, and naturally microphone stand was moving a lot with me. In one point I raised it up. I did show with my fingers numbers of rules: "First rule is: The laws of Germany, Second rule is: Be nice to mommy, Third rule is: Don't talk to commies, Fourth rule is...". In original version of Commando Joey sing "Fourth rule is: Eat kosher salamis", but it's against of my ethical ideology, I've been vegetarian since 1996-1997. So I sang it: "Eat vegetarian.". After the song ended Marky introduced me to the crowd: "That was my friend Jari." Etc. In both shows I was wearing Joey Ramone 1951-2001 logo T-shirt.
Tom and Fitzy played well with a good attitude. Sadly some bigger mistakes came in Rock'N'Roll High School. But soon show was going on a way it was planned. Marky dedicated to Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan Chinese Rocks. I was then thinking photo which I've got from Keith Green, Dee Dee signed and dedicated it to me when I was touring with him. Dee Dee wrote to it: "I'm living on a Chinese Rock". After Chinese Rocks Marky went to the front of stage and spoke to the microphone. People were having a good time and some were even crowd-surfing. Pinhead was last song of the set again and soon I was jumping on stage as a crazy Pinhead with Gabba Gabba Hey sign. There was time to play in encore four songs - Beat On The Brat, Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue, R.A.M.O.N.E.S. and Blitzkrieg Bop. Crowd was wild to the end. People made Marky and Ramone$ Mania to feel good.
After a show Marky, Chuck Bernal, I and Tommi went with a van (car) to the backstage. It was strictly only to the bands and crew members. If some journalist came there, band member or manager had to pick him from the backstage door and tell his/her name. There was in Wacken also another backstage where was no problem to hang with regular backstage pass. We were there a while before was time of Marky's autograph session. Mostly every band who played in Wacken had that autograph session. There were few hundreds of people waiting Marky. Marky signed CD covers, some leather jackets etc. There was only 20 minutes of time and Marky was wondering why he couldn't sign more. Reason was it that next band was coming soon to sign. In a van I asked autographs from Marky to Tommi and Ramones fan called Riku Salo. Of the some reason Chuck didn't knew of my books, Marky commented to Chuck that my books are better than for example Monte Melnick's On The Road With The Ramones. Personally I can't have opinion of that. I and Chuck have known each other for many years through Internet, but in this trip we met first time. Chuck was all the time in a really good mood. With him was really easy and fun to chat.
Photo: Upper photo: Marky Ramone and audience in Wacken Open Air festival on August 5, 2005.
Later in that day I had finally time to sit and discuss more with Ramone$ Mania members and for example with Fitzy's brother Jan-Martin. They were pretty satisfied for both shows. Hopefully they get lot shows to play in future. You can hear them playing for example in German tribute CD All Good Cretins Go To Heaven - A Tribute To The Ramones, it's released by Oliver Alexander. They were last band to get in to it after I told them about CD project.
That day I was happy to do interviews to my next book with Swedish guys Mikael Åkerfeldt and Dan Swanö. They had a Bloodbath show in Wacken. But Mikael Åkerfeldt is better known as a singer-guitarist of Opeth and Dan Swanö as a producer. I was really surprised to hear how big fans they were of Marky's first band Dust. I was also talking of book interview with Robert Flynn of Machine Head, hopefully interview comes reality in future. After Marky and Ramone$ Mania show in Wacken for example rocked Edguy, Kreator, Sentenced, Overkill, Accept and Marduk.
Text and most of the photos by: Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone
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