- Richie Ramone spoke to me few times of his book plans. And now it did happen, his book is out. It was released on November 27, 2018. Book is titled I Know Better Now: My Life Before, During, And After The Ramones. It has 304 pages. Publisher is Backbeat Books. You can order book from Amazon.com or from Amazon.co.uk.
Richie Ramone wrote I Know Better Now: My Life Before, During, And After The Ramones together with Peter Aaron who was active in punk and hardcore scene already in 1980's. Aaron is also wellknown journalist and writer. Aaron has created for example book titled If You Like the Ramones Here Are Over 200 Bands, CDs....
Read more of Richie Ramone here. Here is review of book written by Dave U. Hall.
Here is press release text of the I Know Better Now: My Life Before, During, And After The Ramones: "It's 1982 and the Ramones are in a gutter-bound spiral. Following a run of inconsistent albums and deep in the throes of internal tensions, the legendary quartet is about to crash and burn. Enter Richie Ramone. Then a 26-year-old from New Jersey named Richard Reinhardt, he's snapped up by the group to be their new drummer and instantly goes from the obscurity of the underground club scene to membership in the most famous punk-rock band of all time, revitalizing the pioneering outfit with his powerful, precise, and blindingly fast beats composing classic cuts like the menacing anthem "Somebody Put Something in My Drink" and becoming the only Ramones percussionist to sing lead vocals for the group. With the Ramones, he performs over five hundred shows at venues all around the world and records three storming studio albums before abruptly quitting the band and going deep underground. To most fans, this crucial figure in the band's history has remained a mystery, his tale untold. Until now. I Know Better Now: My Life Before, During, and After the Ramones is the firsthand, four-on-the-floor account of a life in rock 'n' roll and in one of its most influential acts straight from the sticks of the man who kept the beat." (Update: December 2, 2018).


- Flo Hayler opened the Ramones Museum Berlin in Berlin, Germany in 2005. Hayler is doing travel exhibition tour in Germany in December, 2018. Also tour goes to Basel in Switzerland. He has with him rare Ramones items and you can buy his book Ramones Eine Lebensgeschichte that was published in October, 2018. Book is in German. Ramones: Eine Lebensgeschichte has 640 pages. It has hundreds of photos and documents. He explains on it background of many items that are in museum. Read more of museum here.
In this tour you can also meet some other guests. There is in Bonn, Koln and Essen George DuBose who photographed lot of promotional photos of the Ramones and who is photographed and designed over 300 album covers. Also he has released a great book entitled, I Speak Music - Ramones.
Dates and places in travel exhibition tour are:
December 1, 2018: Feinstaub, Frankfurt, Germany.
December 2, 2018: Bla, Bonn, Germany (with George DuBose).
December 3, 2018: Tube, Dusseldorf, Germany (with Jorg Loudmouth Buscher / Ramones Fan Club Deutschland).
December 4, 2018: Alte Hackerei, Karlsruhe, Germany.
December 5, 2018: Schwarzer Hahn, Munchen, Germany.
December 6, 2018: Parterre One, Basel, Switzerland (with Ramones tribute band Animal Boys).
December 7, 2018: Zille, Dresden, Germany.
December 8, 2018: Nachtasyl, Hamburg, Germany.
December 10, 2018: Waldmeister, Solingen, Germany (with Joachim Hiller of OxFanzine).
December 11, 2018: Movie, Bielefeld, Germany.
December 12, 2018: Wohngemeinschaft, Koln, Germany (with George DuBose).
December 13, 2018: Zeche Carl, Essen, Germany. (with George DuBose) (November 30, 2018).


- Chicago Pop Culture Convention is held at the Pheasant Run Mega Center in St. Charles, IL, USA on November 24-25, 2018. Richie Ramone and CJ Ramone are appearing at the convention in both days. Chicago Pop Culture Con is a mix of tv, movies, gaming, cosplay, comics, toys, publishers, artists, stars, sports memorabilia etc. related things. In addition to CJ and Richie, there is appearing also for example actor Butch Patrick who is perhaps best known for his role as Eddie Munster on the hit comedy television series The Munsters! (November 15, 2018).


- Richie Ramone and CJ Ramone will be appearing at the Chiller Theatre Toy, Model And Film Expo convention at the Hilton Parsippany hotel in Parsippany, New Jersey, USA. Convention is on October 26-28, 2018. Other guests include Jill St. John, Stefanie Powers, Robert Wagner, Bebe Buell, Robbie Dupree and The Accelerators. Visit homepage of Chiller Theathe. (Updated October 27, 2018).


- There is published at least one Ramones related Record Store Day Black Friday release on November 23, 2018. Rocket To Russia: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition included unreleased live show recorded at the Apollo Centre in Glasgow, Scotland on December 19, 1977. It was mixed by Ed Stasium for the 40th Anniversary edition. Now concert will be released on vinyl for the very first time on Record Store Day Black Friday, as a numbered, 180g limited edition. Label: Rhino / Warner Bros. (October 20, 2018)


- Rhino Records released the never-before-seen official music video for Ramones song She's The One (1978). Look She's The One video here.
With this video release Rhino Records celebrate Road To Ruin: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition box set. Buy box set from Amazon.co.uk or from Amazon.com.
(October 10, 2018)


- In March 2018, I got permission to tell great news to Ramones' fans: there is coming out Ramones related book written by well-respected writer, journalist and sociologist Dr. Donna Gaines. Now it is published: release date was October 2, 2018. Title of her book is Why the Ramones Matter. Book has 150 pages (even Amazon says 168 pages) and publisher is University of Texas Press (series: Music Matters).
In her career Gaines has written for magazines like Rolling Stone, Village Voice, Spin and Newsday. Her first book, Teenage Wasteland: Suburbia's Dead End Kids, was published in 1991. She is well-known of her book A Misfit's Manifesto: The Spiritual; Journey Of A Rock'N'Roll Heart (2003). Through years she has written a great deal of the Ramones'. She wrote Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame 2002 Induction Essay for the Ramones (read it here). Some of her texts you can find from my 2nd book Rock In Peace: Dee Dee And Joey Ramone.
Donna Gaines experienced a lot Ramones shows and she was/is personal friend with many Ramones members. CJ Ramone mention in a back of book this way: "As a seven-year veteran of the Ramones and a lifelong fan, Donna speaks for me and every one of us who found our salvation in the only band that really mattered to the outsider in us all."
In this book Gaines writes of things perceptive way. She want to testify that the Ramones music matters culturally, historically, sociologically, creatively, profoundly etc. She analyze importance of the band, their songs etc. and she also gives voice to the fans and people like Maria Bartiromo (journalist of whom Joey Ramone wrote a song). And a great way she for example underline a significance of Tommy Ramone.
Here is introduction text of her Why The Ramones Matter book: "The central experience of the Ramones and their music is of being an outsider, an outcast, a person who's somehow defective, and the revolt against shame and self-loathing. The fans, argues Donna Gaines, got it right away, from their own experience of alienation at home, at school, on the streets, and from themselves. This sense of estrangement and marginality permeates everything the Ramones still offer us as artists, and as people. It's why we need them, and why they will always matter. Why the Ramones Matter compellingly makes the case that the Ramones gave us everything; they saved rock & roll, modeled DIY ethics, and addressed our deepest collective traumas from the personal to the historical. They showed us the urgency of staying true to who we are, no matter what. In songs like I'm Against It and I Don't Care, the Ramones offered up an anthem a day, a soundtrack for everyday life in a ridiculous, punishing, amusing world. Whether writing about suburban dislocation, anomie, deviance theory, faith, or three-chord power punk, Donna Gaines offers us a subterranean guide to the Ramones and the world they made. Throughout, she writes about the Ramones with intelligence, sensitivity, and style, while at the same time reminding us that hey, it's only rock'n'roll, and that Rock'n'Roll High School is our only true alma mater."
Btw, American celebrity chef, author, travel documentarian, and television personality Anthony Bourdain got chance to read pre-version of this book before he passed away. Bourdain was a friend of Marky Ramone and he appeared in Joey Ramone's video New York City. Bourdain commented this book: "The Ramones were an answered prayer, the antidote to mellotron solos and stadium power ballads.... This book explains why they not only mattered, but were a vital, inspirational, earth shattering force."
Donna Gaines tells of this book for example in these places: 1) Canio's Books (290 Main Street, Sag Harbor, NY 11963, USA) on October 13, 2018. 2) KGB Bar (85 E. 4 Street, New York, NY 10003, USA) at 7PM on October 18, 2018. 3) Turn Of The Corkscrew Books & Wine (110 N. Park Avenue, Rockville Centre, NY 11570, USA) at 7PM on November 2, 2018.
Buy Why the Ramones Matter from Amazon.com or from Amazon.co.uk (Updated: October 7, 2018)


- Now in September 2018, comes 40 years of it when the Ramones released fourth studio album, Road To Ruin. Dee Dee Ramone, Joey Ramone and Johnny Ramone were joined for the first time by drummer Marky Ramone, who replaced founding member Tommy Ramone. Road To Ruin has for example I Wanna Be Sedated that is among five most big Ramones hits.
To celebrate the milestone, Rhino Records will release two versions on September 21, 2018, a day before the anniversary of the album's original release on September 22, 1978. Road To Ruin: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition box set include 3CD, one LP, hardcover book etc. See tracklisting of 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition box set here. A newly remastered version of the original album will also be released as a single CD. Buy this from Amazon.co.uk or from Amazon.com.
Box set contains two different mixes of the album, unissued rough mixes for every album track, and an unreleased 1979 concert recording of the Ramones in New York. It will be produced in a limited and numbered edition of 7,500 copies worldwide and comes packaged in a 12 x 12 hardcover book. Along with the music, the set also features rare photos and artwork, including the unused, alternate cover image, plus essays by former New York Rocker writer Roy Trakin, album cover artist John Holmstrom and Road To Ruin producer Ed Stasium, who details the making of this classic record.
So the first CD of the Road To Ruin: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition box set features a remastered version of the original stereo mix for Road To Ruin and a new 2018 40th Anniversary Road Revisited mix created by Stasium, who strips off the original record's commercial gloss and restores the album to its punk rock core. Stasium's new mix is also featured on the 180-gram LP that accompanies this deluxe edition.
The second CD offers up over twenty unreleased recordings / versions, including rough mixes for every album track, starkly different alternate takes of two songs, and two unreleased outtakes: I Walk Out and S.L.U.G. - unfinished during the original recording sessions in 1978, and completed by Stasium for this anniversary release. Other highlights include three different versions of I Wanna Be Sedated, including the Ramones-on-45-Mega-Mix! released in 1988 as part of the campaign for the Ramones Mania compilation. Also Ramones-on-45-Mega-Mix! was published on vinyl single. As well recod has acoustic versions of slower songs Questioningly, Needles And Pins and Don't Come Close.
Third CD has a previously unreleased recording of the band's entire 1979 New Year's Eve concert, which was mixed live by Stasium, and broadcast on WNEW-FM. Recorded in New York City at The Palladium, with audio sourced from Tommy Ramone's original cassette of the console recording, it features blistering performances of Blitzkrieg Bop, Rockaway Beach, and Sheena Is A Punk Rocker etc. (Updated: September 16, 2018)


- Johnny Ramone's wife Linda sent me good news in July that there is also in this year Johnny Ramone Tribute event. It is at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, USA, on August 26, 2018. There is Johnny's grave and an 8 ft tall bronze memorial statue of Johnny. Dee Dee Ramone's grave is in the same cemetery not far from Johnny's statue.
- Gonna be a great psychedelic punk night for the Johnny Ramone tribute! Guests and details to follow, Linda wrote on July 5, 2018.
You can check out there Ramones and cult memorabilia. Howie Pyro (ex-D Generation, The Blessed etc.) is DJ. Special guests are Billie Joe Armstrong (Rancid), Duff McKagan (Guns N'Roses and Loaded), Steve Jones (Sex Pistols), Traci Lords, Fred Armisen and Grace McKagan.
Billie Joe Armstrong, Duff McKagan, Grace McKagan, Fred Armisen and Steve Jones will do musical performance. Armisen is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician. He is best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2002 until 2013. Traci Lords is an actress, singer, model etc. She sings backing vocals on Sometoby To Love song in Ramones album Acid Eaters.
Johnny Ramone loved sci-fi and cult movies and posters. So also this year in Johnny Ramone Tribute is shown movie. It is a 50th-anniversary screening of Barbarella. Barbarella is a 1968 science fiction film directed by Roger Vadim, based on the comic series of the same name by Jean-Claude Forest. It is starring actors like Jane Fonda, John Phillip Law, Marcel Marceau, David Hemmings and Ugo Tognazzi.
Tickets are $16. Event starts at 6:45PM. Barbarella film will be shown at 8:30PM. Buy tickets from here.
Event is held as a benefit for the Johnny Ramone Cancer Research Fund which is led by Dr. David Agus at the USC Westside prostate cancer research center. (Updated: August 24, 2018).


- Antti Lehto was 16 years old when he attended Ramones show at the Kulttuuritalo venue in Helsinki, Finland on May 16, 1977. There is now photo exhibition at the Kulttuuritalo where you can see photos Lehto had taken at that show in 1977. Exhibition ends on August 28. (August 24, 2018).


- CJ Ramone is selling many items now in RRAuction. Bidding closes on July 19, 2018. Many of them are really special ones. One of them is CJ's and Dee Dee Ramone's tour-used bass cabinet with original Ramones road case. That cabinet was purchased in April 1983 and was one of the SVT bass cabinets used on stage by Dee Dee until his departure. CJ then used the amp until the band broke up in 1996.
CJ is also selling his signature Mosrite bass. The unique body style of this bass was custom-designed by Mosrite to resemble Johnny Ramone's famous Mosrite guitar. One auction is of Dee Dee handwritten lyrics for three songs from the Ramones: Mondo Bizarro's songs Poison Heart, Main Man and Strength To Endure. From CJ's collection are now in RRAuction also for example many tour itineraries, backstage passes and posters etc. In all there is 75 auction of his items.
Now (mid-July, 2018) in RRAuction are also many other Ramones related items. They do include Dee Dee Ramone's and Paul Kostabi's collaborative painting titled Happy Birthday and guitar signed by Dee Dee. Chris Lamy of The Jabbers (formerly GG Allin & The Jabbers) is selling some items. They do include few rare single releases: test pressing of Bonzo Goes To Bitburg / Daytime Dilemma 7' single and department store 7' single of Sheena Is A Punk Rocker / I Don't Care. (July 12, 2018).


- Danish band Tommy And The Rockets has in their music and roots feeling that Beach Boys' created in 1963-65, and Ramones spirit. Five different record labels release Tommy And The Rockets album (LP) titled I Wanna Be Covered on May 18, 2018. Main man of band is Tommy (Thomas) Stubgaard who also plays most of instruments on I Wanna Be Covered. Few years ago Stubgaard teamed up with songwriter-producer Michael Chaney to form Tommy And The Rockets. I Wanna Be Covered has nine Ramones covers.
- I am not so interested anymore to publish records that has covers. But Tommy And The Rockets has good and different style and songs are not too self-evident of the Ramones songs. Like there is no Blitzkrieg Bop. Tommy Stubgaard has been fan of the Ramones since he was 10 years old and he is born in the same day when was published first Ramones album, wrote me Hannu Jokinen of Woimasointu Records.
I Wanna Be Covered is limited to 500 copies. LP comes out in four different colors (black, white, red and green) by Woimasointu Records (Finland), Roctobus Tea Party (Spain), Monster Zero Records (Austria), KOTJ Records (Spain) and Rocket Launch Records (Denmark).
Promo letter tells that Tommy And The Rockets is armed with supremely infectious melodies and harmonies to die for. Group offer guitar driven rock 'n' roll that is sure to send the Summertime Blues scurrying back under the sand for a while. Championing a style and an attitude that screams pop not politics, Tommy And The Rockets guarantee fun, fun, fun. If you're into The Ramones, Rockpile, The Beach Boys, and the whole British invasion, this is the band for you. See tracklisting and more information here. (May 14, 2018).


- There were published at least three Ramones related Record Store Day release. RSD was celebrated on April 21, 2018.
1) I told of this first release in advance. One Record Store Day release was Ramones: Sundragon Sessions LP. Release contains early mixes for the Ramones second album Leave Home, laid to tape in 1976 by original engineer/mixer Ed Stasium. The tracks were previously only available on CD in the 40th Anniversary Edition Leave Home Deluxe Box. Now these versions are for the first time on vinyl. 180g vinyl, with individually numbered die cut sleeves, featuring images from the original Sundragon Sessions tape boxes. Worldwide run of 10,000.
2) Second RSD release... Italian record label Radiation Records released Lemmy Kilmister & Johnny Ramone: Good Rockin' Tonight 7' single on April 21, 2018. That picture disc 7' is limited to 500 copies. This is Record Store Day release.
Single has songs Good Rockin' Tonight and Viva Las Vegas. I explain background of these songs... Swing Cats: A Special Tribute To Elvis album was released in 2000 and Johnny Ramone and Lemmy Kilmister were both additional players on it. This was a surprise for many people, because Johnny had been out of the music business and very quiet for years. Johnny plays on two songs on that album and both songs are in this Record Store Day single: Good Rockin' Tonight and Viva Las Vegas. Main men on the Swing Cats project were: Danny B. Harvey (guitar); Lee Rocker (acoustic bass, The Stray Cats); Slim Jim (drums, The Stray Cats). Read more here.
3) Third RSD release... Dutch record label Music On Vinyl released single by the Dutch psychobilly band Batmobile. 7' single include Ramones' cover Teenage Lobotomy and Crazy Cavan & The Rhythm Rockers' cover Frankie Got A Quiff. 7' is yellow vinyl and limited to 1000 copies. Batmobile released their first album in nearly 20 years called Brand New Blisters. For the (Updated: May 13, 2018)


- CJ Ramone and Richie Ramone will play at Joey Ramone Birthday Bash at Bowery Electric in NYC, USA on May 19, 2018. Event got got sold-out on March 31, 2018.
With Richie and CJ will play Joey's brother Mickey Leigh. Birthday Bash is a memorial event to Joey on his birthday (May 19). This is 18th Joey Ramone Birthday Bash. As you know, we lost Joey Ramone on April 15, 2001. After that Joey's and Mickey's mother Charlotte Lesher (1927-2007) and Mickey started to yearly organize Birthday Bashes. In this event different musicians are playing in a honor of Joey and also we has heard many speeches.
In addition to CJ Ramone, Richie Ramone and Mickey Leigh that night will play The Gobshites, The Italians, Heap and Mutated Music. Also will make an appearance George Tabb (known for example of the Furious George etc.), Lindsey Anderson (aka Kitty Kowalski), Miriam Linna (The Cramps), Evil Presly (The Independents), Arno Hecht, Peter Zaremba (The Fleshtones), Tish, Snooky and Russell Wolinsky (Sic F*cks), Walt Stack, Pat Carpenter, Danny Nezz and Punk Pipers. MC's are John Holmstrom, Monte A. Melnick, Peter Aschner, Mitch "Bubbles" Keller and Debra Trizzini.
Here is information that Mickey wrote of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash 2018 in March: "Happy to officially announce the Joey Ramone Birthday Bash 2018! Benefitting the Joey Ramone Foundation for Lymphoma Research, this year's event will take place at The Bowery Electric and celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of the Ramones Road To Ruin album, with The Love Triangle featuring Richie Ramone, CJ Ramone and Mickey Leigh performing the songs of the entire album (Road To Ruin), plus many more special guests to be announced!", wrote Mickey. Advance tickets cost 40US$. So Joey Ramone Birthday Bash got sold-out on March 31. (Updated: May 12, 2018)


- There are many memorial events to Joey Ramone on May 19, 2018.
1) CJ Ramone, Richie Ramone, Joey Ramone's brother Mickey Leigh and many more artists will play at Joey Ramone Birthday Bash at Bowery Electric in NYC, USA on May 19, 2018. Event got got sold-out on March 31, 2018. Read more here.
2) Sasha Rocknroll of Kerosin etc. organize birthday bash event to Joey in Moscow, Russia on May, 2018. It is at the Punk Fiction Bar (Club) in Moscow. Event starts at 19:00/ 7PM and there are playing Kerosin, Rocket Reducer, Backbone Crash and Stingy.
3) Ramones Mania 2018 event is at the James Ballentine "Uptown" VFW in Minneapolis, MN, USA, on May 19, 2018. Address of venue: 2916 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis. Event starts at 7PM and on it for example plays Ramones' cover bands, New Rocket Union, Impaler and Jiro Okabe. Ramones Mania 2018 is hosted by TravoRama FaFaFa from KFAI - 90.3 FM Minneapolis. (May 5, 2018)


- May 4, 2018, Tommy Ramone's (RIP 2014) final show as a Ramones drummer was at Johnny Blitz benefit event at CBGB's in New York, USA on May 4, 1978. So now it is 40 years of it (that day when I make this update). I did many interviews with Tommy Ramone especially to my 3rd book Ramones: Soundtrack Of Our Lives. My 2nd book Rock In Peace: Dee Dee And Joey Ramone is sold-out. These questions are from it.
Jari-Pekka: What were your reasons behind your decison to leave the Ramones?
Tommy Ramone: I loved playing the drums and I loved all the live shows we did, but being on the road all the time, cooped up in vans, dressing rooms, hotel rooms was putting me in a major state of depression. In the recording studio I was free, creative and in control, on the road I was a confused and abused passenger. It felt as if I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I also felt I could be more productive helping them write songs and producing the records if I did not have to tour. I was thinking that if we got a good drummer to replace me, then that would be the best for everybody. That is what happened, and we went on to make Road To Ruin, Tommy told me.
Jari-Pekka: Did you help/ recommend to recruit Marky for your position as the Ramones drummer and did you actively take a roll in breaking Marky into the role as the new Ramones drummer?
Tommy Ramone: Marky was our top choice right from the start and he turned out perfect. He was enthusiastic and very cooperative. He had his own powerful style which was perfect for the direction the Ramones were taking at the time. I got on well with Marky and we went to work right away in developing a new sound. We combined Marky's style with a little bit of my style and came up with the great drums on the Road To Ruin album, Tommy told me. (May 4, 2018)


- German band Die Toten Hosen is a well-known band for lot of Ramones fans. Die Toten Hosen was founded in 1982 and they are really big band in Germany, Austria etc. and also in countries like Argentina where Die Toten Hosen also were supporting Ramones' "Goodbye to South-America" show in 1996.
JKP / Warner Music published Die Toten Hosen's Alles Passiert single as a 7' vinyl and maxiCD in November, 2017. 7' is limited to 5000 copies. Both (7' and maxiCD) has three songs: Alles Passiert, The Saints' cover (I'm) Stranded and Ramones' cover I Wanna Be Sedated. As you know, I Wanna Be Sedated was first released in Ramones' album Road To Ruin in 1978. Die Toten Hosen does pretty traditional cover of it. Australian punk rock group The Saints released original version of (I'm) Stranded in 1976.
I do mention here few things of Die Toten Hosen's history. Die Toten Hosen has played regularly Ramones songs at live. On their Learning English, Lesson One album (1991) Joey Ramone sing lead vocals on Ramones' song Blitzkrieg Bop. Also that version appears on Die Toten Hosen's Nightmare Continues EP. Drummer Vom (Stephen Ritchie) joined Die Toten Hosen in early 1990's and he's played in many different bands. Vom also had the chance to record material with Stiv Bator, Johnny Thunders and Dee Dee Ramone. Those songs were released as Stiv Bator: Last Race CD.
My first and second Ramones books has interviews with Die Toten Hosen members. You will find Campino's (singer) text from Heaven Needed A Lead Singer: Fans Remember Joey Ramone (2002). I did to my second book Rock In Peace: Dee Dee And Joey Ramone (2004, sold-out) interviews with Campino, Vom and guitarist Breiti. Between releases of those books, I got to meet with Die Toten Hosen members second time in June 2002 and then at the Himos festival in Finland they played Ramones song The KKK Took My Baby Away and dedicated it to Joey, Dee Dee and me. It was a great and touching moment. Dee Dee had passed away few weeks earlier... (January 2, 2018)


- Ramones tour manager Monte A. Melnick is selling lot awesome items from his personal collection in RR Auction internet auction site. Items were displayed as part of the Hey! Ho! Let's Go: Ramones And The Birth Of Punk exhibit at the Queens Museum in New York, USA, from April 10, 2016-July 31, 2016, and the Grammy Museum at L.A. Live from September 16, 2016-February 28, 2017.
See listing of items Monte is selling here. Bidding closes on December 14, 2017.
Items include: 1) Joey Ramone Leather Glove and Bracelet.
2) Dee Dee Ramone's concert and video-used Fender Precision bass (serial number E317525 (1982-1985), purchased by Dee Dee shortly after the Ramone's equipment was stolen in April 1983.
3) Dee Dee's guitar strap.
4) Ramones' Pinhead costume that was worn on stage by Mitch "Bubbles" Keller during several Ramones concerts.
5) Ramones' Leave Home letter opener / knife.
6) Visa applications for the Ramones' first tour of Japan in 1980. Remarkable set of visa applications for the Ramones' 1980 trip to Japan, each one page, 8.25 x 11.5, dated June 2, 1980, all signed using their given names. Ramones played in Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, and Fukuoka between June 27 and July 4, 1980.
7) Ramones Animal Boy banner. (December 12, 2017)


- November 24, 2017, will be released special versions of Rocket To Russia album (1977). Release titled Rocket To Russia: 40th Anniversary include the newly remastered version of the original album (1CD).
Really special release is titled Rocket To Russia: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition and it has three CD and one LP. That include a remastered version of the original album and new 40th Anniversary Tracking Mix by the original album engineer/mixer Ed Stasium. Tracking Mix provides a back-to-basics version of the album, and a different track listing from the 1977 original. The 2017 Anniversary Tracking Mix is also featured on the LP that accompanies the Deluxe Edition.
- When putting together this new Tracking Mix, I decided to include the versions of I Don't Care (originally released in debut album in 1976) and It's A Long Way Back To Germany since they were recorded during the Rocket To Russia sessions at Mediasound, and are completely different takes that have never been heard before. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker has been omitted, as it was recorded in a totally different session a few months prior, in-between the Leave Home and Rocket To Russia albums, explains Ed Stasium.
It's A Long Way Back To Germany was released first as a B-side of the Do You Wanna Dance? single in 1978.
As well release has an unreleased live show recorded in Glasgow, Scotland on December 19, 1977 and a number of unreleased versions of studio recordings. They include acoustic version of Here Today, Gone Tomorrow.
Rocket To Russia: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition will be produced in a limited and numbered edition and comes packaged in a 12 x 12 hardcover book. The set also features stories about the Ramones by Sire Records founder Seymour Stein, details about making the album by Stasium, and extensive liner notes by renowned music writer and co-founder of Creem Magazine, Jaan Uhelszki. You can pre-order Rocket To Russia: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition here. (October 30, 2017)


- Italian Ramones' tribute band Wardogs released on May 28, 2016, their single that has two versions of Ramones' song Go Mental. You can read lot details of single after these latest comments I updated in October, 2017.
- Our single Go Mental /Go Mental (Dirt Off version featuring Nick Santa Muerte) is in nomination for the Making Vinyl Awards in Detroit, USA on November 6-7, 2017 in the cathegories: Best Vinyl and Best Artist / photographer cover. The cover is one of the two illustration John Holmstrom made of mad man for the Ramones in 1977. One is on Rocket To Russia album (cartoon inside in album) and I Wanna Be Well. So Ramones picked the first one and Holmstrom gave now us the second one. We're really stoked about all of this, wrote The Wardogs' guitarist Sandro Mariuz in October 2017.
It is great to see this version of illustration as lot of John Holmstrom's drawings got destroyed because of hurricane in past.
Here you can read older information and comments that I updated in June 2016.
So cover of single is really special.
- So Ramones picked the first one and Holmstrom gave us the second one. We has in our single original one from 1977. Starting from this image we decided to work on Go Mental song, told Sandro Mariuz.
First Wardogs presented single at the Ramones Convention at the Home Rock bar, Treviso, Italy on May 28, 2016.
- The first version is a traditional cover of the song, the second one is a crossover between punk and hip-hop. A sort of Aerosmith-Run Dmc style. Here is a video of crossover version. Single is available on vinyl (250 copies limited edition), CD and digital format, wrote Mariuz.
Crossover version (dirt off version featuring Nick Santa Muerte) version is really interesting.
- We wanted to do something different from the 'normal' cover, and this is a tribute to Dee Dee Ramone's rap period, but pay attention when I speak about hip-hop I mean a Limp Bizkit style not traditional hip-hop, Sandro underlined.
Guest vocalist on it is Nick Santa Muerte. Video has cool 1,5 minutes long intro story and it has black humour. Really professionally made. Video is produced by Paolo Orso of Harley-Davidson Treviso and recorded and edited by Anna Dalla Bona of Edb Entertainment. Songs to single are produced also by Paolo Orso and recorded and mixed by Marino Degli Angeli and Davide Florian of Teatro Delle Voci recording studio.
Sandro Mariuz was main man behind of big Ramones event inside of Home Festival in Treviso, Italy on September 4-7, 2014. Wardogs has played in past many shows with Marky Ramone. You can see their show with Marky in Home Festival in 2014 here.
And in 2012 The Wardogs released Ramones tribute/ cover album titled Raw & Dirty Days. Album has by Wardogs 20 covers of Ramones songs or songs that also Ramones covered and a song that Joey covered What A Wonderful World. Bonus track is Blitzkrieg Bop and it is a live version from a show that Marky Ramone played with Mariuz etc. under name Marky Ramone & Andead at Palaverde, Treviso, Italy on December 31, 2011.
The Wardogs has had lot special shows in Italy and in September, 2016 they played also three shows in New York, USA. Now The Wardogs will support Manitoba NYC at the Home Rock Bar in Treviso, Italy on November 23, 2017. Manitoba NYC has in line-up Ramones producer Daniel Rey (and who also co-wrote many songs for the Ramones) and Handsome Dick Manitoba and Ross "The Boss" of The Dictators.
If you are in emotional feelings, please listen their version of She Talks To Rainbows here. Ramones recorded She Talks To Rainbows to Adios Amigos album and later Joey Ramone recorded new version of it as well. (Updated: October 13, 2017)


- Jörg Buscher of Ramones' German fan club (founded in 1993) and Loudmouth etc. will organize again huge Ramones related event on September 9, 2017. It is punkrocked at the Haus Der Jugend in Dusseldorf in Germany. Event is named Beat On Cancer - A Tribute To Ramones And A Benefit.
I already told in April, 2017, that great German band the Richies founded in 1980's will play only two shows in 2017 and another of them is in this event. Also there will play for example Jiro Okabe with his band, Nimrods, Zwakkelmann and Andy Brings. Also there is Ramones related exhibition.
Jiro Okabe wrote to me that in addition to Germany he is going to tour in Italy and Austria. These shows are confirmed: September 1: Officine Sonore, Vercelli, Italy. September 2: Dedolor Music Headquarters, Italy. September 3: Arci Aurora, Ora, Italy. September 4: Bluesiana, Velden, Austria. September 5: Canton Summer Festival, Malo, Italy. September 9: Ramones Beat The Cancer, Dusseldorf, Germany.
In November Jiro Okabe will play with his band as a support band for CJ Ramone band in South America. More details here.
I tell now some details of Jiro Okabe. He is recorded solo album titled Return Of The Kamikazi and CJ Ramone plays on it. As well Clem Burke aka Elvis Ramone. Read more details of it here. As a Banzai Jiro Okabe, Tommy Bolan and Christopher Williams has recorded Can't Stop Me album. Read more of Can't Stop Me here.
Jiro plays bass on Richie Ramone's solo album Entitled and was in Richie's tour line-up in 2012 etc. He is not working with Richie anymore. Jiro is working for Mosrite Guitars. (Updated: August 31, 2017)


- Spider-Man: Homecoming movie premiered in Hollywood, LA, CA, USA, on June 28, 2017, and its opening night in movie theaters in many countries was in early July.
Ramones' song Blitzkrieg Bop is played few times in Spider-Man: Homecoming movie. First when Peter changes into his Spider-Man suit, then runs around the city catches minor criminals and is fooling around. Blitzkrieg Bop can be heard also during the end credits.
I will explain now a bit of Ramones' and Spiderman related things. The Ramones recorded a cover version of Spiderman theme song in 90's and first it was published as a hidden bonus track in original USA pressing of Adios Amigos (1995) album. As well Ramones did a promo video of Spiderman. Ramones took Spiderman for their live set and you can find it from their last official live albums Greatest Hits Live! and We're Outta Here.
Also studio version of Spiderman song is for example in a slip case version of Mondo Bizarro (1992) album that was re-released by Captain Oi! label in the UK in 2004. Also you can find Spiderman from collections like Ramones Mania 2 (only released in Japan in 1999), The Chrysalis Years (2002) and Weird Tales Of The Ramones (2005) etc. (August 14, 2017)


- Long Live Vinyl (United Kingdom) is magazine dedicated to collecting, enjoying and loving vinyl releases. As we Ramones' fans also has noticed, the format has seen a huge resurgence in recent years. September 2017 issue has Johnny Ramone in cover and you can read in that issue interview with Danny Fields (first Ramones manager). He tells what it was like to be at the heart of a revolution that irrevocably altered the musical landscape. Long Live Vinyl also round up the essential 40 punk 7-inches that every collector should own. Issue has interesting things like BBC Radio 6 Music DJ Steve Lamacq gives an exclusive tour of his vast record collection. (August 14, 2017)


- Johnny's wife Linda sent me good news. There is Johnny Ramone Tribute Event at Hollywood Forever cemetery in Los Angeles, USA, on July 30, 2017. Buy ticket from here.
Event is presented by Linda.
- Billy Idol and Steve Jones (Sex Pistols etc.) will play some amazing acoustic songs at this year's Johnny Ramone Tribute, Linda wrote.
There is also for example special exhibition and will be shown outdoor movie. This year's theme features a screening of one of Johnny's favorite films, 1998's cult classic Buffalo '66, introduced by its director and star Vincent Gallo, who was Johnny's very close and personal friend. In addition to the film screening, the 2017 Johnny Ramone Tribute will feature an exhibition of some rare never-before-seen Ramones memorabilia from Johnny Ramone's and Tommy Ramone's personal collection in the mausoleum with Ramones art by Shepard Fairey, Lucas David and Shag. Also, a pop-up gallery from Morrison Hotel Gallery, DJ'd by the Howie Pyro (ex-D Generation etc.), food trucks and special celebrity appearances. Anyway most important is to celebrate Johnny and Ramones legacy.
In addition to Vincent Gallo, Billy Idol, Steve Jones and Howie Pyro, there are guests like Rosanna Arquette (actor, film director and producer), Mickey Rourke (actor) and Fred Armisen (actor).
The tribute will also feature a short ceremony in honor of Johnny's and Linda's beloved friend Chris Cornell, who has been laid to rest right next to Johnny. Cornell was found dead in his Detroit hotel room early on the morning of May 18, 2017. He was best known as the lead vocalist for the Soundgarden and Audioslave.
Tribute is a fundraising event for the Johnny and Linda Ramone Foundation, which provides funding for Dr. David Agus at the Center for Applied Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at USC.
In last five years guests are included Tommy Ramone (2012), Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats), Billy Zoom (X), Henry Rollins, Steve Jones (Sex Pistols etc.), actors Johnny Depp and Traci Lords, director-actor John Waters and many people from the cast and makers of Rock And Roll High School movie. Those guests included director Allan Arkush, producer Roger Corman and actors PJ Soles (Riff Randell), Mary Woronov (Principal Evelyn Togar), Clint Howard (Eaglebauer) and Vince Van Patten (Tom Roberts). Read more of 2013 event here and of 2012 event here.
Event is in a area where is Johnny Ramone's memorial statue and the gravesite of Dee Dee Ramone. You has chance to make this in "picnic style", sit in a blanket, have something to eat and drink while watching things that are shown. (Updated: July 21, 2017)


- Deluxe Edition of 40th anniversary of second Ramones' album Leave Home has three CD's and one LP. Also was released one CD version which has 40th anniversary mix of the original Leave Home by original Leave Home album engineer Ed Stasium. Release date of both was July 21, 2017.
Deluxe Edition is limited and numbered edition of 15 000 copies worldwide. Deluxe Edition is packaged in a 12 x 12 hardcover book. In addition to the music, the set also features stories about the band by legendary former manager Danny Fields, as told to renowned music scribe Michael Azerrad, as well as details about making the album by Ed Stasium.
CD 1): The first CD features two different mixes of Leave Home, opening with a remastered version of the original stereo mix. Also first CD has the new 40th anniversary mix of the full album, created by Ed Stasium from the original multi-track tapes, and designed to better reflect the Ramones' raw power and beef up the sound. In the set's liner notes Stasium writes: "Generally, the consensus was [the original] maybe sounded too clean, the guitars panned completely left-right detracted from the band's foreboding presence, and the reverb effects especially were a little excessive." The new 40th anniversary mix is also featured on the LP that accompanies this deluxe edition.
CD 2: The second disc has 33 songs. It begins with rough mixes for 15 tracks recorded for Leave Home at Sundragon Studio in New York, USA. Most are missing elements that had yet to be recorded, offering fascinating insight into the bands recording process and the development of the album. CD has both songs Sheena Is A Punk Rocker and Babysitter, as replacement songs on the USA and UK versions of the album, after was removed Carbona Not Glue from the track list shortly after initial release. Also CD2 concludes with a combination of 18 alternate mixes and instrumental versions of all tracks from the album.
CD 3: The third disc has an unreleased live show recorded in 1977 at CBGB's in New York, USA.
LP: LP features the 40th Anniversary mix of the album. Buy Deluxe Version here. (Updated: July 21, 2017)


- New Joey Ramone figure will be released by company named Funko in June, 2017. Stylized collectable stands 3 ¾ inches tall and comes in a window display box. Interpunk says that it comes out in June 16. But in Amazon item will be released on June 30, 2017. Buy Joey Ramone figure from here. (June 9, 2017)


- Joey Ramone Birthday Bash is also in this year, of course in May 19, 2017. Event is at The Studio at Webster Hall. Birthday Bash is a memorial event to Joey on his birthday (May 19). This is 17th Joey Ramone Birthday Bash.
Richie Ramone, CJ Ramone and Joey's brother Mickey Leigh will play one set as a trio.
There is another long set with lot of guests.
- Since this year is the 40th anniversary of the second and third Ramones albums Leave Home and Rocket To Russia, we have two albums to celebrate and we'll have two 'house bands' playing every song on both albums, Mickey explains.
Richie Ramone, Clem Burke (Elvis Ramone) will play drums, Andy Shernoff (The Dictators, Master Plan etc.) bass, Ramones' producer Ed Stasium guitar and Walt Stack (The Bullys) guitar when is played Leave Home album. Ed Stasium did producer and musician works for both albums.
Singers in that long set are: Lindsey Anderson (aka Kitty Kowalski), Miriam Linna, Vincent Karloff (Evil Presly), Ingrid Larsen, George Tabb, Tim Heap, Tish, Snooky, Russell Wolinsky, James Boland, Jahn Xavier, Rew Starr, Philippe Marcade, Mick Stitch, Dave Ellis and Pat DiNizio.
I noticed that CJ Ramone has that night also solo show in Philadelphia. Show is part of his album (American Beauty) release tour. Distance between venues is around 100 miles, so it might be hard to do both at the same night? But he will play in both events.
- CJ will play the Joey Ramone Birthday Bash early with Richie and Mickey. Then we leave for Philadelphia, confirmed CJ's manager Gene Frawley to me in April 1, 2017.
Frawley worked years for the Ramones in 1980-90's, as a security guy, driver etc. and of course he was their close friend.
Also David Peel And The Lower East Side, The Cuts, The Stitches and Punk Pipers (as always) will perform at the Joey Ramone Birthday Bash 2017. Night is hosted by John Holmstrom, Debra "Raffles" Trizzini, and Pete Aschner. Also there will be famous photographer Paul Zone, James Boland etc.
Ticket is 30 US$ and you can buy it from here.
As always before all proceeds were benefit to The Joey Ramone Foundation For Lymphoma Research. (Updated: May 12, 2017).


- Available exclusively for Record Store Day on April 22, 2017, Ramones: Singles Box contains replicas of 10 classic Ramones USA 7' singles from 1970-1980's, authentically reproduced with Sire labels and picture covers (where applicable), and packaged in a unique cigarette-style outer box.
See details of 7' USA singles here. This RSD box has singles 1-10 from that listing. So this include promo single of I Wanna Be Sedated that has mono and stereo versions of that song. Promo single was published by RSO label to promote Times Square (1980) movie.
Individually numbered and limited to only 6,500 copies, Ramones: Singles Box is presented the way punk rock should be: as 45 RPM slabs of wax. Find information of your local RSD shop from Recordstoreday.com.
Price of this was/is not so cheap in many stores. This was for example 77 US$ at the Sorry State Records in USA, 89,99 pounds at the Crash Records in United Kingdom, 119,90 euros at the Levykauppa Äx in Finland, 109,90 euros at the Black And White in Finland and 100 euros at the Consouling Sounds in Belgium etc. (Updated: April 26, 2017).


- Release date of CJ Ramone's third solo album was March 17, 2017. It is named American Beauty and it has 12 songs. CJ Ramone started writing new songs in April, 2016, and he hit the studio on May 2, 2016.
- In the studio from May 2-14, 2016, to record a new album. Steve Soto, Dan Root and Pete Sosa will be on the record, CJ Ramone wrote to me in April, 2016 .
American Beauty was recorded at the Buzzbomb Studios in Orange, California, USA, with producer Paul Miner (H2O, New Found Glory etc.).
I asked from CJ if label is same, Fat Wreck Chords, that released CJ's previous album Last Chance To Dance (2014).
- Yes Jari, it will be on Fat Wreck Chords, CJ replied in 2016.
You can buy CD, LP or digital version of American Beauty here. American Beauty was sixth most sold CD at Interpunk.com in second week of April.
In Argentina was released by Pinhead Records version that has CD and DVD Havana Go Go.
Record release show was at the Bowery Electric in New York City, NY, USA, on March 17, 2017. Album relelease tour started in the USA in April and later it continue to Europe etc. See all dates here.
CJ explains in Fat Wreck Chords' press release about songwriting process: "I actually had a whole batch of songs for this record that I had been writing over the past couple of years, but things changed so much in such a short period of time, and when I sat down and listened to the songs, they seemed to be irrelevant to how I was thinking now," CJ admits. "I wrote this entire record in just two weeks, sitting in my basement. That is very unusual for me."
First single Moral To The Story was released on January 25, 2017. You can listen it here. It was only audio release (no video).
Also opening track Let's Go got published as a digital single on YouTube, listen it here.
Song named Tommy's Gone is a delicate, 98-second acoustic tribute to Tommy Ramone. Closing track is a cover of Tom Waits' Pony. Read more of album here. (Updated: April 13, 2017)


- Howl! Happening in New York, NYC, USA is delighted to announce Empire: An Arturo Vega Retrospective - originally curated by Jade Dellinger for the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery of Florida SouthWestern State College - opening in New York with a public reception on March 23, 2017 at 6 PM. This ambitious survey runs through April 20. And related to it is a panel discussion at Howl Happening in New York, USA, with special guests Jade Dellinger, Carlo McCormick, Anthony Haden-Guest and Adam Lehrer at Howl Happening at 4-6 on March 26, 2017.
Address of Howl Happening is 6 E 1st St, New York 10003, USA.
A presentation event by Sandra Schulman and Ramones' tour manager Monte A. Melnick is at 7PM on March 24, 2017.
Howl! Happening was established to honor Arturo Vega, his life and work, and his support for East Village artists, and they are particularly proud to be the second stop for the late Mexican-born artist's U.S. museum retrospective. The exhibition features photography, collage and a number of iconic canvases from the artist's Supermarket and Silver Dollar series (begun in the 70s); Arturo's Flags and so-called "word paintings" from Insults; and other series produced during the 80's, 90's and aughts. Of special note is his last major work, Life Isn't Tragic, love is just being ignored, a mural commissioned in 2013 that hung on the corner of Prince and Elizabeth streets.
Arturo Vega was the Ramones creative director since 1974 and as many of you know, he designed the Ramones' eagle logo and most all of the Ramones art, shirts, special collections etc. He worked as the Ramones lighting director and did whatever was needed. With the Ramones Arturo worked on 2 261 shows, and only missed 2 Ramones shows altogether. Read lot more of Arturo Vega here on my tribute site for him . (Updated: April 1, 2017).


- Richie Ramone and CJ Ramone played for the first full show together! That happened at El Teatro De Flores in Buenos Aires, Argentina on February 4, 2017. You can read here report of this event.
Same stage CJ Ramone and Richie Ramone had shared shortly once before, when gentlemen performed at live at the 60th Anniversary Mosrite Guitar Party at the Hard Rock Cafe in Memphis, TN, USA on July 14, 2012. Read more of it here.
But NOW at the El Teatro De Flores they played full show on February 4, 2017. I spoke of this with Richie in Melbourne in October, 2016, and this was secret until December 19. That day, February 4, was exact 30th anniversary day of first Ramones concert ever in Argentina which happened in Wednesday 4th of February in 1987 at Estadio Obras. Ramones kept performing at this venue until 1995.
- That was Richie Ramone's and Dee Dee Ramone's only appareance with the Ramones in Argentina. By the time the band came for a second time in Argentina in April of 1991, Marky Ramone had re-joined and CJ Ramone had replaced Dee Dee. It was one of Richie's last concerts with The Ramones, as part of the Animal Boy tour and right before the release of Halfway To Sanity album. Richie did save the band back in the day and is re-gaining his name in the Ramones history by doing great new music, told in January Mariano Asch who was behind of this special concert.
As we know, Richie is only Ramones member alive of those who played in first Argentinean show.
- Since Richie was the drummer then he was the main person in this very special celebration. He performed together on stage for the very first time in an open-public concert with CJ Ramone on the bass. El Teatro Flores was the venue chosen for this one-off event, only one night not to be repeated, Asch underscored.
They performed exact same set list than what was the Ramones set list in most of shows in Animal Boy tour in 1987. Together with Richie and CJ were playing guitarist Mariano Martinez (Attaque 77) and singer Seba Expulsado of Expulsados.
- Attaque 77 is the main punk band in Argentina, who opened for the Ramones in 1994 and 1996. Martinez was also in charge of two historical nights to honour Joey Ramone in 2001 at legendary local venue Cemento. Sebastian is first and most associated to the Ramones in Argentina, he looks and sings like Joey Ramone, and he has sung on Marky Ramone's band touring all over the world. His band Expulsados has opened for CJ, Marky and Richie on their various concerts in Argentina, explained Mariano Asch.
You can read here Sapo Ramone's report of this event.
(Updated: February 11, 2017)


- I update now information of interesting release. Banzai is Jiro Okabe's and Tommy Bolan's band. They recorded Can't Stop Me album together with a guest drummer Christopher Williams. Can't Stop Me has three Ramones covers. CD start with Durango 95 which Johnny Ramone wrote to Too Tough To Die album. Two other Ramones' covers are Animal Boy from Animal Boy and Mama's Boy from Too Tough To Die.
- When me and Tommy Bolan was in Richie Ramone Band, we had always played these tunes: Tommy on lead vocal and I was on the back vocal. Then we add on new version (little longer than original) featuring Tommys solo, also we played Durango 95 as the introduction of this, Jiro wrote to me.
You can order Can't Stop Me by E-mailing to Jiro: livelineoriginal (a) yahoo.com.
As Jiro did mention, he toured a while with Richie Ramone in 2012 and Tommy a bit more. Few more comments of their background. Jiro and Tommy recorded together with Richie Ramone Richie's debut solo album Entitled (2013). Tommy plays on it guitars and Jiro bass. Jiro is also working for Mosrite Guitars and in his solo album titled Return Of The Kamikazi has musicians like CJ Ramone, Clem Burke aka Elvis Ramone, Steve Soto, Dez Cadena and Tommy Bolan. Jiro and CJ wrote three songs together to Return Of The Kamikazi and rest Jiro wrote with Tommy. - I will start my second solo album this year (2017) and planning on releasing it in summer 2017. Will have some surprise guest on my album, Okabe wrote to me in January 2017. (Updated: January 9, 2017)


- Thanks to Anna and Helena Piella and Alfredo Cordeiro that I know now of 7' split single Sid Vicious: Chinese Rocks / Knox And The Pisstons: Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio? This sawblade shaped vinyl was released by German label MT Undertainment / Empty Records in April, 2016.
Front cover art has Dee Dee Ramone's and Paul Kostabi's painting and back cover art has Dee Dee Ramone's painting.
Knox of The Vibrators recorded Ramones' cover Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio? with German band The Pisstons. Chinese Rocks is written by Dee Dee Ramone and Richard Hell and Ramones recorded their version of it to End Of The Century album (1980). This single has live version which Sid Vicious played at Max's Kansas City in New York, USA, in September, 1978. This sawblade shaped vinyl 7' is limited to 500 copies. (January 1, 2017)


- Richie Ramone has done many radio interviews in his latest tours. I will link here one good one which you can listen also on archive of radio station named Fubar Radio. It is 28 minutes long. Listen it here. Richie's interview is in final part of radio show and it comes after is played I Fix This from his second solo album Cellophane. (December 19, 2016)


- Hard cover book titled Ramones At 40 is written by veteran music journalist Martin Popoff. Book was published on April 19, 2016. Order it from Amazon.co.uk or from from Amazon.com . Publisher of Ramones At 40 is Sterling and book has 208 large format color pages. It has lot photos. Sally Claxton did picture research. Around 20 % of photos are rare or not often seen.
Popoff is also a Ramones fan since 1976. Popoff was asked to write Ramones' book celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Ramones' debut album. In a press release is written for example: "Book explodes with visuals and offers fresh, thoughtful writing, stand-alone features, interviews, and a full discography. It covers the group's early days and the CBGB crowd, classic albums and rarities, European tours, critical reception, politics, induction into the Hall of Fame, effect on pop culture, and so much more."
Foreword is written by CJ Ramone. Popoff also made interviews with CJ, Richie Ramone and Marky Ramone. All of them offered also some details that were unique and I (Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone) learned some new things, like when CJ told background of some songwriting experiences and complicated things behind of albums. And Richie explains really interesting way of his drumming technique and compare his and Marky's styles.
Especially I was happy to see how much Martin Popoff did effort to do interviews with producers of Ramones' albums. Those deliver certainly lot new information to all Ramones' fans. There are certain producers from who are not asked comments too many times in past. Among them are Graham Gouldman who produced Pleasant Dreams and Scott Hackwith who produced Acid Eaters. There is told pretty much of Acid Eaters.
Of course there are quotes of Joey's, Johnny's, Dee Dee's and Tommy's old interviews as well. Also Popoff did interviews to Ramones At 40 for example with Andy Shernoff (Dictators, Master Plan etc.), Sylvain Sylvain (The New York Dolls), Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group etc.), Daniel Rey (producer and musician), Michael Davis (MC5), Roberta Bayley (photographer) and George DuBose (photographer).
Martin Popoff asked my help with a book and of course I was happy to help. This my Ramones' site (http://www.ramonesheaven.com) also offered lot unique information. I also wrote comments and collected information to Ramones At 40. I for example collected and listed information of 10 rare promotional items with background information, then I also wrote details of 10 rare Ramones' records with background information and I collected from my books quotes of interviews I had made with heavy metal artists. Popoff wrote afterwards that I was a big help. Those three section are among of around 12-15 special sections that are mainly two pages long. There are sections of Ramones creative director Arturo Vega, of PUNK Magazine and of album covers etc.
A bit information of Popoff's background. He has wrote to magazines like Goldmine and Guitar World and is man behind of 49 music books, including Black Sabbath FAQ, Metallica: The Complete Illustrated History and Agents of Fortune: The Blue Oyster Cult Story. Already in 2012 Martin Popoff was described as "the world's most famous heavy metal journalist." He was then wrote over 7900 record reviews.
(Updated: November 24, 2016)


- You can walk in a Ramones Way... In July, 2016, New York's City Council approved proposal to rename 65 streets throughout the city: the intersection of 67th Avenue and 110th Street in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, USA, co-name The Ramones Way.
It happened at 11AM on October 30, 2016, when the intersection of 67th Avenue and 110th Street, directly in front of Forest Hills High School, renamed Ramones Way. First it was scheduled to happen on October 23.
As many of you knows is Forest Hills High School important place in the Ramones history. Joey Ramone, Johnny Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone and Tommy Ramone lived in Forest Hills, graduated from Forest Hills High School and formed the Ramones there.
At the street sign unveiling cerenomy was heard speeches by Ramones' first manager Danny Fields, Ramones tour manager Monte A. Melnick, Joey Ramone's Mickey Leigh, David Erdelyi, Karen Koslowitz, Melinda Katz, Norton Records founder Miriam Linna (also the Cramps, A-Bones etc.), March H. Miller and Neil Rosenblatt. Thanks for mentioning me in your speech Miriam.
Joey Ramone's brother Mickey wanted to thank some certain people. He wrote: "Ramones Way would not have happened without the combined efforts of many people here in NYC. I want to thank Queens Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz (who ultimately pushed the bill through City Hall), Queens Borough President Melinda Katz (who, for many years, patiently allowed me to repeatedly remind her about this), Queens Council Director of Legislation/Press Michael Cohen, Queens BP Chief of Staff Jay Bond (who I had many productive talks over many years), their mutual staff members, and all the people who put in calls and emails to any applicable government connections they had.", Mickey wrote. (Updated: October 30, 2016)


- There was one Record Store Day on April 16, 2016. That day it was 15 years and one day since we had lost Joey Ramone. Thanks to Miriam Linna, Billy Miller and their legendary Norton Records label, that there was released two Ramones' 7' singles. That same day they opened Norton Records store in New York. Address is 595 Washington Ave., Brooklyn, New York, USA.
First release: Norton Records published a newly mastered anniversary cut of their earlier 7' release: Ramones: I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend / Judy Is A Punk. Those are demo versions from 1975 that are produced by Marty Thau and recorded at 914 Studios in Blauvelt, NY, USA. Songs were now remastered from original tapes. Vinyl was published in three different colors. Miriam Linna sent me a message where she confirmed colors of I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend / Judy Is A Punk vinyls: multicolor swirl, red and clear. Now in October 25, 2016, you has chance to buy red vinyl from Norton Records webstore. It is really limited release.
Second release: By Norton Records was released on Record Store Day on April 16, 2016, also a 7' single what has alternative versions of the Ramones' song Judy Is A Punk. A 7' single is limited to 1000 copies. Also this 7' single will be published on three different colors: multicolor swirl, blue and clear.
Now in October 25, 2016, you has chance to buy clear blue vinyl from Norton Records webstore. It is limited to 100 copies! I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend / Judy Is A Punk has front cover photo that is taken by Ralph Alfonso and back side has promo letter from 1975 that was created by Tommy Ramone etc.
Here is a story of this single:
"Recently was discovered lost demo alternate versions of Judy Is A Punk recorded in 1975. Straight from the original demo master tape. Miriam Linna (Cramps, A-Bones etc.) left Ohio in 1975 in search of the Ramones and found them through working for the legendary record man, Marty Thau. Just prior to Marty launching the groundbreaking Red Star Records label, he funded these first Ramones demos. 30+ years after first meeting Marty, Linna and her husband Billy Miller of the infamous Norton Records label purchased these recordings. Miriam's search for the Ramones was indeed complete! While listening to this demo tape in the fall of 2015, these alternate versions were discovered. They are presented here for the first time. Limited to 1,000 - 200 Colored vinyl pieces randomly shipped."
I also want to mention of few other releases.
1-2) Miriam Linna released her first solo album Nobody's Heart in 2014, and I really feel Joey would had loved it and albums The Ronettes' feeling. CD has a touching version of early Ramones' song Questioningly. Her second solo album Down Today got published in 2015 and it has 14 songs. It has great versions for example of Take Me For A Little While written by Trade Martin, Love To Love (Neil Diamond) and Our Love Can Still Be Saved (Jeff Barry/ Ellie Greenwich).
And 3) Joey Ramone kind of produced two songs for Purple Majesty in 1967. So Joey was then only 15-16 years old when he took Purple Majesty to studio and they recorded In This Day And Age and and a version of the Blues Project's I Can't Keep From Crying, at Sanders Recording Studios on West 48th Street in NYC. In January 2014, Norton Records published Purple Majesty 7' single. Andy Ritter plays on it drums, singer-guitarist was Doug Scott and Joey's brother Mickey was bassist. They were only 13 years old kids then in 1967. Read more here. (Updated: October 25, 2016).


- Cassette Store Day is an international, annual observance intended to recognise the value of Compact Cassettes as a music format. Cassette Store Day was conceived by a group of record labels based in the UK. It was first held in 2013. The celebration was inspired by Record Store Day, which acknowledges the importance of record stores and the vinyl music format.
In this year Cassette Store Day is on October 8th, 2016. One cassette is of Ramones debut album. Read more details of CSD in the USA and here details of in other countries. (September 20, 2016).


- There is a panel discussion at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, CA, USA, on September 16, 2016. It is opening event for Hey! Ho! Let's Go: Ramones And The Birth Of Punk exhibition that is at the Grammy Museum from September 16, 2016 to February 28, 2017. Panel discussion starts at 7.30.
Sadly there are no CJ Ramone, Richie Ramone or Marky Ramone in a panel discussion. On it are Sire Records' founder Seymour Stein, producer Ed Stasium, Ramones' tour manager Monte A. Melnick, Johnny Ramone's wife Linda, Joey Ramone's brother Mickey, artist Shepard Fairey and musician Billy Idol. A panel discussion is moderated by Scott Goldman. (September 16, 2016)


- In this year 2016 is 40th anniversary of Ramones' debut album. Two of the special events are exhibitions. I was one of the first who told in public (in early January) about a big exhibit on the Ramones at the Queens Museum in Queens, NYC, USA. Exhibit titled Hey! Ho! Let's Go: Ramones And The Birth Of Punk opened on April 10, 2016, and it lasted until July 31, 2016. The Queens Museum had it's biggest opening day crowd for any exhibition to date. But it was sad and confusing that there were no any surviving Ramones members, so CJ Ramone, Richie Ramone or Marky Ramone did not attend opening.
And now is time for second part of exhibition... Same retrospective exhibit is at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, CA, USA, from September 16, 2016 to February 28, 2017.
And then is a world tour of at least 18 cities planned for exhibition in 2017. While the Grammy Museum will stick mainly to the Ramones' place in music history, the Queens Museum took a wider cultural view: from their outerborough roots in Forest Hills, NYC, to CBGB, the epicenter of the inchoate punk scene.
This exhibition is titled Hey! Ho! Let's Go: Ramones And The Birth Of Punk. Co-curator Marc H. Miller started putting the Queens Museum exhibition together in 2013. It is a retrospective exhibition that will examine the Ramones influence on both music and art, as part of a spate of spring programming under the museum's new director, Laura Raicovich, that focuses on Queens as a Petri dish of global culture. Items include Johnny Ramone's recently unearthed leather jacket and guitar, original guitar amp used in 1974-75, their torn jeans etc. There is a huge amount of memorabilia from archives of Ramones' creative director Arturo Vega (RIP, 2013) and Ramones' tour manager Monte A. Melnick.
You will also find lot T-shirts and posters. Also there are a lot photos taken by people like Danny Fields, Godlis, Bob Gruen, Roberta Bayley, George DuBose and Keith Green. Also there are paintings and/or drawings created by Joey Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, John Holmstrom, Mark Kostabi and Shepard Fairey. Shepard Fairey has earlier created portraits of Joey Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone. And now in 2016 he created portrait of Tommy Ramone and first time it is exhibited in these exhibitions. Shepard writes on his homepage: "Portrait of Tommy Ramone I created as a painting to complement the other three for the museum. I was pleased with the results and decided to make this into a screen print based off of the fine art painting which I'm releasing in two colorways a black and gold version and a black and red version. Print is based on photograph taken by Jenny Lens."
Shepard who became fan of the Ramones in 1984, also years ago he designed Johnny Ramone Army Logo. Read more of Fairey's Ramones' related things here. (Updated: September 15, 2016)


- Self-titled Ramones' debut studio album was released on April 23, 1976 by Sire Records. It was recorded at Plaza Sound studio, New York, USA, in early 1976. Sessions were completed within a week for 6400 US$.
40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of debut album was released on September 9, 2016 by Rhino Records. It is limited edition of 19 760 copies. Each set is individually numbered.
Deluxe version has three CD's and one LP. This special release has for example remastered stereo version and new mono mix of the album by original producer and mixer Craig Leon, demo versions and two set of concert at the Roxy, Los Angeles, USA, on August 12, 1976. See more information and track-listing here.
So the first CD features Leon's newly remastered stereo version and mono mix of the album. "The earliest mixes of the album were virtually mono," says Leon. "We had an idea to record at Abbey Road and do both a mono and stereo version of the album, which was unheard of at the time. I'm thrilled that now, 40 years later, we followed through on that original idea."
Rhino Records created the ultimate tribute to the Ramones' landmark debut, which comes packaged in a 12 x 12 hardcover book. Buy this from Amazon.com here and from from Amazon.co.uk here. (Updated: September 9, 2016)


- Richie Ramone's debut solo album named Entitled (read more here) was released worldwide by DC-Jam Records on October 8, 2013. Richie's second solo album Cellophane will be released worldwide on August 5, 2016, expect in English site of Amazon release date of Cellophane is August 12 and it was surprising but great that people got chance to buy album already at Richie's shows in June-July, 2016. Record release radio party is on www.stenchradio.com at 7PM on August 4, 2016 (Los Angeles time zone). Label of Cellophane is DC-Jam Records. Read more of Cellophane here and see tracklisting. It will be published as a CD and MP3. Buy Cellophane from Amazon.com here or from Amazon.co.uk.
Cellophane has nine songs. First single and video of album was I Fix This. It got released on June 24, 2016. See great video here. Singer-drummer Richie Ramone, bassist Clare MissTake, guitarist-drummer Ben Wah Reagan and guitarist Ronnie Simmons are on it for example in a bowling center and in Japan.
All songs on Cellophane are written in last few years expect Pretty Poison goes to Richie's Ramones' years in 1980's and then is a cover of Depeche Mode's song Enjoy The Silence.
- Pretty Poison I had back in the Ramones days that never went on a record so we recorded that. That's the only one that I wrote back in the 80's, Richie referred to songs in a Cellophane.
Enjoy The Silence is originally from Depeche Mode's album Violator (1990). Depeche Mode is English electronic music band and Enjoy The Silence sold gold in the USA and Germany and it won Best British Single at the 1991 BRIT Awards.
Some more information of Cellophane and its history. In November 2015, I asked from Richie Ramone if He, bassist Clare MissTake, guitarist Alex Kane and guitarist-drummer Ben Wah Reagan are already going to the studio?
- We are writing and will record a new album in January, 2016, at Red Bull Studios in Los Angeles. I have written songs with all the band, and other people. We start touring again in February, Richie wrote to me in October 30, 2015. Recordings happened as planned but guitarist Alex Kane played last show with Richie on March 6, 2016. New Guitarist Ronnie Simmons played first show with Richie, Clare and Ben on April 22, 2016. Read more of Cellophane here and see tracklisting. Buy Cellophane from Amazon.com here or from Amazon.co.uk. (Updated: August 1, 2016)


- There is again coming a great tour with a Ramones spirit in New York on July 23, 2016. Tour is accompanied with the Queens Museum (New York, USA) exhibition titled Hey! Ho! Let's Go: Ramones And The Birth Of Punk. The day began at 2PM at the museum, with an exhibition tour by its co-curator Marc H. Miller.
Next is at 3.30PM a bus tour titled Forest Hills: Birthplace Of Punk and it is hosted by Ramones' tour manager Monte A. Melnick. He will tell lot stories and about important places. At 4.30PM tour stops at the Thorneycroft Ramp, a hotspot for misbehavior and second home for the teenaged future Ramones in Forest Hills. There was unveiled Ramones mural in June, 2016. It is painted by East Village artist Ori Carino from Bob Gruen's classic photograph of the four Ramones at the ramp in 1975.
Some can get off at Queens Museum at 5.15PM, but the bus will head down to Low Tide Bar at the Beach 97th Street concession at Rockaway Beach for a hardcore and punk concert presented by Ridgewood's Trans-Pecos. Rattrap Bumpkin, Sick Feeling, and Unstoppable Death Machines are scheduled to play until 9PM. (July 21, 2016)


- There was no Johnny Ramone Tribute Event at Hollywood Forever cemetery in last year. In this year it is. Event is presented by Johnny's wife Linda. Event is at Hollywood Forever cemetery on July 24, 2016. Doors open 6.30PM and activities starts at 8.30PM. Tickets are 20$ in advance and 25$ at the gate.
Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols and Jonesy's Jukebox (radio program) is the guest host of event. Henry Rollins is a special guest, and John Doe will be moderating Q&A panel discussions with the casts of two rock movies, "Ramones movie" Rock 'N' Roll High School (1979) and Ladies And Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains (1982). Ladies And Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains is directed by Lou Adler and is starring Steve Jones.
For the first time in over 30 years, the cast and makers of Rock 'N' Roll High School will also be reuniting widely for a very special Q&A panel discussion before the screening of the film! Mary Woronov (Principal Evelyn Togar), Clint Howard (Eaglebauer), Vince Van Patten (Tom Roberts), will be joining PJ Soles (Riff Randell), Roger Corman (producer) and Allan Arkush (director) and the writers of the film, Richard Whitley and Russ Dvonch to share what it was really like filming with Ramones and creating one of punk rocks greatest films.
DJ Howie Pyro will be spinning tunes all night. One special thing is that Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett's special collection of horror movie memorabilia will also be on display for fans to explore. Rarely seen in public, the collection includes a treasure trove of movie posters, props, toys and costumes from his personal collection. Johnny Ramone had a huge collection of horror movie posters. Read more from my Johnny memorial site.
Proceeds from the celebration will benefit the Johnny and Linda Ramone Foundation, supporting prostate cancer research, and Dr. David Agus at the Center for Applied Medicine, the Keck School of Medicine, USC. (Updated: July 12, 2016)


- Independent publishing company First Third Books Ltd is French publisher and they has offices in London, UK, and Paris, France. They did a contract with Ramones' first manager Danny Fields. He and Linda Stein managed the Ramones' in early days.
In November, 2015, I wrote about this book that comes in spring 2016. First Third Books will publish Danny Fields' limited edition photo book titled My Ramones - Danny Fields.
- The book is available from Monday 9th May, 2016, when we will start shipping the books to the people who placed advance orders. The edition is now 1300 copies worldwide, wrote Ritchie Franklin on May 5, 2016.
There will be two options available, exclusively through the First Third Books website. Book will have hard cover and it features over 270 photos from Danny's personal archive taken during 1975 and 1977. The photos are displayed with his own captions, commentary and memories, bringing new insight to the Ramones' early years.
Danny Fields first saw the Ramones play at CBGB's in New York; after a 17 minute set, he met with the four founding members (Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee And Tommy and told them that he wanted to be their manager.
- I had to bribe them with $3000 which they said they needed for a new set of drums. I went to Florida, asked my mother to lend me the money, came back with her cheque, and got the job. I photographed the band on tour, backstage, in the studio, walking around, meeting fans, seeing the sights and just checking things out, Danny Fields explains.
Fields and Linda Stein brought the Ramones to London in July 1976, where their appearances at The Roundhouse and Dingwall's are really legendary and had an indelible influence on the emerging punk scene in the UK.
So the book will be a limited edition of 1300 numbered copies worldwide. There will be two options available, exclusively through the First Third Books website. The Special Edition (numbers 1-300) which comes with a previously unpublished numbered 10 x 7.5 inch print, signed by Danny Fields. Price is 70 pounds plus shipping. Standard edition is 40 pounds plus shipping. (Updated: June 7, 2016)


- The Queens Museum presented a day of events on June 5, 2016, to accompany the exhibition titled Hey! Ho! Let's Go: Ramones And The Birth Of Punk. The day began at 2PM at the museum, with an exhibition tour by its co-curator Marc H. Miller. Activities continued with a bus tour of Forest Hills, Queens, home of the Ramones. Guiding the tour was Richard Adler. You had chance to purchase tickets in advance here to ensure a seat. Tickets were 10 US$.
Tour stops included the former sites of the Coventry nightclub, Art Garden gallery in whose basement Joey Ramone's mother Charlotte hosted the first Ramones rehearsals etc.
The tour culminated at the Thorneycroft Ramp, a hotspot for misbehavior and second home for the teenaged future Ramones in Forest Hills. There was unveiled Ramones mural, painted by East Village artist Ori Carino from Bob Gruen's classic photograph of the four Ramones at the ramp in 1975. The mural unveiling started at 4:30 and Carino told a bit of his work there. The ramp is located at 66th Avenue between 99th and 102nd Streets in Forest Hills, Queens. There were in that event for example Tommy Ramone's wife Claudia Tienan, Richard Adler, Ira Nagel and Joey Ramone's brother Mickey. The event could not have taken place without the support of Fanwood Estates building manager Drew Goldberg who is a former co-manager (along with Joey Ramone) of the punk band the Independents.
There is written next to mural: "The Ramp" Birthplace of punk, where Douglas Colvin, Tommy Erdelyi, John Cummings and Jeffrey Hyman - the four musicians who became the Ramones - hung out as teenagers in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Mural by Ori Carino from a photo by Bob Gruen."
I spoke of Adler 3-4 times with Tommy Ramone. This is one example what Adler has written to me years ago.
- Tommy and I lived in an apartment building in Forest Hills, NY. I lived on the second floor he lived on the third floor. Tommy and I started playing guitar at 14 years old and we formed a band called The Tiger 5 in 1964. Tommy and I loved The Beatles so we started playing all Beatles songs, Adler told.
Two years later Tommy Ramone, Richard Adler, Johnny Ramone, Bob Rowland and Scott Roberts formed Tangerine Puppets. They all studied at Forest Hills High School and lot of things happened. Read more here. (Updated: June 7, 2016)


- Ramones' tour manager Monte A. Melnick, photographer George DuBose and German fan club leader Jörg Buscher will be attending On Air Festival in June, 2016, near Torino in Italy. There is also really great Ramones Sniffing Poster Exhibition by Ramones' fans Marco Zuanelli and Martino Pasina. Festival is on June 3-5 and Melnick will be signing there his book Sulla Strada Con I Ramones on June 4th. That is Italian translation of his book On The Road With The Ramones. Book was translated by Ruggero Roger Ramone Brunello.
George DuBose has photographed/ designed nine album covers for the Ramones etc. For example Subterranean Jungle, Too Tough To Die and Mondo Bizarro are his works. You has chance to ask many great things from DuBose in this festival. And of course see lot and lot photos. DuBose has released a great book called I Speak Music - Ramones in 2007. The book has 104 pages and about 60 of them include previously unreleased photos. He tells lot special stories behind his works. Book is in English, Spanish, Portugese and Italian.
(Updated: May 26, 2016)


- There are two conversations at the Queens Museum in New York, USA, on June 19, 2016. Conversations are hosted by Marc H. Miller, who is co-curator of the exhibition titled Hey! Ho! Let's Go: Ramones And The Birth Of Punk. Exhibition is at the Queens Museum from April 10, 2016 to July 31, 2016.
First conversation is at 1-2.30PM on June 19 and it is around Punk magazine. Then you can listen conversation with Punk co-founder and cartoonist John Holmstrom and photographer Roberta Bayley. Holmstrom has made a great career. Man for example did several images for Ramones' albums Rocket To Russia (1977) and Road To Ruin (1978).
Roberta Bayley was Punk's principal photographer and photo editor, who has photographed for example the Ramones, Blondie and Richard Hell. Bayley shot the cover photograph for the Ramones first album.
Second conversation on June 19 is at 3-4.30PM and it is titled The Legacy Of Arturo Vega, Art Director Of The Ramones. Read more of Arturo Vega (RIP, 2013) here. On that second conversation you can listen artist Ted Riederer's and arts writer Sandra Schulman's thoughs. Riederer worked with Arturo in his final years and is now the gallery director of the non-profit art space Howl! Happening: An Arturo Vega Project. Schulman knew Vega from the Lower East Side art scene of the 1980's, and later curated an exhibition of his paintings in Miami Beach. (May 23, 2016)


- In this year 2016 is 40th anniversary of Ramones' debut album. Johnny's wife Linda wrote some months ago that there are many cool things being planned for 2016. Two of events are exhibitions. I was one of the first who told in public (in early January) about a big exhibit on the Ramones at the Queens Museum in Queens, NYC, USA. Exhibit titled Hey! Ho! Let's Go: Ramones And The Birth of Punk opened on April 10, 2016, and it last until July 31, 2016. The Queens Museum had it's biggest opening day crowd for any exhibition to date. But it was sad and confusing that there were no any surviving Ramones members, so CJ Ramone, Richie Ramone or Marky Ramone did not attend opening.
This exhibition at the Queens Museum is the first of a two-part retrospective exhibit in conjunction with the Grammy Museum. The exhibition will open at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, CA, USA, on September 16, 2016.
And then is a world tour of at least 18 cities planned for exhibition in 2017. While the Grammy Museum will stick mainly to the Ramones' place in music history, the Queens Museum took a wider cultural view: from their outerborough roots in Forest Hills, NYC, to CBGB, the epicenter of the inchoate punk scene.
This exhibition is titled Hey! Ho! Let's Go: Ramones And The Birth Of Punk. Co-curator Marc H. Miller started putting the Queens Museum exhibition together in 2013. It is a retrospective exhibition that will examine the Ramones influence on both music and art, as part of a spate of spring programming under the museum's new director, Laura Raicovich, that focuses on Queens as a Petri dish of global culture. Items include Johnny Ramone's recently unearthed leather jacket and guitar, original guitar amp used in 1974-75, their torn jeans etc. There is a huge amount of memorabilia from archives of Ramones' creative director Arturo Vega (RIP, 2013) and Ramones' tour manager Monte A. Melnick.
You will also find lot T-shirts and posters from Queens Museum. Also there are a lot photos taken by people like Danny Fields, Godlis, Bob Gruen, Roberta Bayley, George DuBose and Keith Green. Also there are paintings and/or drawings created by Joey Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, John Holmstrom, Mark Kostabi and Shepard Fairey. Shepard Fairey has earlier created portraits of Joey Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone. And now in 2016 he created portrait of Tommy Ramone and first time it is exhibited in these exhibitions. Shepard writes on his homepage: "Portrait of Tommy Ramone I created as a painting to complement the other three for the museum. I was pleased with the results and decided to make this into a screen print based off of the fine art painting which I'm releasing in two colorways a black and gold version and a black and red version. Print is based on photograph taken by Jenny Lens."
Shepard who became fan of the Ramones in 1984, also years ago he designed Johnny Ramone Army Logo. Read more of Fairey's Ramones' related things here. (Updated: May 15, 2016)


- Finnish Ramones' fan Timo Pullinen has the biggest Ramones collections in this world. Timo discovered the Ramones in 1976 or 1977 after his friend had bought the Ramones debut album and played it for him. He had around 3300 different Ramones' related item until he now in February, 2016, started selling more than 700 Ramones items from some certain categories in his collection. Mainly he is selling his Ramones' backstage passes, flyers, promo photos, postcards and posters etc. See listing of those on his site Ramones.fi.
From music releases he is selling only some double copies. Timo Pullinen has for example in his collection around 70 different copies of the Leave Home album. There were many Leave Home pressings but originally, it had the song Carbona Not Glue. Later that song was replaced with Sheena Is A Punk Rocker or Babysitter in many countries due to censorship. He has for example LP, cassette and/or CD versions etc. of Leave Home released in the USA, Italy, Germany, Japan, Australia, France, Spain and United Kingdom. Promo, regular and re-issues are counted as different copies etc. (February 26, 2016)


- South By Southwest 2016 (SXSW) festival with Grammy Museum-organized panel on March 17, 2016, is featuring Seymour Stein, Johnny Ramone's wife Linda and Joey Ramone's brother Mickey. SXSW is in Austin, Texas, USA. Also that evening (March 17) several bands will Ramones' music. Seymour Stein is a co-founder of Sire Records, the original and long lasting label of the Ramones, who was first who signed the Ramones. You can read on my 3rd book Ramones: Soundtrack Of Our Lives interview I did with Stein in 2008 and also interview of him and Tommy Ramone together. (February 14, 2016).


- Ramones tour manager Monte A. Melnick is a guest in The Absolute Awesome Show's episode 19 at 9:00 (PM, EST = New York time zone) on January 7, 2015. You can enjoy the show when you go to this YouTube link when show is going on.
You can watch episode 12 here, CJ Ramone is guest on it. (January 5, 2016)

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