. (August 17,
2020)
- Richie Ramone sent a message on June 23, 2020, that he is supporting
SHARE! project
to
end the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles, USA. Richie did video
you can see here. He tells on it for example:
"Since I moved to Los Angeles 10 years ago, the homeless situation has
gone worse, worse and worse."
Then Richie tells of impact of covid-19 and he continue: "I want to do
something and I want all you to help out too. SHARE!, we find housing
for the homeless in LA, immediately housing, collaborative housing. We
really need you to donate now 'cause so many more people are on the
street than ever before. Text: sharelove to 243725 and donate today.",
Richie tells.
So please join Richie and text sharelove to 243725 and donate. To people
living outside of the USA, here are ways to do payment
to SHARE!.
Here are links to some news I found of homeless situation in Los
Angeles: CBS
News and
Los
Angeles Times. (June 23, 2020)
- Because of coronavirus there is no permission to organise
live music events in New York in May 2020 (and for many months ahead).
So 2020 is first year when there is no Joey Ramone Birthday Bash for
live audience on May 19, after we lost Joey Ramone on April 15, 2001.
Joey's brother Mickey Leigh announced in early May that he will
organise Joey Ramone VIRTUAL Birthday Bash on May 19, 2020. Birthday
Bash is a memorial event to Joey on his birthday (May 19). This is 19th
Joey Ramone Birthday Bash.
- Just didn't feel right to let the day go by un-celebrated, told Leigh
on Joey
Ramone's Facebook page on May 3, 2020.
Mickey wrote more details on May 16.
- You don't need a ticket, you don't need a plane, train or automobile.
you don't anything more than you have right now. Just come back here
(Facebook) on May 19th at 8PM EST and we'll all celebrate the birth,
life, and music of Joey Ramone together!
CJ Ramone, Richie Ramone, Clem Burke (Blondie/ two shows in the
Ramones), Andy Shernoff (Dictators, The Master Plan), Knox (Vibrators),
Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols) & Earl Slick, Barb Wire Dolls, Tracy
Thornton, Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick), Chris
Frantz (Talking Heads), Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads), Jesse Malin
(D-Generation, Bellvue), Vernon Reid (Living Colour), Ed Stasium
(producer), Monte A. Melnick (tour manager), John Holmstrom (Punk
Magazine) and Allan Arkush (director) are among of bands and people
who are featuring performances and speeches at Joey Ramone Virtual
Birthday Bash at Joey
Ramone Fabebook.
So event starts at 8PM EST. That time is for example 9PM in Brazil, 1AM
in United Kingdom, 2AM in France, Spain, Germany and Sweden, 3AM in
Finland and Moscow (Russia), 9AM in Tokyo (Japan) and 10AM in Melbourne
(Australia).
Donations to the Joey Ramone Foundation for Lymphoma Research will be
optional and greatly appreciated. (Updated: May 16, 2020)
- Peter Åstedt from Sweden informed me that he release on Cashbox radio
show sound version of interview he did with Dee Dee Ramone
in Örebro, Sweden in 2001. Radio interview is aired in May
12, 14, 16 and 17 (18), 2020. See flyer in right.
Peter is from Sweden but online station is located in Toronto, Canada. I
did listen first radio show. It started at 7PM (EST). Time difference
from Toronto / Eastern Standard Time to Los Angeles is -2 hours, to New
York +1 hour, to United Kingdom +6 hours, to France, Spain, Germany,
Sweden +7 hours, to Finland +8 hours, to Tokyo +14 hours, to Sydney +15
hours etc.
Interview did happen before Dee Dee, drummer Chase Manhattan and
guitarist Chris
Martucci (Black) punkrocked at the Contan in Örebro on April 1,
2001. Peter wrote: "I remember you (Jari-Pekka) were in the room the
whole interview. So tune in to hear it this week on Cashbox radio. Here is the flyer feel
free to spread it."
So you can see dates (May 12-17) and dates in flyer in right: "It's the
same show on all the dates, we do a rerun also since there
is so many time differences, we do it on different times."
So I was in same table when Dee Dee and Peter Åstedt did
this interview. I has note on my first book Heaven Needed A Lead Singer: Fans
Remember Joey Ramone that Peter asked some great
questions in this interview and you can hear it also when you do listen
that Cashbox radio show.
In this interview Dee Dee Ramone and Peter Åstedt speak for
example of End Of The Century album, Joey Ramone, Ramainz/Remains, art,
his wife Barbara etc. etc.
Peter did play good selection of songs in this program. For example Dee
Dee's solo songs Hop Around, I'm Zonked, Los Hombres and I Am Seeing
UFOs (vocals by Joey Ramone), Ramones songs Poison Heart and We're A
Happy Family, Joey Ramone's solo song Don't Worry About Me and Danny
Says cover recorded by Swedish band Waver. That version was published in
All Good Cretins Go
To Heaven - A Tribute To The Ramones. (May 13,
2020).
- Some record labels, bands etc. has wanted to make charity
campaigns because of coronavirus / covid-19 disease. Here I tell of two
Italian compilations: I Wanna Be Well and The Benefit Of Things To
Come.
Italy was
one of the first countries where covid-19 pandemic became really bad. At
least 23 660 people has died because of covid-19 by date April 19,
2020.
1) Mighty Italian label Striped Music / Punk Rock Raduno
festival did release digital I
Wanna Be Well compilation. That is a compilation
from Punk Rock Raduno that contains tracks from The Avengers, Pansy
Division, The Copyrights, The Creeps, The Yum Yums, Senzabenza, and Dan
Vapid & The Cheats. Bands are heavily Ramones influenced. Songs are
recorded live during Punk Rock Raduno 4
at Edone, Bergamo, Italy in July, 2020. 100% of the money collected will
go to Bergamo Hospitals. One of most bad covid-19 situation is in
Bergamo.
Buy I
Wanna Be Well compilation here. Main man behind this compilation is
Andrea of The Manges.
2) Also Wild Honey Records released a digital compilation. Money of The
Benefit Of Things To Come compilation goes to support the new field
hospital built by volunteers in Bergamo. The Benefit Of Things To Come
features 19 previously unreleased tracks by 19 bands from the
Wild Honey Records catalog. Artists include The Peawees, Langhorne Slim,
Radio Birdman, John Paul Keith, The Rubinoos, Bee Bee Sea, The Goodnight
Loving and Doug Tuttle. Available only through the label's Bandcamp
site, click
here. (April 19, 2020)
- Now was released new really interesting book: To Hell And Back: My
Life In Johnny Thunders' Heartbreakers, In The Words Of The Last Man
Standing. Walter Lure did it together with Dave Thompson. Book has 280
pages and publisher is Backbeat Books.
Description says: "There have been many books written about Johnny
Thunders and the Heartbreakers, but only by people who weren't there.
Walter Lure was: from the band's chaotic beginnings on New York's Lower
East Side, through a now-legendary UK tour with the Sex Pistols and the
Clash, and on to a yearlong stay in London-eyewitness and midwife to
the birth of UK punk."
Buy book from Amazon.com
Walter Lure has really interesting background. My third book Ramones: Soundtrack Of Our
Lives has
really special interview with Walter Lure. In that book for the first
time Walter Lure, the guitarist from Johnny Thunders &
The Heartbreakers and singer-guitarist of The Waldos, openly talks about
the extensive role he played during recording sessions on the three of
the Ramones studio albums. The Ramones never made mention of him
playing guitar for them on the album liner notes. He also give some
wonderful memories about the Ramones members and visiting Johnny
Ramone and Johnny's wife Linda. Read more here.
(April 7, 2020)
- Finnish Ramones' fan Timo Pullinen has the biggest Ramones
collection
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 in 2016. Then he did
started to sell part of his collection from some certain categories in
his collection. Now he is selling many hundreds of items. Mainly he is
selling his Ramones' backstage passes, flyers, promo photos, badges,
postcards, posters and press releases etc. There is for example 62
backstage passes, 74 magazines of having something of the Ramones, 100+
promotional photos, 120 posters, 105 tickets, patches, key chains etc.
that he is selling.
Ask listing from Timo: timo.pullinen (a) outlook.com (April 8,
2020)
- Marky Ramone is doing in three days in Texas, USA, event that has
screening of Ramones related
Rock'N'Roll High School movie and Q&A. First is an exclusive
screening
of movie and it is followed by an intimate Q&A with Marky himself. Every
ticket guarantees a photo with Marky as well as an autograph. Events
are:
March 12, 2020: EVO Entertainment, San Marcos, TX, USA.
March 13, 2020: EVO Entertainment, Kyle, TX, USA.
March 14, 2020: EVO Entertainment Schertz, Schertz, TX, USA. (March 6,
2020)
- "Punk" is an American four part documentary television series that ran
from March 11 to April 1, 2019 on Epix. Punk was now put to Finnish
internet service titled Areena.yle.fi on January 27, 2020 and it can be
seen there for two years. Watch it here. You can also
see Rock'N'Roll High School
movie there in February 1-28, 2020.
Punk documentary television series is titled in Finnish Punk Eilen
Tänään in Areena.Yle.Fi. Documentary television
series is directed by
Jesse James Miller and it has four episodes. Episodes in Finnish
Areena.yle.fi can only be seen in Finland.
Lot of interviews are recorded just for this documentary television
series. Marky Ramone is interviewed already in first episode. He also
explains
of his other bands than the Ramones. When Marky tells of his times in
Wayne County And The Backstreet Boys, he explains that when Jayne/Wayne
was dressed, owner of some club threw them out. There are interviews
also for example with Iggy Pop, Wayne Kramer, Legs McNeil, John
Holmstrom, Clem Burke, Hilly Kristal, Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Dave
Grohl, Billie Joe Armstrong and John Lydon.
Iggy Pop for example underline importance of Danny Fields in punk
history. When Danny was speaking with the Ramones, Johnny Ramone said
Danny Fields have to get 3000$ to drums to be their manager. Danny's
mother wrote a check to Danny. Danny said gotta thank his mother that
Ramones got signed. There are also archive interviews for example with
Joey, Dee Dee and Tommy Ramone in this documentary television
series.
Read more of Punk
documentary series on Wikipedia. (February 13,
2020)
- It is now one year since extremely sad news
arrived. East Village and New York (USA) lost then something special
again. The Continental was one of the most important
punk venues in late 1990's and early 2000's. Continental's owner
Trigger told in December 2018 that he had to close Continental. There
was Adios Amigos -
The Last Night Of The Continental event on December 15, 2018. DJ's,
hosts and guests included Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group etc.), Jesse
Malin (D-Generation, Bellvue, solo etc.), Michael T, Randy Jones
(Village People), Sandy Darling, The Groovy Babes, Jonas Young-Bora,
Steve Lewis, Noel Ashman and Vito Bruno.
So event was on December 15, 2018.
- The first 100 people on the 15th will receive Live At Continental Vol
1 & 2 CD's free!, told Trigger days before the show.
Continental was on the corner of Bowery and St. Mark's in East Village,
New York. The building were knocked down for a new development. So
many buildings from that area are destroyed...
- It is truly heartbreaking that we and so many old school places are
falling by the wayside but unless you own your building that's how it
goes. For going on 27 years this bar has been my life. First as a rock
club and then as a Dive Bar and I've loved every minute of it (mostly
speaking). Don't hate my landlords. They're older now, got a great deal
and I can't blame them and I want to thank them; Eddie, Ruth and Jack
(RIP) for treating me like family, told Trigger on his site.
First time the Continental closed doors on September 17, 2006 and
CJ Ramone and Daniel Rey performed then a full Ramones set with special
guests. At the grand re-opening on October 11,
2006, Trigger said he will not have bands play anymore. Trigger
said that as his rents and overhead went up each year, it was undoable
to have a punk club in the neighbourhoor. There were anyway some
re-union nights with some bands and many special live nights, like
CJ Ramone, Daniel Rey and Brant Bjork (they played as a trio)
punkrocked there in 2010 and four years later CJ Ramone, The
Independents and Furious George played there.
Now I tell you some more of the history of Continental:
1) Of the Ramones
members especially CJ Ramone, Joey Ramone, Marky Ramone and also Dee Dee
Ramone played a lot at the Continental in late 90's and Joey also in his
final years. Read review of Marky Ramone And The Intruders night on February 1, 1997
here. That is written by JC as is also
review of night
Marky Ramone And The Intruders featuring Dee Dee Ramone.
2) Dee Dee, Marky Ramone, and Dee Dee's wife
Barbara Zambini recorded
Ramainz:
Live In N.Y.C. there in July 1997. Two years later there was Ramainz
CD release show (read more here) at The
Continental. Those stories are written by Dan Paris and JC.
3) And you can read more of the night featuring Remains (later Ramainz), Joey
Ramone, The Independents etc. on February 21, 1999 here. That
story is written by Tony Taylor.
4) Joey lived accross the street of the
Continental. Joey's very last
full-length concert was at The Continental on December
11, 2000. Read more of that here. Two weeks
after Joey passed away at the Continental was viewing this concert with
a moment of silence on April 29,2001. A memorial plaque dedicated to
Joey was placed in the Continental. Here is a story writtey by MsSheena
of Joey Ramone
tribute night on December 19, 2002.
5) We lost Dee Dee Ramone on June 5, 2002. Few
weeks later there were
Dee Dee Ramone tribute
concert. There were for example Tommy, CJ and Marky Ramone. That
story is written by Linda Iorio.
6) There were some big re-union nights. Big
re-union night of "real" The
Continental with artists who had played a lot at the Continental in
past was on January 17, 2010. In addition to CJ Ramone, Daniel Rey and
Brant Bjork (they played as a trio) night also featured Cheetah Chrome
(ex-Dead Boys), Walter Lure's
band The Waldos, Lenny Kaye, Bebe Buell, The Bullys, Heap, Charm School,
Two Man Advantage, Sea Monster and Trigger's Allstars. Read story of it
here. That story is by Adele Holzman and photos are taken by Michele
Lanci-Altomare.
There happened a lot unique live experiences.
- I played with Dee Dee a few times at the Continental - he'd ask me to
play a song or two - usually Chinese Rocks or Too Much Junkie Business
and sometimes something else - with him and whatever band he was
playing with at the time. He was always the usual Dee Dee Ramone - very
enthusiastic about what he was doing and also very creative. He always
wrote the best songs for the Ramones and probably had the most talent in
the band, tells Walter Lure in a interview I did with him to my third
book Ramones: Soundtrack Of Our Lives.
Walter Lure is known of the Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers and
Waldos. He is also a non-credited guitarist on three Ramones albums.
In all my trips to New York I of course did visit Continental. RIP.
(Updated: December 11, 2019)
- There was an exhibition of John Holmstrom's Ramones art at 72
Gallery on September 5 - October 17, 2019. I wrote of it when exhibition
was still going on.
Name of exhibition was All The Stuff I Did With The Ramones!
- I'm putting together my first solo art exhibition since 1981! That's
right, All the Stuff And More will be on display either on the
walls or in slideshows, Holmstrom told in advance.
Now you has chance to look videos that are related to his
Ramones works.
See All The Stuff I Did With The Ramones Part One: The PUNK Years
video one and here part two.
John Holmstrom is cartoonist, writer and founding editor of Punk
Magazine. He has been inside of punk scene since mid 1970's. He brought
to exhibition the huge catalogue of work he created for the Ramones
Ramones fans easily remember gentleman for example of drawings he did to
albums Rocket To Russia (1977) and Road To Ruin (1978) and to some
singles. He has taken also lot special Ramones related photos
in photo sessions. Legendary is also cover of Punk Magazine's third
issue that has cartoon of Joey Ramone on cover. John Holmstrom is still
active in punk scene and he has been MC in many Joey Ramone Birthday
Bashes. (November 5, 2019)
- Sandro Mariuz of Italian Ramones' tribute band Wardogs organize again
Ramones Convention event. It is at Alcatraz in Milan, Italy, on November
16, 2019.
- Alcatraz is the best live club in Italy and we are happy to be there.
Live there will play Andead that is a punk rock band from Milan and
Wardogs, Sandro Mariuz wrote.
Also there will be DJ Ringo from Virgin Radio and George DuBose who has
photographed/ designed nine album covers for the Ramones etc. DuBose
will do pop-up exhibition. DuBose wrote me that few of his
Ramones images will be also at the Ricoh Gallery in Tokyo, Japan,
on December 18th, 2019 - January 19, 2020.
There is Classic Rock and New Punk Stars Of The 70's And 80's exhibition.
Back to Milan event...Henry Ruggeri will show unseen pictures and a lot of
memorabilia at Ramones Convention. Marco Zuanelli has with him posters,
books and merchandise.
Here is a
promo
video of event.
Read more of Wardogs
here. (Updated: November 5, 2019)
- Ramones' It's Alive is one of most influential live album in music
history. It was recorded at the Rainbow Theatre in London, UK, on
December 31, 1977, and released in April 1979 as a 2-LP set. Tommy
Ramone and Ed Stasium were producers. It was first released on CD only
in 1995.
Now this first Ramones' live album celebrates its 40th anniversary with
a new version that's been updated with remastered sound and expanded
with with three unreleased concerts from the same tour.
It's Alive: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition is 4CD and 2LP edition.
This was published by Rhino
Records in the USA on September 20, 2019. Release was published in
Europe on September 27, 2019.
Produced in a limited and numbered
edition of 8000 copies, the 4CD/2LP 180-gram vinyl set comes packaged
in a 12 x 12 hardcover book. It's accompanied by new liner notes written
by legendary record producer and musician Steve Albini and Ed Stasium,
who produced and engineered It's Alive and remastered all of the music
included in this collection. This will be the first time that
It's Alive has been released on vinyl in the USA (USA pressing).
In addition to London concert this Deluxe Edition release has these
shows recorded in UK tour in December 1977:
- Top Rank, Birmingham, Warwickshire, on December 28, 1977.
- Victoria Hall, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, on December 29,
1977.
- Friars, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, on December 30, 1977.
Taking its name (It's Alive) from a 1974 horror film, this live album
was the last album to feature all four original band members: Dee Dee
Ramone, Joey Ramone, Johnny Ramone and Tommy Ramone.
(Updated: October 22, 2019)
- There is an exhibition of John Holmstrom's Ramones art at 72
Gallery
(enter through the Great Frog Store) on September 5 - October 17, 2019.
Address is: 72 Orchard St., New York, NY 10002, USA. Opening night is
September 5t, 2019 from 6-9PM.
Name of exhibition is All The Stuff I Did With The Ramones!
- I'm putting together my first solo art exhibition since 1981! That's
right, All the Stuff And More will be on display either on the
walls or in slideshows, Holmstrom told.
John Holmstrom is cartoonist, writer and founding editor of Punk
Magazine. He has been inside of punk scene since mid 1970's. He brings
to exhibition the huge catalogue of work he created for the Ramones
Ramones fans easily remember gentleman for example of drawings he did to
albums Rocket To Russia (1977) and Road To Ruin (1978) and to some
singles. He has taken also lot special Ramones related photos
in photo sessions. Legendary is also cover of Punk Magazine's third
issue that has cartoon of Joey Ramone on cover. John Holmstrom is still
active in punk scene and he has been MC in many Joey Ramone Birthday
Bashes. (Updated: October 22, 2019)
- 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. 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.
Now he wants to see photos taken by Ramones fans.
- Although I did many studio photographs for Ramones' album covers and
promotion photos, I didn't shoot them on stage that often. I am starting
a photo contest and I am looking for the best of the best concert
photos of the Ramones. From any time in their career, in any
venue. The photos just have to show the band or individual members on
stage, DuBose explains.
He propose to print a book of the 100 best Ramones concert shots on
Amazon.com. The winners of this contest will be allowed to buy this book
of concert photos from Amazon at the "author's price".
- The winners will be able to buy single copies or any quantity that
they like. To enter the contest, only send a hi-res (300 dpi) at least
5x7 inches or 127 x 177mm .jpeg or .tiff format image. Color or B&W. No
paper prints or original negatives or slides, DuBose tells.
Limit submissions to 5 photos only. The sender must attach the photo to
an E-mail and write in the email that:"George DuBose has the
contributor's permission to include the contributor's photo in a book
tentatively title Livin' Live - Ramones In Concert."
George DuBose, Ramones' road manager Monte A. Melnick and possible
others will do final judges and make the selection of the 100
photos that will be printed.
Send your five best shots, give publishing permission in an email and a
short text to accompany the photo if you like to:
boss@george-dubose.com (August 29, 2019)
- 14th The Johnny Ramone Tribute event is coming. Johnny Ramone's wife
Linda sent me good news in June, 2019. Event is in this year at
Hollywood Forever cemetery in Los Angeles, USA, on August 11, 2019, and
it has horror theme.
- Screening the cult classic The Warriors at Hollywood Forever, Linda
told.
The Warriors is a 1979 American action film directed by Walter Hill. It
is based on Sol Yurick's 1965 novel of the same name, which was, in
turn, based on Xenophon's Anabasis. The story centers on a New York City
gang
who must make an urban journey of 30 miles (48 km), from the north end
of The Bronx to their home turf in Coney Island in southern Brooklyn,
after they are framed for the murder of a respected gang leader.
In this event you can also visit the Cathedral mausoleum for an
exclusive, one-night
only exhibit featuring amazing punk rock and glam rock photography
curated by Mr Musichead. There is Johnny's grave and an 8 ft tall bronze
memorial
statue of Johnny at Hollywood Forever cemetery. Dee Dee Ramone's grave
is in the same cemetery not far from Johnny's statue.
Special guests in this year (2019) include Fred Armisen and Steve Jones
(Sex Pistols). A musical performance is by Starcrawler.
There has been many famous guests in past at The Johnny Ramone Tributes.
Among of those are Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day), Duff McKagan (Guns
N'Roses and Loaded), Johnny Depp, John Waters, Vincent Gallo, Billy
Idol, Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats), Billy
Zoom (X), Henry Rollins, Shepherd Fairey etc. etc.
Gates open at 6.30PM. Stage program is at 8.00PM. The Warriors film
starts at 8.30PM. Tickets are 20
dollars. You can
buy tickets 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 7, 2019).
- Ramones' tour manager Monte A. Melnick wrote with Frank Meyer really
great book titled On The Road With The Ramones. First edition got
published in 2003. Still in 2019 On The Road With The Ramones is the
most extensive biography of the Ramones. Also it has lot of information
of years of their youth. Monte
tells his story of what it is like to be on and off the road with
the Ramones from 1976 to their final show in 1996. So he was there
almost from the beginning. Monte was of course doing many things with
Ramones members also after 1996 and still does things around
the Ramones family. I and information on my site helped Frank Meyer a
lot in book process,
like information of the shows. Monte A. Melnick sent me great news in
June, 2019.
- I have updated my book and I have included an extra chapter with some
very interesting information on the Ramones. You will enjoy 40 new pages
with new photos and images. All Ramones fans need to get this new
edition. Now on Amazon, Monte A. Melnick informed.
Buy
On
The Road with the Ramones: Bonus Edition here.
Book is translated on many languages. Like Italian edition is titled
Sulla Strada Con I Ramones (2014). Book was translated by Ruggero Roger
Ramone Brunello. When book was released
in Portugese in Brazil in 2013, it got title Na Estrada Com Os Ramones.
French edition has a title Sur La Route Avec Les Ramones. Publisher in
France is Rytrut Editions and translation was made by Thierry "Ladzi"
Galai. In early 2012 book got published in Hungarian and it has a new
foreword by Tommy Ramone who came to the USA from Hungary. Earlier On
The Road
With The Ramones was published also in Spanish (2009) and German (2010).
German edition is titled Auf Tour Mit Den Ramones and Spanish edition
De Gira Con Los Ramones. (June 19, 2019).
- I want to tell of two versions of the Ramones song Rockaway Beach.
First about the version performed by the kids and then about the version
by The Beach Boys' Mike Love.
1) Seth Gordon is lead vocalist and guitarist in The Mockers that is
founded in 1984. In this spring he was the substitute music teacher at
Diamond Springs Elementary School in Virginia Beach, USA.
- I taught 150 five and six year old Kindergarten and 1st Grade kids how
to sing Rockaway Beach for their Spring show! Hope you like it, and it
would be great if you could share it here and on your page!, Seth Gordon
wrote.
Click here
to watch the video and see how excellent way kids were ready to
rock, pogo, sing and shout. Happiness is around and performance make you
feel there is still hope in this world. Also Seth and children honors the
Ramones with T-shirts.
2) Then I tell information of Rockaway Beach version by the Mike Love.
So he is singer and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys. When the
Ramones were founded band was influenced for example by the Beach Boys.
You can hear that just in songs like Rockaway Beach. Also later Ramones
covered Surf City to Acid Eaters (1993) album. Surf City is a song
written by Beach Boys member Brian Wilson and Jan Berry of Jan And Dean.
Mike Love recently announced a new album called
12
Sides Of Summer (order it here)
and on the album the final track is a cover of Rockaway Beach.
- It felt so natural to sing it. It fits beautifully in the Beach Boys
surfing song genre. Not only is it a great song, it's also right in my
vocal range. It's almost as if it was designed for me to sing, and
that's why I am so eager to play it live, Love told Billboard of the
cover.
Listen Love's
Rockaway Beach here.
At his recent show in New York City, USA, Mike Love welcomed Marky
Ramone to come up and drum the song with the band.
Listen that
version here. (June 11, 2019)
- There is published at least one Ramones related Record Store
Day release. RSD is celebrated on April 13, 2019. Ramones' release
is double LP of Ramones - Live At The Palladium, New York, NYC, USA
(12/31/79) which first appeared on CD as part of the
40th Anniversary
Deluxe set of Road To Ruin. Label: Rhino/Warner Bros. This,
until-the- unreleased recording of
the Ramones' entire 1979 new year's eve concert, was mixed live by Ed
Stasium, and broadcast on WNEW-FM. Recorded at The Palladium in New
York, USA, with audio sourced from Tommy Ramone's original cassette of
the console recording. Release has 32 live songs. This will be its first
release on vinyl. Limited to 8500 copies worldwide. (April 10,
2019)
- Joey Ramone's brother Mickey Leigh confirmed that there is also this
year (of course) Joey Ramone Birthday Bash on May 19, 2019. Lovely
memorial event is again at the Bowery Electric in New York, USA. It is
only 50 meters from apartment where Arturo Vega lived and where Joey
and Dee Dee Ramone were living in early Ramones' days.
This is 19th 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 organize yearly Birthday
Bashes. In this event different musicians are playing in a honor of Joey
and also we has heard many speeches.
So there are performing many people who were friends with Joey Ramone.
May 19 there are celebrating Joey Ramone's memory for example CJ Ramone,
Andy Shernoff, Dez Cadena, Lindsey Anderson (aka Kitty Kowalski), Arno
Hecht, Jiro / Jiro Okabe, Walt Stack, George Tabb, Sic F*cks, Sea
Monster, Mutated Music, Keep Score, Gonzo Roll.
Question and interview part is with Matt Lolya and Matt Nadler who were
part of Ramones' crew. MC's are John Holmstrom and Monte A. Melnick.
Mickey Leigh will announce more soon... Also he told following
information on April 6.
- Found out from Bowery Electric that they're having some kind of
problem with their ticket distributor, which is what's preventing
people outside the USA from purchasing tickets, Mickey told.
That is why I will add link to ticket information later. All proceeds
goes again to
Lymphoma Research
Foundation. Read information of earlier
Joey Ramone
Birthday Bashes here. (April 7, 2019)
- Richie Ramone was going to play with his band three shows in the USA
in March and 26 shows in Europe in March-April. Those shows were
canceled in February because of health issues. Richie had a operation
close to his heart on March 31, 2019. Operation was success. Richie
Ramone wrote on April 5, 2019.
- It's been a tough couple of weeks, but I just wanted to let everyone
know I am back home and resting. Thank you for all the love and get
well wishes! Ramones fans are the best in the world and I am so grateful
to have you in my corner, Richie wrote.
Here is older information... Richie Ramone wrote on February 15: "- TOO
TOUGH TO DIE.. but not too tough to skip this little medical tweak my
doc is insisting on. So while I'm strong as ever, I do need to get in
the shop and have it fixed. Unfortunately, it needs to happen in the
next few weeks (days?).. and so I need to reschedule my March and April
tour dates. Disappointing for sure but.. I'm in real good shape, I have
no fear.. and next time I see you I'll be as loud and fast as ever",
Richie Ramone wrote on February 15, 2019.
Richie Ramone will inform me when he has chance to continue playing at
live. Now it is of course most important that he rest.
See dates here.
(Updated: April 5, 2019)
More Ramones news in
my archive.
. The Estate of
Joey Ramone (Joey's brother Mickey Leigh etc.) donated several items
owned by or worn by Joey Ramone for auction to benefit Jesse Malin's
recovery. Also there is poster and vinyl bundle donated by
Mickey. Bundle was not owned by Joey. Profits support the Jesse
Malin Fund at Sweet Relief. Auctions ends in December 21.
Some items:
1) The Who were among Joey's most loved bands, and very likely the
band he saw perform more times than any other. Joey Ramone owned and
worn The Who T-shirt: Click
here to read more and bid.
2) Joey Ramone owned and worn Soundgarden T-shirt: Click
here to read more and bid.
3) Joey Ramone owned and worn Mickey Mouse, California sweatshirt: Click
here to read more and bid.
4) Poster and vinyl bundle includes for example Ramones concert poster
from Spain (1991) signed by Joey, Johnny, CJ and Marky, poster of Joey
Ramone Birthday Bash 2014, The Rattlers: Rattled album etc.: Click
here to read more and bid.
See all
items here. Jesse Malin is also a friend of Mickey Leigh and I
counted there is been at least five Joey Ramone Birthday Bash at The
Bowery Electric bar next to Joey Ramone Place sign. Bar is co-owned by
Jesse. Years of the Bashes there are 2023, 2019, 2018, 2014 and 2013.
Jesse is performed in many Bashes. His band Bellevue was already in
first Joey Ramone Birthday Bash (2001).
NOW I tell a bit of Jesse's situation and then
you can read more of his
background and some
cool memories Jesse told me when we did an interview in 2008.
First Jesse was under neurological care at Langone Orthopedic Center at
NYU Hospital in New York, USA. His diagnosis was inoperable. There was
said in his site in summer that there is hope but it will be a long
hard road
using both traditional and alternative medical therapies to get him back
on his feet following this very tragic diagnosis. Rolling Stone magazine
tells that since late September, 2023, Jesse Malin has been undergoing a
strict daily rehabilitation routine that combines hours of intense
physical therapy with stem-cell treatments at a clinic in Buenos Aires,
Argentina. Malin made the grueling 12-hour flight from New York to South
America after being admitted to a facility that offers what he calls an
"alternative road" to recovery.
- They only want people that are very serious and not just playing
around, Malin told.
His health insurance limited therapy to twice a week in New York and
without an ADA-compliant apartment to live (his was a Lower East Side
walk-up), he
saw the Buenos Aires facility as his best option. On certain days after
therapy, the medical staff administers stem cells, an infusion that
takes about 40 minutes and is followed by intense movement with
therapists for the rest of the day. Jesse, you are a survivor.
NOW I tell more of Jesse's background. Jesse
Malin, Kitty Kowalski etc.
run in past Coney Island High club.
It was a much appreciated club where the Ramones played as a group.
Also, various solo shows were held there after the Ramones demise, like
first Remains (later
Ramainz) show was at Coney Island High on December,
18, 1996. Joey had many parties there.
- Joey was somebody that loved to throw a good party. Joey's passion
and his heart, you can hear that 50's rock'N'roll and 60's girl group
soul. Joey loved to support New York and rock'N'roll. I got to be
part of that early with him in the Coney Island High, the Continental
and the Ritz, in some of those places where he had his parties in New
York. My band the D Generation did one of first gigs at Joey's Birthday
party here in New York, in 1991-92, told Jesse Malin to me (Jari-Pekka
Laitio-Ramone) in 2008.
His interview is in my third book Ramones: Soundtrack Of Our Lives.
D Generation and Ramones toured together in 1994.
- Joey and the Ramones influenced me a lot in general. I saw the Ramones
(for the first time) like in 1979 or 1980 in the hotel Diplomat at a
Rock And Roll Convention and then at Central Park sponsored by Dr.
Pepper at Wollman's skating rink, Malin told me.
Joey Ramone supported Jesse a lot. Also Jesse has supported New York
scene a lot. Jesse, Can you give a few examples which explains Joey's
friendly personality...
- When my band D Generation broke up I had no money. We got dropped out
from Sony Music. I wanted to start a new career. Joey leant me money to
make a new record. I had no money and this was between when Coney Island
High closed. Everything was kind of new and scary. I just had a bunch of
boxes. So Joey offered me money, I did not ask.
Joey said he wanted to help him out.
- It was really sweet of him. After he leant me that money,
we were in the studio recording an album on 12th Street in New York,
then we went to see U2 in one day. U2 had just played at Irving Plaza
and they played the Ramones song, I Remember You. Bono had said: "This
is for the Ramones because they are one of my first influences." Joey
didn't see that show He heard about it and was touched, Jesse
smiled.
That U2 show was on December 5, 2000. In an issue of Rolling Stone
Magazine, Bono had said U2 played, I Remember You at their first
rehearsal in 1978. Next, Jesse Malin describes in my interview U2's TV
appearance on NBC's Saturday Night Live program in New York on December
9, 2000, so it was four days after U2's show at Irving Plaza.
- Joey called someone to say he was excited. U2 played Saturday Night
Live and invited Joey. When we went in, we were in a room, just we two,
Bono and the other U2 guys. The band were opening beers for us, being
so nice and respectful. In the end we spent the night talking about
music. Joey, Bono, and I walked to 5th Avenue to the after party around
1AM. It was great to see Bono and all those people give Joey so much
respect and love. It was a fun night. Then 3-4 weeks later Joey fell and
broke his hip. That was the last night we would hang out. It was
Christmas time. It was a nice memory of our last night hanging out. He
got so much respect, Jesse Malin told me in 2008.
Full interview is in my third book Ramones: Soundtrack Of Our Lives.
And here's link to make an donation for
Jesse Malin. (Updated: December 16, 2023)
- I am really happy that Joey Ramone's brother Mickey Leigh keeps Joey
Ramone Birthday Bashes going on. World lost Joey Ramone 22 years ago on
April 15, 2001. Mickey has organized the Joey Ramone Birthday Bash every
year after that on May 19. The Joey Ramone Birthday Bash was now next to
Joey Ramone Place street sign at The Bowery Electric on May 19, 2023.
Mickey informed me on May 10 that the event is sold-out.
Event featured musicians like Andy Shernoff, Sic F*cks, Mickey Leigh's
Mutated Music, Soraia, Arno Hecht, Palmyra Delran, Jiro Okabe, Dez
Cadena, Alex Kane, Timothy Jimenez, Hyperdolls....
Mickey Leigh's Mutated Music released last year debut album
titled Variants Of Vibe. Mickey Leigh announced the headliner
of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash before the event. It was The Dictators. I
asked afterwards from bassist Andy Shernoff if he would confirm the
line-up and mention some songs The Dictators played.
- Line-up: myself, Ross "The Boss" Friedman (guitar), Albert Bouchard
(drums) and Keith Roth (vocals). Some songs: Who Will Save Rock and
Roll?,
Faster & Louder, Avenue A, The Minnesota Strip, Stay With Me and New
York New York, Andy Shernoff listed for me.
Shernoff had played in many years in a set of Joey Ramone Friends at
the Joey Ramone Birthday Bash. Now he played "just" The Dictators set
with his band mates. Shernoff did mention to me The Dictators heads to
Spain in September 2023. Shernoff was one of the closest friends of
Joey Ramone and they wrote together Ramones songs like It's Gonna Be
Alright, I Won't Let It Happen and Ignorance Is Bliss. Shernoff also
plays in Joey's both solo albums etc. You can check out interviews I did with Shernoff to
my books.
J.P. Thunderbolt Patterson wrote me in advance he is playing this year
with Sic F*cks. Patterson played in past in bands like Manitoba's Wild
Kingdom and The Dictators. He also plays in some
Joey's solo songs.
Also Jiro Okabe wrote to me of his performance in advance. He confirmed
with him playing Alex Kane, Timothy Jimenez and Dez Cadena. Many Ramones
fans recognize Okabe's name. Jiro Okabe is ex-owner and ex-president of
Mosrite Guitars etc.
MC's of the Joey Ramone Birthday Bash 2023 were John Holmstrom, Monte A.
Melnick, Peter Aschner, Debra Raffles
Trizzini and Rob Russo. Joey Ramone Birthday Bash admission was this
year 36,03 dollars (30,00
and 6,03 fees including taxes). Age limit was 21 years. All net proceeds
from the show will benefit the Joey Ramone Foundation for Lymphoma
Research.
If you want to read from Joey Ramone Birthday Bashes rocked in
2003-2016, see information below:
Read here (and see photos of) of
Joey Ramone
Birthday Bash on May 16, 2003,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash on May 19,
2004,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash in
2005,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash
in 2006,
here of
Joey Ramone Birthday
Bash in 2007,
here of Joey Ramone
Birthday Bash in
2008,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash in 2009,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday
Bash in 2010,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday
Bash in 2011,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash
in 2012,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash
in 2013,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash
in 2014
and
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash
in 2016.
(Updated: May 28, 2023)
- Rolling Stone, Wall Street Journal, Brooklyn Vegan etc. informed on
October 6, 2022, that the estate of Joey Ramone has agreed to sell a
stake of the Joey Ramone's publishing rights for 10 million dollars.
The acquisition was part of a larger two billion dollars partnership
between independent publisher Primary Wave Music and investment company
Brookfield Asset Management, the Wall Street Journal reports.
In addition to acquiring Joey Ramone's publishing, Primary Wave also
secured non-exclusive rights to use Ramone's name and likeness.
- I'm happy to welcome Primary Wave as partners in my brother's
interests in Ramones. I'm thoroughly convinced of their eagerness to
perpetuate his legacy, and their sincerity about doing it in a way that
will never compromise his credibility. I, very much, am looking forward
to working with them, said in a statement Joey's brother Mickey
Leigh.
Joey Ramone wrote songs like I Wanna Be Sedated, We Want The Airwaves,
Judy Is A Punk, Beat On The Brat, Swallow My Pride, My-My Kind Of A
Girl, Bye Bye Baby and Censorshit. And of course we can't forget for
example Joey's solo albums Don't Worry About Me and
...Ya
Know?.
- Joey Ramone was a total original - his songwriting, style, and voice
are all undeniably unique and immediately recognizable still today. A
counterculture icon and prime mover of punk rock, Ramones demonstrated
first-hand the power of music in influencing culture and built a
foundation that has influenced decades of musicians, Lexi Todd, VP,
Business Affairs & Legal at Primary Wave Music, said in a
statement.
Primary Wave has previously acquired the music and/or publishing rights
to artists like Prince, James Brown, Alice in Chains, and the Strokes.
Julian Casablancas. (October 6, 2022)
- Joey Ramone's brother Mickey Leigh and punk chronicler Legs McNeil
wrote for many years authorized bio of the Joey called I Slept With Joey
Ramone: A Family Memoir. Official release date of original version
in English was on December 1st, 2009.
Book got translated and published in Portuguese in Brazil in 2013. Title
is Eu Dormi Com Joey Ramone: Memorias De Uma Familia Punk Rock. First
edition got sold-out many years ago. Publisher Belas Letras published
now new edition in Brazil in May, 2022. Front cover is new and
different without any photo.
- This company (Belas Letras) acquired the right from Simon & Schuster
to re-publish it in Brazil, wrote Mickey Leigh to me.
Belas Letras has a special book club named Som Na Caixa. You get a bonus
items if you place an order on their
website.
Thanks to book club (Som Na Caixa) you get Eu Dormi Com Joey Ramone:
Memorias De Uma Familia Punk Rock book and also the Ramones poster,
notepad, bookmark, cup and socks. Belas Letras has published or publish
later same kind of special "Som Na Caixa book club" package also of the
Queen, Beatles, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie and Black Sabbath. (May 24,
2022)
- Joey Ramone Birthday Bash is this year (2022) with live audience.
Because of coronavirus Joey Ramone Birthday Bash was virtual event in
2020 and 2021. Memorial event is annual on his birthday on May 19. We
lost Joey on April 15, 2001, and first memorial Birthday Bash was 20
years ago on May 19, 2001.
Event got sold-out on May 16-17, 2022. Event is now first time at the
Heaven Can Wait music venue and lounge in
The East Village, NYC, USA. Night is featuring appearances by Richie
Ramone, Joey's brother Mickey Leigh, Wes Crawford, Keep Score and Tim
Heap. There will be also surprise guests. Event is hosted by Ramones'
road manager Monte A. Melnick and PUNK! Magazine founder John Holmstrom.
- This year 20 fans will have the opportunity to perform Ramones'
songs at the event, backed by Richie Ramone on drums, with Mickey Leigh
and Wes Crawford! You can participate in the auction and bid for the
once-in-a-lifetime experience to "Sing a Ramones' Song with Richie
Ramone" here: https://www.joeyramone.com/auction.
A ticket to the show is
included with all winning bids, explained Joey Ramone's brother Mickey
Leigh.
There
is listed 20 songs and you can bid in auction song(s) you would
like to sing. Auction / bidding time ends on at 11:59PM on May 8, 2022
(UTC-4). Songs are A Real Cool Time, Blitzkrieg Bop, Danny Says, Do You
Remember Rock'N'Roll Radio, Howling At The Moon (Sha-La-La), I Don't
Wanna Go Down To The Basement, I Just Want To Have Something To Do, I
Wanna Be Sedated, I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend, Life's A Gas, Now I Wanna
Sniff Some Glue, Pinhead, Psycho Therapy, Rock And Roll High School,
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker, Somebody Put Something In My Drink, Something
To Believe In, Teenage Lobotomy and We're A Happy Family.
For those looking to buy tickets directly (without participating in the
auction), please go to https://www.joeyramone.com/tickets.
Ticket is 50 US$.
All net proceeds from the auction and the show will benefit the Joey
Ramone Foundation for Lymphoma Research. You can donate directly to
Lymphoma
Research Foundation here.
Mickey Leigh asked my opinion of this in advance and I thought it
is excellent idea. That certainly is an unique idea and to fans
opportunity to do a tribute with love for Joey, especially to people who
started to follow the Ramones in 70's-80's etc.
So people get to play together with Richie Ramone, Mickey Leigh and Wes
Crawford. Crawford is a bassist in Mickey Leigh's Mutated Music band. Leigh
is guitarist-singer and Pat Carpenter is drummer. Mickey Leigh's Mutated
Music's debut album Variants of Vibe was released in February, 2022, by
Wicked Cool Records. See and listen Mickey Leigh's Mutated Music's
I Got A Message For
You video here.
If you want to read from Joey Ramone Birthday Bashes rocked in 2003-2016,
see information below:
Read here (and see photos of) of Joey Ramone
Birthday Bash on May 16, 2003,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash on May 19,
2004,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash in
2005,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash
in 2006,
here of
Joey Ramone Birthday
Bash in 2007,
here of Joey Ramone
Birthday Bash in
2008,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash in 2009,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday
Bash in 2010,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday
Bash in 2011,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash
in 2012,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash
in 2013,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash
in 2014
and
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash
in 2016. (Updated: May 17, 2022)
- Official Joey Ramone Birthday Bash by Joey's brother Mickey Leigh is at
the Heaven Can Wait music venue and lounge in The East Village, NYC,
USA on May 19, 2022. There is Joey's memorial event also this year in
Moscow, Russia on May 19, 2022. Event is at the Lomakov Museum Of Oldtimer
Cars And Motorcycles and it starts at 7PM. Probably 95-100% of Russian
punkrockers hates what Putin and Russia are doing in Ukraine now in
2022. Like Kerosin played at Peace, Love, Acoustic Fest just few weeks after
Russia had attacked to Ukraine.
- We decided to do tradionally Joey Ramone Birthday Bash even in the
current situation. We has no so much self-confidence to sing our songs in
the current situation but performing Ramones songs in Joey's
Birthday Bash is holy situation, wrote for me Sasha Rock'n'Roll of Kerosin (band) etc. who is main man
behind the Joey Ramone Birthday Bash event in Moscow.
I hope Kerosin will perform of their own songs at least Sad Pinhead and Dee
Dee Ramone Was Right. Ramones producer Ed Stasium has produced Kerosin's
Sad Pinhead. You can check
it out here. Also Dee Dee Ramone Was Right is in that album. Check
out live version of
Dee Dee Ramone Was Right here.
There will be members of the punk bands like Zuname and Diet Pill. Zuname
(means Tsunami) is a punk rock band with bagpipes from Moscow. Since
1997 they went from oldschool punk rock with melodic hardcore and ska
influences to energetic melodic punk with bagpipes. (April 30,
2022).
- A limited edition pink and black splatter vinyl edition of Joey
Ramone's first solo album
Don't Worry About Me
(2002) was published as a
Record Store Day release on June 12, 2021 to celebrate what would have
been Joey's 70th birthday. His 70th birthday was on May 19, 2021.
Pink and black splatter vinyl edition was limited to 2500 copies
worldwide. There are no any bonus material etc. Label is BMG.
Another Record Store Day (RSD) release in June-July, 2021 is titled
Triple J Live at the Wireless Capitol Theatre in Sydney, Australia on
July 8, 1980. Release date of live LP: July 17, 2021.
Back to Don't Worry About Me. First LP version of Don't Worry About Me was released in
March 2002. It is limited to 5000
copies on pink vinyl (it's more dark pink / red than regular pink).
Second vinyl version was published (white vinyl) was released on
October 21, 2014. (Updated: June 30, 2021)
- Because of coronavirus Joey Ramone Birthday Bash was also this year
virtual event. Memorial event is annual on his birthday on May 19.
Last year was first when there was no Joey Ramone Birthday Bash with
live audience. We lost Joey on April 15, 2001, and first memorial
Birthday Bash was 20 years ago on May 19, 2001.
- That Joey's been gone for 20 years is certainly nothing to celebrate.
BUT, that over those 20 years his family, friends, and fans continue
coming to NYC from all over the world, to gather with each other in a
room full of love, respect and admiration at the annual Joey Ramone
Birthday Bash..., that's certainly something to celebrate, told Joey's
brother Mickey Leigh in advance.
He thought a retrospective of the past 20 Joey Ramone Birthday Bash
was fitting for the occasion. For example drummer Pat Carpenter helped
Mickey.
- A few of us did a ton of work putting this 20 year retrospective
together. Didn't realize what a monstrous job it would be.
Leigh said in advance how it will be quite an amazing show - especially
for people who never saw the first event in 2001. It was. It lasted
around 100 minutes and main Joey Ramone Birthday Bash on it was event in
2001. It was streamed twice through Joeyramone.com on May 19, 2021 (at
7PM and 10PM). I asked from Mickey Leigh if people has chance to look it
afterwards.
- After tonight, anyone can see the show, for a five dollar donation to
the Lymphoma Research Foundation, Mickey replied.
Admission was free but many people donated and money went to the Joey
Ramone Foundation for lymphoma research, to help find a way to beat the
beast that ate Joey Ramone.
Also afterwards donations to the Joey Ramone Foundation for Lymphoma Research will be greatly
appreciated.
Tommy Ramone, Richie Ramone and CJ
Ramone were shown pretty much in this Birthday Bash video collection. I
do not remember if there were Marky Ramone shown? I will write more
information later.
Last year (2020) CJ Ramone, Richie Ramone, Clem Burke (Blondie/ two
shows in the Ramones), Andy Shernoff (Dictators, The Master Plan), Knox
(Vibrators), Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols) & Earl Slick, Barb Wire Dolls,
Tracy Thornton, Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick), Chris Frantz (Talking
Heads), Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads), Jesse Malin (D-Generation,
Bellvue), Vernon Reid (Living Colour), Ed Stasium (producer), Monte A.
Melnick (tour manager), John Holmstrom (Punk Magazine) and Allan Arkush
(director) were among of bands and people who were featured
performances and speeches at Joey Ramone Virtual
Birthday Bash. (Updated: May 20, 2021)
- Official Joey Ramone Birthday Bash by Joey's brother Mickey Leigh will
be streamed on Joeyramone.com on May 19, 2021.
There is Joey's memorial event also in Moscow, Russia. Sasha Rock'n'Roll
of Kerosin (band) etc. organize
again birthday bash event to Joey in Moscow on May 19,
2021. It is at the Punk Fiction Bar (Club) in Moscow. Venue was same in
Sasha's Joey memorial event in 2018.
- It's gonna be Joey Ramone 70th birthday bash. I will do this show at
the one of the most popular rock clubs in Moscow at the moment: Punk
Fiction Bar. It's gonna be a festival with solo artists, DJ's,
tribute
bands, special guests etc. And of course a big Kerosin cover set of my
favorite Ramones tracks and my own songs dedicated to them as Sad
Pinhead, wrote Sasha Rock'n'Roll.
Ed Stasium has produced Sad Pinhead. You can check it out here
. Also Dee Dee Ramone Was Right is in that album. Check
out live version of
Dee Dee Ramone Was Right here. (May 10, 2021).
- Pete Davidson is set to star as Joey Ramone in an upcoming Netflix
biopic about the Joey. The Saturday Night Live star and his frequent
collaborator Jason Orley
also penned the treatment for the film - based on the memoir I Slept With Joey
Ramone: A Family Memoir (2009/2010) written by Joey Ramone's brother
Mickey Leigh and Legs McNeil - with Orley also directing the biopic.
Davidson and Orley previously teamed up for
2019's Big Time Adolescence and the comedy special Pete Davidson: Alive
from New York.
Netflix and STXfilm will develop and produce the biopic. Davidson,
Leigh, Rory Rosegarten and David Spiegelman will serve as
executive producers. The project has the cooperation and support of the
estate of Joey Ramone and with the assistance of Rosegarten Films.
- I Slept with Joey Ramone is a great rock anthem that will make an
equally great rock biopic, set apart by a universal story of family.
Pete is perfect for this role and we're excited he and Jason will be
bringing this icon of rock to life and thrilled to be collaborating once
again with our friends at Netflix, said STXfilms chairman Adam
Fogelson.
So Pete Davidson is known for example of Saturday Night Live (also known
as SNL) that is an American late-night live television sketch comedy
and variety show. Davidson was born on November 16, 1993, on Staten
Island, New York, USA. He appears on movies like The Dirt and Big Time
Adolescence. (April 27, 2021)
- Remembering Joey Ramone who passed away 20 years ago on April 15,
2001. As all of you probably know and remember, Joey was first Ramones
member whom we and world lost. I put on
to Facebook 27 photos that are related to Joey Ramone tribute
events in New York, Finland etc. in 2001-2003. Also photos from Arturo
Vega's collection (some of photos which Arturo sent to me to to my first
book Heaven Needed A Lead
Singer: Fans Remember Joey Ramone) and some other photos from
1998-2003. And few from 70's.
I mention here some special Joey Ramone related things that you can find
from my homepage.
1) After our beloved Joey Ramone passed away on
April 15, 2001, I was
privileged because I had the chance to deal with my pain by reading the
beautiful memory texts written by fans. So many tears were falling that
day, but I had to work because, many fans received confirmation of
Joey's death from me (through Arturo Vega). You can
see here my Joey Ramone
memorial site with huge amount of information and photos, texts
written by artists, you fans etc.
2) My first book Heaven Needed
A Lead Singer: Fans Remember Joey Ramone was published on May 19,
2002. It is full of stories expressing much love for what Joey Ramone
and the rest of the Ramones family did for all of us. Book also has
really lot interviews or texts written by artists and people like
Marky Ramone, Arturo Vega, Cheetah Chrome (Dead Boys), Jello Biafra
(Dead Kennedys), Campino (Die Toten Hosen), TV Smith/ Gaye Advert
(Adverts), Gordie Lewis (Teenage Head), Hilly Kristal (CBGB), Bono (U2),
Monte Melnick, Legs McNeil, John Holmstrom, Michael Monroe/ Andy McCoy
(Hanoi Rocks) etc. In all, the book contains more than 230 photos. In
all book has 192 pages (including 16 full colour pages).
3) Here you can find lot
details of different Joey Ramone related records.
4) AMP Records (Canada) released Life's A Gas: A Tribute
To Joey Ramone album in 2001. It has 31 songs/bands and liner notes
were written by Joey Ramone's brother Mickey Leigh.
And Do You Remember
Rock'N'Roll High School? - Adios Joey Ramone!! tribute album was
released on April 15, 2002.
5) You can find from my homepage many reports of
events where Joey
performed in late 90's and 2000. See listing here. Read here of Joey's final
live performances in December 2000.
6) AND enjoy of reading
story of event which line-up had Joey Ramone with The Independents, The
Remains (later The Ramainz) etc. at
The
Continental, New York on February 21, 1999. I think this was last
time
when Joey Ramone, Marky Ramone and Dee Dee Ramone were on stage
together.
7) AND read here of Joey Ramone's Birthday Bash at The
Continental on May 19, 1997.
8) Here you can see many photos with background
details of
Joey Ramone
Birthday Bash on May 16, 2003,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash on May 19,
2004,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash in
2005,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash
in 2006,
here of
Joey Ramone Birthday
Bash in 2007,
here of Joey Ramone
Birthday Bash in
2008,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash in 2009,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday
Bash in 2010,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday
Bash in 2011,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash
in 2012,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash
in 2013,
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash
in 2014
and
here of Joey Ramone Birthday Bash
in 2016. (April
20, 2021)
- Because of coronavirus there is no permission to organise
live music events in New York in May 2020 (and for many months ahead).
So 2020 is first year when there is no Joey Ramone Birthday Bash for
live audience on May 19, after we lost Joey Ramone on April 15, 2001.
Joey's brother Mickey Leigh announced in early May that he will
organise Joey Ramone VIRTUAL Birthday Bash on May 19, 2020. Birthday
Bash is a memorial event to Joey on his birthday (May 19). This is 19th
Joey Ramone Birthday Bash.
- Just didn't feel right to let the day go by un-celebrated, told Leigh
on Joey
Ramone's Fabebook page on May 3, 2020.
Mickey wrote more details on May 16.
- You don't need a ticket, you don't need a plane, train or automobile.
you don't anything more than you have right now. Just come back here
(Facebook) on May 19th at 8PM EST and we'll all celebrate the birth,
life, and music of Joey Ramone together!
CJ Ramone, Richie Ramone, Clem Burke (Blondie/ two shows in the
Ramones), Andy Shernoff (Dictators, The Master Plan), Knox (Vibrators),
Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols) & Earl Slick, Barb Wire Dolls, Tracy
Thornton, Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick), Chris
Frantz (Talking Heads), Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads), Jesse Malin
(D-Generation, Bellvue), Vernon Reid (Living Colour), Ed Stasium
(producer), Monte A. Melnick (tour manager), John Holmstrom (Punk
Magazine) and Allan Arkush (director) are among of bands and people
who are featuring performances and speeches at Joey Ramone Virtual
Birthday Bash at Joey
Ramone Fabebook.
So event starts at 8PM EST. That time is for example 9PM in Brazil, 1AM
in United Kingdom, 2AM in France, Spain, Germany and Sweden, 3AM in
Finland and Moscow (Russia), 9AM in Tokyo (Japan) and 10AM in Melbourne
(Australia).
Donations to the Joey Ramone Foundation for Lymphoma Research will be
optional and greatly appreciated. (Updated: May 16, 2020)
- There is Joey Ramone tribute night at the La Mama in Shibuya, Tokyo,
Japan on May 16, 2020. Night is titled Joey Ramone Birthday Party Vol.
9 and at the La Mama will play Ramones Dragon, Ramona.42, Evely'n'Togars
Crispys, Motorcycle Leather Boys (from Takasaki), Durango's (from
Yamanashi), DJ-namijin (Headrock) and L.Tomomy (Evely'n'Togars)
(February 13, 2020)
- Brent "Aldo" Alden of False Alarm etc. has been active in underground
scene in Los Angeles, USA, already around 40 years. He is known for
example as the bass player of LA punk band False Alarm. False Alarm
started in 1982. Fat Mike of NOFX played in early False Alarm line-up.
Band broke up few times and started again. Now False Alarm is not
active.
I anyway want to mention some of Alden's Dee Dee Ramone and Joey Ramone
related things. Dee Dee and his art and music partner Paul Kostabi
painted cover of False Alarm's second album Fuck 'Em We'Ve All Ready
(Now) Won! Kostabi has also played in False Alarm. Album got published
in 2006 and re-issued in 2009 together with
Youth Gone Mad album recorded in 2002. Dee Dee plays guitar and sing
backvocals but also handled bass duties on
Horror Hospital and sang vocals on songs False Alarm and Horror
Hospital. There are many different releases of this album by Trend Is
Dead! Records, Wanker Records, and Trash2001 Records including a
pictureLP. These are final recordings Dee Dee ever did. As Paul Kostabi
said to me (Jari-Pekka) in Rock In Peace: Dee
Dee And Joey Ramone book interview, Dee Dee didn't get to hear the
finished Youth Gone Mad product. Album was released after Dee Dee became
an angel.
Brent Alden run False Alarm Records that is released a split 7' single
which A-side contains the Youth Gone Mad song Meatball Sandwich recorded
in 1996 and it features Joey Ramone. The B-side has a False Alarm tune
called Youth Gone Mad and it features Cheetah Chrome of Dead Boys. Brent
Alden opened recently Ebay account. He is selling for example 7' single
that was released in January 2007. A-side is False Alarm with Cheetah
Chrome (song Tell Me Who I Am) and B-side is Youth Gone Mad (Frog Man
From Mars). Alden plays bass, Chrome lead guitar and Paul Kostabi rhythm
guitar in Tell Me Who I Am. See
Alden's Ebay items here.
Alden has compiled and created with his friends three
Chaotic Reasoning compilations (Vol. 1-3). Chaotic Reasoning Vol. 3
include Youth Gone Mad Feat. Dee Dee Ramone song False Alarm and Furious
George Feat. Joey Ramone song Gilligan.
In photo in right you can see Shepard Fairey and Brent Alden at the Dee
Dee Ramone: A Memorial Exhibition in 2012. Read more of exhibition
here. (July 30, 2019)
- Joey Ramone's brother Mickey Leigh confirmed that there is also this
year (of course) Joey Ramone Birthday Bash on May 19, 2019. Lovely
memorial event is again at the Bowery Electric in New York, USA. It is
only 50 meters from apartment where Arturo Vega lived and where Joey
and Dee Dee Ramone were living in early Ramones' days.
This is 19th 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 organize yearly Birthday
Bashes. In this event different musicians are playing in a honor of Joey
and also we has heard many speeches.
So there are performing many people who were friends with Joey Ramone.
May 19 there are celebrating Joey Ramone's memory for example CJ Ramone,
Andy Shernoff, Dez Cadena, Lindsey Anderson (aka Kitty Kowalski), Arno
Hecht, Jiro / Jiro Okabe, Walt Stack, George Tabb, Sic F*cks, Sea
Monster, Mutated Music, Keep Score, Gonzo Roll.
Question and interview part is with Matt Lolya and Matt Nadler who were
part of Ramones' crew. MC's are John Holmstrom and Monte A. Melnick.
Mickey Leigh will announce more later. Buy
tickets here.
All proceeds goes again to
Lymphoma Research
Foundation. Read information of earlier
Joey Ramone
Birthday Bashes here. (Updated: April 24, 2019)
More Joey Ramone news
in my archive.
.
Next year I got to experience performance where Lisa Marie played
together with Marky Ramone Ramones' song Here Today, Gone Tomorrow at
the City Hall Park in New York on May 19, 2005. Marky was a special
guest in encore. See one photo in right I had taken then. Marky spoke to
the audience before they rocked Here
Today, Gone Tomorrow. He dedicated song to the Joey, Dee Dee and Johnny
and he told that Johnny's wife Linda is also watching a show. Also Lisa
Marie noticed Linda in her speech. And Lisa Marie did mention that day
being Joey Ramone's birthday. Marky told me later he and Lisa Marie had
met before, but they had not played before together. I think this was
only time when Lisa Marie played together with the Ramones member? Lisa
Marie had covered Here Today, Gone Tomorrow for her second studio album
Now What that was released one month earlier on April 5, 2005.
You can see Lisa Marie for example in Too Tough To Die: A Tribute To
Johnny Ramone, a documentary about Johnny Ramone released in 2006. That
is directed by Mandy Stein. Read more of documentary here on my
page.
Book titled Commando: The Autobiography Of Johnny Ramone is the
autobiographical work written by Johnny Ramone. Book was released (USA)
on April 2nd, 2012. Commando: The Autobiography Of Johnny Ramone
includes a foreward written by Tommy Ramone, and an epilogue is written
by Lisa Marie Presley. Lisa Marie is second person after Tommy in
"Thanks to" in Johnny's book.
I typed up Lisa
Marie's
epilogue to my Johnny Ramone memorial page. Read it here.
Johnny Ramone had a great collection of Elvis Presley related items.
Heritage Auctions sold some of his Elvis related items on auction.
Johnny list in his book Top10 listings of his favorite Elvis films,
favorite Elvis books and favorite Elvis songs. Johnny's three favorite
Elvis films are Loving You, Jailhouse Rock and King Creole and three
favorite Elvis songs are Don't Be Cruel, Can't Help Falling In Love and
Baby Let's Play House.
More Johnny and Elvis related information from this my page
www.ramonesheaven.com.... Johnny Ramone and Lemmy Kilmister
(Motörhead) were both additional players on Swing Cats: A Special
Tribute To Elvis album released in 2000. Read more of it here.
Johnny plays on two songs;
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) and Slim Jim
(drums, The Stray Cats).
Of course Lisa Marie attended event when a statue/monument in honour of
Johnny was unveiled by Linda on January 14, 2005. Read more of statue
here. There were also in that event for example also
Tommy Ramone, CJ Ramone, Arturo Vega, Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), Rob
Zombie (White
Zombie), John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers etc.), Vincent Gallo
(actor, director) and Seymour Stein (founder of Sire Records).
So now you got to read some information why I wanted to write of Johnny
Ramone's and Lisa Marie Presley's friendship. (January 14,
2023)
- Ramones producer Daniel Rey is auctioning off 27 items from his
collection of Ramones stuff including Johnny Ramone's Mosrite that was
Johnny's main guitar. To back side of guitar Johnny has written: "My
main guitar, 1977-1996". There are also handwritten lyrics, Johnny's
stage-used amp, Dee Dee Ramone's hand-drawn map of The Chelsea Hotel
Basement, Joey Ramone's Beatlec watch etc. Read details of some items
below.
Read more
of Daniel Rey here.
See listing
here. Auctions ends on September 25, 2021.
1) Johnny Ramone's Stage-Used and Owned Mosrite Ventures II Guitar: "A
1965 Mosrite Ventures II electric guitar personally-owned and -used by
Johnny Ramone (John Cummings) for nearly two decades as the guitarist
for punk rock legends the Ramones, with the back of the guitar signed in
black felt tip, "Johnny Ramone, My Main Guitar, 1977-1996." Cummings
played this guitar at every Ramones performance until his retirement:
from November 1977 through August 1996, for a total of approximately
1,985 shows. Additionally, this guitar was used by Cummings for the
recording of all 15 Ramones albums (studio and live) from this time
period, and can be heard on any live Ramones bootleg from late
1977-1996, of which there are many. It was later displayed at the Rock &
Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland for a number of years. Cummings
originally purchased this guitar between October 23, 1977 and October
30, 1977, to replace his original blue Ventures II slab body, which was
stolen from the Sire Records van (with rest of the band"s gear) on the
night of October 22, 1977, after the band"s show at the Aragon Ballroom
in Chicago. Ironically, this guitar had been offered to Cummings earlier
in 1977, but he passed on it feeling it was too expensive at $500, which
was a little less than 10 times what he paid for his original Ventures
II in 1974.": More
details here.
2) Johnny Ramone's Stage-Used and Owned Electro-Harmonix Mike Matthews
Freedom Amp: "The sound of punk - Johnny Ramone's fabled Freedom guitar
amp played live at early CBGB shows in 1974-75, only one of two ever
made by Electro-Harmonix. Exceedingly rare Mike Matthews Freedom
amplifier personally-owned and -used by Johnny Ramone (John Cummings) of
punk rock legends the Ramones, signed on the right side in silver ink,
"Johnny Ramone, Ramones original amp, 1974-75." The amp, 24? x 24? x 9?,
is one of a matching pair of 4 x 10? speaker Freedom amps purchased by
Cummings in early 1974. Freedom amps were manufactured in New York City
by Mike Matthews" Electro-Harmonix company, and of the approximately
2000 total Matthews amps that were produced, the majority being 1 x 10?
speaker versions, only two black 4 x 10? Freedom amps are known to
exist, both of which were owned by Cummings; the second Freedom 4 x 10?
remains in a private collection. Cummings used this amp live at CBGBs
and at various other early Ramones shows, while also routinely lugging
it to Monte Melnick and Tommy Ramone"s Performance Studios and to Arturo
Vega"s loft throughout 1974 and 1975. This amp can be seen in the video
of the Ramones" first ever CBGBs performance, as well as in other early
videos and photos.": More
details here.
3) Teal-bodied Japanese Mosrite Mark II Johnny
Ramone signature electric guitar (Serial No. JRB000), personally owned
and used by Johnny Ramone. Includes the original hardshell Ramones
guitar case, two Ramones/Fillmore guitar picks, and a guitar strap. In
fine condition. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by
Ramone, which affirms that the "guitar is one of Mark-2 Johnny Ramone
signature models specially supervised and authorized by Mr. Johnny
Ramone himself," and by a signed letter of authenticity from his widow,
Linda, which reads: "This certifies that the Blue Mosrite Mark-2, serial
number JRB000, was the first Johnny Ramone Model produced by the
Fillmore Company. The guitar was sent to Johnny Ramone and it was owned
and used by Johnny Ramone.": More
details here.
4) Arturo Vega's 1978-1980 Loft Notebook with Handwritten Lyrics by Joey
Ramone: "Incredible circa 1978-1980 notebook from Arturo Vega"s famed
Lower Manhattan loft at 6 E. 2nd St. in New York City"s East Village,
which contains very early working handwritten lyrics by Joey Ramone for
the song "Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio," featuring verses that do
not appear on the recorded version.": More
details here.
5) Joey Ramone (3) Stage-Used Shure Microphones from the Final Ramones
Concert: "Amazing set of three Shure SM58 microphones used on stage by
Joey Ramone during the Ramones" last three or four shows, including the
band's final concert, which was held at The Palace in Los Angeles,
California, on August 6, 1996. Each member of the Ramones was presented
with special mementoes from their final show. Among the items presented
to Joey Ramone were three of the microphones that he used that night.
These were given to him by roadie Mitch "Bubbles" Keller in a black
zippered pouch, which is included with the lot." More
details here.
6) Joey Ramone Signed Beatles Watch: "Attractive The Beatles watch made
by Apple Corps Ltd., with engraved leather strap and dial featuring "The
Beatles" over the green "Apple Records" logo with track titles from
their acclaimed 1968 "White Album." The watch includes its original
wooden "guitar case," certificate of authenticity, and cardboard box,
which is signed and inscribed in black ballpoint, "To Daniel, the 5th
Ramone, Enjoy! Your mate, Joey Ramone." The box bears an edition label
marked as "B001, 01." More
details here.
7) Dee Dee Ramone Handwritten Lyrics for Cretin Family: "Handwritten
lyrics by Dee Dee Ramone for the song "Cretin Family," unsigned, penned
in ballpoint on two off-white 8.25 x 11.5 sheets. Ramone writes the
title above, "Cretin Family," and the lyrics below, in full. Co-written
by Dee Dee and producer Daniel Rey, "Cretin Family" is the eighth track
on the fourteenth and final studio album by the Ramones; it"s also the
tenth track on the Ramones live album Greatest Hits Live, which was
recorded at The Academy in New York City on February 29, 1996."
More
details here.
8) Dee Dee Ramone's hand-drawn map of The Chelsea Hotel Basement:
"Original hand-drawn "Map of the Chelsea Hotel Basement" by Dee Dee
Ramone, accomplished in red and black felt tip and hot pink and neon
yellow acrylic paint on stretched canvas measuring 18 x 14, signed in
the lower right corner, "By Dee Dee Ramone." The overhead layout marks
various rooms, fixtures, and access points, such as storage rooms,
hallways, fuse boxes, toilets, elevators, motor generator, porcelain
tub, and more, with the far right making note of a "Concrete Stage." In
fine condition. This hand-drawn map was obtained by Daniel Rey from
Ramones artistic director Arturo Vega in the summer of 2002, not long
after Dee Dee's passing." More
details here.
9) Sire Records 8-track tape for the Ramones' 1976 self-titled debut
album, signed on the back in black felt tip by Johnny, Tommy, Dee Dee,
and Joey Ramone, who adds "'97." In fine condition. An uncommon format
signed by all four members who played on the album: More
details here.
So auctions
ends on September 25, 2021. (August 29, 2021).
- Cleopatra Records
has published third pressing of Johnny Ramone: The Final Sessions 12'
maxi. First edition was released on January 20, 2015. Color of that 12'
vinyl is blue. Color of vinyl is purple in second pressing and that was
published on December 21, 2018. There is also red edition.
- We are pressed 500 red vinyl LPs of Johnny Ramone: The Final Sessions,
wrote Cleopatra Records' general manager Tim Yasui to me in April 20,
2020.
Johnny Ramone: The Final Sessions 12' has songs Good Rockin' Tonight
and Viva Las Vegas. Those songs were originally released in Swing Cats: Special Tribute to Elvis
(2000) album (buy Swing Cats: Special
Tribute to Elvis on Amazon). Johnny only plays on Good
Rockin' Tonight and Viva Las Vegas in that album. Songs were recorded in
July 1999. Viva Las Vegas is instrumental. Lemmy Kilmister sings on Good
Rockin' Tonight. 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).
Here are few comments by Danny B. Harvey who plays bass on Swing
Cats: Special Tribute to Elvis album.
- The day Johnny Ramone came into the studio to record the backing
tracks for these two Elvis songs, he showed up in the studio with a
prototype of a Japanese "Johnny Ramone signature guitar." He told
me he no longer owned any guitars, or amps, because he had sold them all
when he retired. The only reason he had this one was because the guitar
company had sent it over for his approval prior to production. I asked
him why he didn't own any musical equipment and didn't he still play and
practise around the house? His reply was: "Do baseball players go to
battling practise when they retire? Of course not, so why I do need to
practise, has told Danny B. Harvey.
Read more here.
(Updated: October 13, 2020))
- There was no Johnny Ramone Tribute event at the Hollywood Forever
cemetery in 2020. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic lot of events were
canceled. (August 23, 2020)
- 14th The Johnny Ramone Tribute event is coming. Johnny Ramone's wife
Linda sent me good news in June, 2019. Event is in this year at
Hollywood Forever cemetery in Los Angeles, USA, on August 11, 2019, and
it has horror theme.
- Screening the cult classic The Warriors at Hollywood Forever, Linda
told.
The Warriors is a 1979 American action film directed by Walter Hill. It
is based on Sol Yurick's 1965 novel of the same name, which was, in
turn, based on Xenophon's Anabasis. The story centers on a New York City
gang
who must make an urban journey of 30 miles (48 km), from the north end
of The Bronx to their home turf in Coney Island in southern Brooklyn,
after they are framed for the murder of a respected gang leader.
In this event you can also visit the Cathedral mausoleum for an
exclusive, one-night
only exhibit featuring amazing punk rock and glam rock photography
curated by Mr Musichead. There is Johnny's grave and an 8 ft tall bronze
memorial
statue of Johnny at Hollywood Forever cemetery. Dee Dee Ramone's grave
is in the same cemetery not far from Johnny's statue.
Special guests in this year (2019) include Fred Armisen and Steve Jones
(Sex Pistols). A musical performance is by Starcrawler.
There has been many famous guests in past at The Johnny Ramone Tributes.
Among of those are Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day), Duff McKagan (Guns
N'Roses and Loaded), Johnny Depp, John Waters, Vincent Gallo, Billy
Idol, Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats), Billy
Zoom (X), Henry Rollins, Shepherd Fairey etc. etc.
Gates open at 6.30PM. Stage program is at 8.00PM. The Warriors film
starts at 8.30PM. Tickets are 20
dollars. You c$
buy tickets 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 7, 2019).
- 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.
Songs were recorded in July 1999. Viva Las Vegas is instrumental. Lemmy
Kilmister sings on Good Rockin' Tonight. 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. (Updated:
April 11, 2019)
More Johnny Ramone
news in my archive.
. Listing can be seen before the
auction.
1) Dee Dee's black leather motorcycle jacket with chains:
see
more information here. FINAL PRICE 6500 DOLLARS.
2) Dee Dee's Shang Hai (Shanghai) blazer:
see
more information here. FINAL PRICE 650 DOLLARS.
3) Handwritten Baby Doll (song) lyrics with a cassette tape having it
and many other songs: see
more information here. FINAL PRICE 585 DOLLARS.
4) Handwritten Mashed Potato Time (song) lyrics with an official
Standing In The Spotlight (1989) cassette tape having it: see
more information here. FINAL PRICE 455 DOLLARS.
5) Stephen King's two books (Creepshow and The Plant) signed by King and
gifted to Dee Dee: see
more information here. FINAL PRICE 3900 DOLLARS.
6) Standing In The Spotlight Album cover-worn gold-tone costume necklase
with album see
more information here. FINAL PRICE 6500 DOLLARS
7) Dee Dee Ramone 14K gold-filled St. Christopher amulet necklase:
see
more information here. FINAL PRICE 1300 DOLLARS.
8) Dee Dee's fightning night and leather sheath with handbook: see
more information here. FINAL PRICE 780 EUROS. (Updated: December 4,
2023)
- The new Chip Baker film, titled Ghosts Of The Chelsea Hotel (And Other
Rock & Roll Stories), is directed by filmmaker Danny Garcia. It will
make its debut American theatrical screening in New York City at Joe's
Pub on September 5, 2023, at 9:30PM. This documentary film explores the
rich history, cultural significance and otherworldly occurrences of the
famous Chelsea Hotel in New York City. The documentary delves into the
history of the hotel itself, which was built in the late 19th century.
The film features interviews with past and present residents, including
artists, musicians, writers, and other creative individuals who have
lived and worked at the hotel over the years.
Ghosts Of The Chelsea Hotel (And Other Rock & Roll Stories) cast
includes actor, writer, musician and former resident Michael Imperioli,
author Sherill Tippins, rockers Harley Flanagan, Richard Barone, Neon
Leon, Howie Pyro, Cynthia Ross etc. And actors Ned Van Zandt and Victor
Colicchio. They all having a deep connection to the building's roots and
share their personal stories, memories, and experiences of the hotel,
which has long been known as a hub for artistic and bohemian culture.
The interviews in the film were shot in the Chelsea Hotel building
giving the film an authentic feel of "being there".
I sent messages with director Danny Garcia and he confirmed this
documentary film having also material of the Dee Dee Ramone.
- There's unseen Dee Dee footage. But no interview, Garcia told me.
Many people connect Dee Dee and Hotel Chelsea of course because of the
Dee Dee Ramone's
book/novel Chelsea Horror Hotel (2001).
The film also includes historical footage of some other residents and
regulars (who made the glorious Chelsea Hotel so legendary) including
Andy Warhol, Harry Smith, Nico, Quentin Crisp, Robert Mapplethorpe and
Patti Smith.
The musical soundtrack was composed and performed by Cat Casual and the
Final Word. (June 30, 2023)
- Quackwhores is a non-profit collective caring for urban waterfowl
wildlife in Hollywood. Long time Ramones' fan, musician and artist
Coyote Shivers and his partner Pleasant Gehman are making world a
better place with a special way. Dee Dee Ramone's grave gets visited
daily by a group of punk ducks, other birds etc.! Gehman and Shivers
trained the cemetery ducks and critters to visit Dee Dee Ramone every
day. Dee Dee is buried in Hollywood Forever Cemetery and close to grave
is Johnny Ramone's statue.
Shivers says the ducks are fed every day using a "dinner bell," which is
essentially a new version of Blitzkrieg Bop called "Duckskrieg Bop" that
features the ducks themselves quacking: "Hey ho, let's go".
Visit sites: www.instagram.com/ramonesducks
and Donations for healthy food Venmo: http://quackwhores.org.
Here are quotes from article that was published on Rolling Stone: Rolling
Stone article by Brenna Ehrlich.
Shivers and Gehman have been feeding the ducks
since the pandemic (covid-19) started; they launched the Instagram this
past summer (2021). "Everything was closed, even the beaches and parks,
so we would go to the cemetery to get away from the negativity, and
feel some
air and beauty and care for some of the urban wildlife that live there:
ducks, geese, feral cats, squirrels, doves, swans, etc," he tells
Rolling Stone."
The animals came to include five black ducks that their friend had
raised, only to be forced off the property by the friend's landlord. The
ducks were very domesticated, so Shivers and Gehman trained them to
visit Dee Dee's grave every day. "We started calling them the Ramones
Ducks because they're all black and they stick together and stood out
like a gang and they'd run up to Dee Dee every day."
Their names, of course, are Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee, Tommy, and
Sheena.
"And sure enough, it worked like the ice cream truck song in the
summertime. The kids come running when they hear it. Soon enough, more
and more animals joined the party, as the fowl-filled Instagram shows,
including peacocks, squirrels, cats, pelicans, geese, and, of course,
the titular ducks. By last spring, we started noticing the new mother
ducks were bringing their days-old ducklings and teaching them, When you
hear this song, march up the hill to here,. and we realized it was
becoming generational to them. It just keeps growing, and little by
little same with spectators," Coyote Shivers says to Rolling Stone.
"We consider it part urban wildlife charity, part performance art
installation, and part living tribute to the king Dee Dee Ramone.
Everyone loves the Ramones Ducks. They bring nothing but smiles. Young
kids and old punks really love it."
"It's fun for everyone and also helps children to love, respect, and
care for animals. Plus, it shapes their musical
taste by teaching them that the Ramones are the best damn band on the
planet!", Pleasant Gehman says. Read more and see photos here in my
(Jari-Pekka's) Dee Dee memorial page. (January 12, 2022)
- Dee Dee Ramone would have celebrated his 70th birthday on September
18, 2021. Dee Dee was born on September 18, 1951, in Fort Lee,
Virginia, USA. As all of you knows, Dee Dee is a founding member of the
Ramones and another main songwriter. His last official Ramones gig was
on July 5, 1989 in Santa Clara, USA. But Dee Dee made a guest
appearance at the last Ramones show
held at The Palace in Los Angeles, USA on August 6, 1996.
Dee Dee died at his home in Los Angeles on June 5, 2002. Dee Dee's
second wife Barbara Zampini found Dee Dee at
8:25PM on their living room couch and she called 911. Fire department
paramedics pronounced Dee Dee dead at 8:40 pm and the official cause of
his death was an accidental drug drug overdose.
I experienceed eight of Dee Dee's shows in Sweden, Norway
and Denmark in 2000-2001. Read here story of shows I
experienced in 2000. Dee Dee was was clean and healthy in both
tours. Dee Dee's guitarist Christian Black wrote to me shortly
following Dee Dee's unexpected passing for example this: "I feel like
we've lost one of the most important entities in the history
of rock'N'roll. As if that isn't bad enough, we all lost a great friend.
We had so many plans to record and tour that are now completely
shattered. Despite popular belief, I really believe that it (overdose)
was an accident. I have been around him more than anyone can imagine for
the past three years and I have never seen him use heroin. He never even
took a drink during some of the hardest times on tour. I really believe
that he just slipped and wanted to get high. He really didn't mean to do
this to everybody."
I also feel this true after what I saw in tours and after speaking
of Dee Dee's last years with people
like
Arturo Vega and Paul Kostabi (and his art manager Heidi Follin) who was
his best friend in last years and Andy Poncherello who was his best
friend in Los Angeles in last few years. Their interviews are really
special in Rock In Peace: Dee
Dee And Joey Ramone.
You
can read here really good interview Jim Sullivan (Rock And Roll
Globe) did with Dee Dee's
first wife Vera Ramone King now because of Dee Dee's 70th birthday. It
is great to read interviews like that which goes to deep feelings. Vera
concentrate to good things, and tells honestly of dark days. Interview
has a good balance. And Vera also tells really excellent way how it
was to experience early years of original punk years. Dee Dee met Vera
in 1977 and soon they were married. Soon after Dee Dee quit the Ramones
in 1989, he and Vera separated. Officially they divorced in 1995. Vera
has wrote a book called Poisoned Heart: I Married Dee Dee Ramone (The
Ramones Years).
Here you can find my
memorial site for Dee Dee Ramone. You can read also from my site
for example story with photos of
special Dee Dee Ramone memorial
concert that was at The Continental, NYC, USA
on July 2, 2002. Tommy Ramone sang, and Marky Ramone and CJ Ramone
played there and honored our Dee Dee in many ways. Also Walter Lure (The
Heartbreakers, The Waldos), Jesse Malin (solo, ex-D-Generation),
Handsome Dick Manitoba (The Dictators), Jimmy Gestapo (Murphy's Law),
Theo (Lunachicks), Ramones producer Daniel Rey, Joey's brother Mickey
Leigh, The Misfits (line-up was that time Jerry Only, Marky Ramone and
Dez Cadena), Toilet Boys, Furious George etc. were on stage. Idea of
event was by The Continental (now closed) owner Trigger.
Tommy Ramone told that night: "Dee Dee was one of the major architects
of punk rock. His songs
set the rules and made the blueprint. I had never heard songs like the
ones he wrote - they were totally original and powerful. Like Joey, Dee
Dee was loved by so many people because of his unpretentious and
friendly personality. It is so sad to have such a treasured person taken
from us at such a young age. We are truly fortunate to be left with the
bounty of his works. I feel blessed to have been lucky enough to have
known him.", Tommy Ramone said.
Personally I had my first memorial speech of Dee Dee Ramone day after
we lost him. Upon returning to Finland from New York and Joey Ramone
Birthday Bash, I had release parties in Finland for my first book Heaven Needed A Lead Singer: Fans
Remember Joey Ramone. It was during release
party in Tampere, Finland on June 6, 2002, when I got a call from Marky
Ramone And The SpeedKings' singer-guitarist Nick Cooper, informing me
of the tragic news, that Dee Dee had passed away...
See here on my page details of Dee Dee's shows in his last years and look
how happy he was in his last real show. We want to remember Dee Dee
like that.
Dee Dee played his last performance (not a full show) at rather lame
Hollywood event called Club Make-Up, a glam, trash, punk, sleaze music
night at the El Rey Theatre, in Los Angeles, USA, on June 1, 2002.
(September 18, 2021)
- Dee Dee Ramone 10' vinyl titled Dee Dee Ramone: The Deadline
Demos was released on June 26, 2020 (read more information below).
Dee Dee recorded these demo songs in 1989 with Alan Lee Shaw (Maniacs /
Physicals) and George Butler (Warsaw Pakt / Lightning Raiders). Dee Dee
was introduced by mutual friend Brian James (ex Damned / Lords Of The
New Church) to Alan Lee Shaw and George Butler. This trio band formed
with the proposed name of Dee Dee Ramone's Deadline.
I asked if Alan Lee Shaw wants to write some of his memories of Dee Dee
Ramone and those days in 1989-1990. I am really happy that he sent some
stories. Read
them here. They are from his forthcoming book of memoirs "Damned If You
Do."
- If Dee Dee fans want to read more they must wait until my book is
released, hopefully sometime this year, wrote Andy to me on May 10,
2021.
So let's hope book comes out already in 2021. (May 10,
2021)
- Overground
Records (United Kingdom) started in 1988. Owners were inspired to
reissue a few punk rock classics. This record label did publish great
Dee Dee Ramone 10' vinyl titled Dee Dee Ramone: The Deadline Demos on
June 26, 2020. Release is limited of 400 copies.
- The pressing has almost gone, wrote John Esplen of Overground Records
on July 16, 2020.
Overground Records was original label of Dee Dee's this project titled
Dee Dee Ramone's Deadline. This 10' has eight demo songs which were
recently re-discovered.
I added
tracklisting of 10' here.
Dee Dee recorded these demo songs in
1989 with Alan Lee Shaw (Maniacs/Physicals) and George Butler (Warsaw
Pakt/Lightning Raiders). Dee Dee was introduced by mutual
friend Brian James (ex Damned/ Lords Of The New Church) to Alan Lee Shaw
and George Butler. This trio band formed with the proposed name of
Dee Dee Ramone's Deadline.
Overground Records tells following in press release of The Deadline
Demos: "With rehearsals
underway, Dee Dee (lead vocals and guitar), Alan (bass and backing
vocals) and George (drums), the project was soon up and running
and in the process of negotiating a recording deal with Overground
Records, the release would be promoted with a UK tour, when due to
unforeseen circumstances (unfortunately the state of Dee Dee's fragile
mental/ physical shape), the project was sadly and frustratingly brought
to an abrupt end, before any studio recordings or gigs could be
completed. The demos from 1989 are the only recordings that occurred.
They are forming an important historical record that show flashes of
Dee Dee's genius as one of punk's most important original songwriters.
The songs never appeared on any of Dee Dee's other releases and but for
this recently re-discovered tape would have been lost forever. All
eight tracks from 1989 the session are released as a limited edition
10' of 400 copies."
Even press release tells that "songs never appeared on any of Dee Dee's
other releases.", two of the songs are in other releases but song titles
are a bit different: What About This? is same as is What About Me? in
Dee Dee Ramone And The
Chinese Dragongs single and Hop Around album. And then I Got A Right
is same as is I Gotta A Right To Love Her in Youth Gone Mad Featuring Dee Dee Ramone
album.
See tracklisting
of 10' here.
Overground
Records has released also material by Steve Ignorant, The Cravats,
The Jerks, The Dickies etc. (Updated: October 14,
2020).
- Certainly one of greatest tribute songs in the last five years to any
Ramones member is created now by the Hybrid
Children. Action rock band
did release a new album after 11 years. New album is titled Where Pub
Roses Grow (label Bunny Duck Rubber Company) and the second song on it
is titled Dee Dee's Always Home. You can see a video of Dee
Dee tribute song here. There are texts written in video.
Hybrid Children was founded in Helsinki, Finland in 1991. Hybrid
Children is a mix
of bands like Ramones, Backyard Babies, Skid Row and Smack. Members in
Hybrid Children are Jasse Salonen (vocals and guitar) Saska Ketonen
(drums), Ville Virtanen (bass) and Juho Virtanen (guitar).
I asked great and hyperactive Jasse Salonen to write some comments of
Dee Dee's Always Home.
- This song is a reminder how music makes you feel to be a part of
something great and to understand that no matter how isolated and far
away from everything you may live, or how lonely you may feel, it
doesn't really matter: You are not alone, there are many of us
so-called outsiders, and being outsider is just great!! As Bombshell
Rocks once sang: "Some are scared of being misfits, but i'm scared of
fitting in!, wrote Jasse Salonen to me of Dee
Dee's Always Home.
You can find more
Hybrid Children songs from Spotify. (June
30, 2020).
- During April and May, 2002, I added here to my page
http://www.ramonesheaven.com
information about Dee Dee Ramone's tour with his band on the West Coast
in the USA between May 17 - June 23. In all, there were 11 concert
dates. Dee Dee did play four of them...
Line-up:
Dee Dee Ramone: vocals and bass.
Christian Black: guitar and backvocals.
Chase Manhattan: drums.
My second book Rock In Peace: Dee Dee And Joey Ramone
(2002) has review
from Dee Dee's last and second last real shows. First review with many
pictures I got from Gaston Sanchez from the show at Dream Street in San
Diego, CA, USA on May 17, 2002. Travis Michaud sent me in 2002 review
from Dee Dee's last real show, it was at Pink E's in Las Vegas, NV,
USA, on May
25, 2002. After that, Dee Dee played one special show, not listed on
that tour, at Club Makeup in Los Angeles on June 1, 2002. We lost Dee
Dee on June 5, 2002. Travis wrote to me: "To make a side
note, he did not sound like a man that had a heroin
problem, nor did he look like one. I don't believe a guy at his age
could have performed the blistering set that he did on heroin or heroin
withdrawal. Later proof came while Dee Dee sat next to me and ate a
cheeseburger. Addicts don't generally eat a helluva lot."
Close to 18 years later, in May 2020, I got first photos of that last
real show from Jake Coyner who attended that show at Pink E's. I added
photos to my site and texts written by Coyner and Michaud. See photos and
their texts here. (May 26, 2020).
- Peter Åstedt from Sweden informed me that he release on Cashbox radio
show sound version of interview he did with Dee Dee Ramone
in Örebro, Sweden in 2001. Radio interview is aired in May
12, 14, 16 and 17, 2020. See flyer in right.
Peter is from Sweden but online station is located in Toronto, Canada. I
did listen first radio show. It started at 7PM (EST). Time difference
from Toronto / Eastern Standard Time to Los Angeles is -2 hours, to New
York +1 hour, to United Kingdom +6 hours, to France, Spain, Germany,
Sweden +7 hours, to Finland +8 hours, to Tokyo +14 hours, to Sydney +15
hours etc.
Interview did happen before Dee Dee, drummer Chase Manhattan and
guitarist Chris
Martucci (Black) punkrocked at the Contan in Örebro on April 1,
2001. Peter wrote: "I remember you (Jari-Pekka) were in the room the
whole interview. So tune in to hear it this week on Cashbox radio. Here is the flyer feel
free to spread it."
So you can see dates (May 12-17) and dates in flyer in right: "It's the
same show on all the dates, we do a rerun also since there
is so many time differences, we do it on different times."
So I was in same table when Dee Dee and Peter Åstedt did
this interview. I has note on my first book Heaven Needed A Lead Singer: Fans
Remember Joey Ramone that Peter asked some great
questions in this interview and you can hear it also when you do listen
that Cashbox radio show.
In this interview Dee Dee Ramone and Peter Åstedt speak for
example of End Of The Century album, Joey Ramone, Ramainz/Remains, art,
his wife Barbara etc. etc.
Peter did play good selection of songs in this program. For example Dee
Dee's solo songs Hop Around, I'm Zonked, Los Hombres and I Am Seeing
UFOs (vocals by Joey Ramone), Ramones songs Poison Heart and We're A
Happy Family, Joey Ramone's solo song Don't Worry About Me and Danny
Says cover recorded by Swedish band Waver. That version was published in
All Good Cretins Go
To Heaven - A Tribute To The Ramones. (May 13,
2020).
- I've been running this my Ramones homepage since 1995 and I was
promoting Dee Dee Ramone's shows in before he passed away on June 5,
2002. You can see most of Dee Dee's solo dates in 1999-2002 here. I
put there now more photos. (May 13, 2020)
- Brent "Aldo" Alden of False Alarm etc. has been active in underground
scene in Los Angeles, USA, already around 40 years. He is known for
example as the bass player of LA punk band False Alarm. False Alarm
started in 1982. Fat Mike of NOFX played in early False Alarm line-up.
Band broke up few times and started again. Now False Alarm is not
active.
I anyway want to mention some of Alden's Dee Dee Ramone and Joey Ramone
related things. Dee Dee and his art and music partner Paul Kostabi
painted cover of False Alarm's second album Fuck 'Em We'Ve All Ready
(Now) Won! Kostabi has also played in False Alarm. Album got published
in 2006 and re-issued in 2009 together with Youth Gone Mad album
recorded in 2002. Dee Dee plays guitar and sing
backvocals but also handled bass duties on
Horror Hospital and sang vocals on songs False Alarm and Horror
Hospital. There are many different releases of this album by Trend Is
Dead! Records, Wanker Records, and Trash2001 Records including a
pictureLP. These are final recordings Dee Dee ever did. As Paul Kostabi
said to me (Jari-Pekka) in Rock In Peace: Dee
Dee And Joey Ramone book interview, Dee Dee didn't get to hear the
finished Youth Gone Mad product. Album was released after Dee Dee became
an angel.
Brent Alden run False Alarm Records that is released a split 7' single
which A-side contains the Youth Gone Mad song Meatball Sandwich recorded
in 1996 and it features Joey Ramone. The B-side has a False Alarm tune
called Youth Gone Mad and it features Cheetah Chrome of Dead Boys. Brent
Alden opened recently Ebay account. He is selling for example 7' single
that was released in January 2007. A-side is False Alarm with Cheetah
Chrome (song Tell Me Who I Am) and B-side is Youth Gone Mad (Frog Man
From Mars). Alden plays bass, Chrome lead guitar and Paul Kostabi rhythm
guitar in Tell Me Who I Am. See
Alden's Ebay items here.
Alden has compiled and created with his friends three
Chaotic Reasoning compilations (Vol. 1-3). Chaotic Reasoning Vol. 3
include Youth Gone Mad Feat. Dee Dee Ramone song False Alarm and Furious
George Feat. Joey Ramone song Gilligan.
In photo in right you can see Shepard Fairey and Brent Alden at the Dee
Dee Ramone: A Memorial Exhibition in 2012. Read more of exhibition
here. (July 30, 2019)
More Dee Dee Ramone
news in my archive.
. (August 29,
2016)
More Tommy Ramone news
in my archive.
.
So now there is a special event at the Home Rock Bar that homage 50th
Anniversary of the Ramones.
- Here in Treviso, Italy will be the 50 Years Ramones Anniversary
party on November 1, 2025. There will be Marky Ramone, Gilby Clarke
(Guns N' Roses etc.) etc. It will not be
as large as the 40 years because large venues were all fully booked in
the dates guests were available, but it will be a great party, Sandro
Mariuz wrote me on September 14, 2024.
There might be also people Ramones tour manager Monte Melnick,
photographer George DuBose etc. Certainly there will be photographer
Henry Ruggeri and me. The Wardogs has toured with Marky Ramone, Gilby
Clarke and other musicians. Now The Wardogs will do many shows with Jiro
Okabe (band) and Gilby Clarke in October-December 2024. Read more here.
After 2014 Sandro Mariuz have organized also other
Ramones related events. His
band The Wardogs has released Ramones' tribute/ cover album titled
Raw & Dirty Days! in 2012. Pet Sematary / I I Don't
Want To Grow Up 12' maxiEP was published in 2023. Marky Ramone
plays drums in Pet Sematary and guest singer in I Don't Want To Grow Up
is Andrea Rock. Illustration of I Don't Want To Grow Up side of 12'
maxiEP is created by John Holmstrom (Punk Magazine etc.) (September 15,
2024)
- Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg recorded again version of a cover song. This
time it is Keep On Dancing.
Listen version / see video of it that has
a smily attitude. Keep On Dancing is a rock song written by
Allen A. Jones, Andrew Love and Richard Shann. It was originally
recorded by the rhythm and blues group The Avantis in 1963.
In 1965, the Keep On Dancing was covered by The Gentrys. Marky
Ramone's Blitzkrieg recorded version The Gentry's version. So check
out version of Keep On
Dancing here . (July 3, 2024)
- I will explain now especially of Nick Cooper and his three books I
'Heartbreak' The Ramones - The Life And Times Of The
SpeedKings, Vergaene Glorie and Anarchist Anonymous and Marky Ramone
And The SpeedKings. Order books and other releases here: www.
hapmusicandbook.store/en You can also send an E-mail to Nick:
info (a) heartbreakramones.com .
Nick Cooper (Nico Decock) was doing a lot of things with Marky Ramone
especially because of Buckweeds and Marky Ramone And The SpeedKings in
2000-2004. Cooper was a singer-guitarist. I 'Heartbreak' The Ramones -
The Life And Times Of The SpeedKings was published on May 31, 2024.
- I have set up a collaboration with Earth Island
Books (UK). Later this year a translation in French, German,
Spanish, Italian and Portuguese will be available, Cooper wrote to
me.
His publishing company is Hunt
And Peck Publishing (BE). Book has around 484 pages and close to
500 photos. I (Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone) got an honor to write an
foreword.
I am also guest in this release event: June 27, 2024: Vuvve x
Printclinic, Kortrijk, Belgium.
I explain here more of him. Nick Cooper born in Kortrijk (Courtrai),
Belgium in 1965, had music in his blood. Nick was made for
a career in rock'N'roll. His mother looked like she belonged to the
Ronettes. His father could have been in the Bee Gees. In 1978, Nick
discovered punk music and instantly became captivated by the bands
emerging from the vibrant NYC scene. It was during this time that he
attended his first live performance by the Ramones, unknowingly setting
the stage for a future encounter. Around 1980, Nick picked up a guitar
and joined his first punk band.
Nick Cooper played in the Vergaene Glorie, -XXX- and Midnight Men
before he met with Marky Ramone. Marky met Cooper during the Marky
Ramone And The Intruders European tour in January, 2000. Cooper was
playing then in the Buckweeds. Marky agreed to help Cooper and the
Buckweeds out by providing his drumming services for their upcoming
European tour. Marky and Buckweeds toured with The
Huntingtons between August 25 - September 17, 2000. After that Marky
recorded the song I Don't Wanna Grow Up with Buckweeds and Kloot Per W
for the tribute album titled Ramones Tribute 1,2,3,4.... For the
tribute album, the song was released under the name Marky Ramone Group.
Marky Ramone, Nick Cooper and along with Buckweeds bassist Stevey Jay
continued to write and perform music. Nick Cooper explains also of
those things widely in his book The I 'Heartbreak' The Ramones - The
Life And Times Of The SpeedKings.
Name got changed from Marky Ramone Group to Marky Ramone And The SpeedKings.
The band in conjunction with White Jazz Records released their first
album entitled No If's,
And's Or But's! on November 19, 2001 in Europe. Later it was
released in Japan, South America and North America.
Marky Ramone And The SpeedKings played a lot of shows. The last Marky
Ramone And The SpeedKings show ever was at the Brick By Brick, San
Diego, USA on January 17, 2003. Band was still active after that. Marky
Ramone wrote to me in January 13, 2004, that there will be no next Marky
Ramone And The SpeedKings tour until the new SpeedKings album comes out.
Album was already recorded. BUT two months later (March 13, 2004) Marky
Ramone And The SpeedKings announced that the band was split-up, even
they were recorded an second album.
AND 20 years later (2024) Nick Cooper tells me:
- We will finish the album by 2025 (without Marky), wrote Nick.
Amazing news.
In this book you will extensively information and memories of Nick's
childhood and early punk years and then how he became the singer,
guitarist and babysitter of the Rock'N'Roll Hall Of Fame musician. The
Marky Ramone And The SpeedKings also recorded many singles/EP's and
toured the world.
- Clubs, squats and festivals hosted the band throughout Europe, Japan
and the United States. The kids loved us but the critics spit out. Three
years down the road to ruin, we hated each other's guts and called it
quits. This is the story of what happened...., Nick explains.
- This coming of age story will appeal to all punkrock fans. It's all
about the passion for music, what makes it shine and what makes it go
down the drain. Ramones fans will love this book; Ramones haters will
love it even more, Nick continue.
Nick's perspective is sometimes blunt, yet often filled with humor
and grounded in reality. His outrageously funny anecdotes will make you
piss your pants.
- I 'Heartbreak' The Ramones - The Life And Times Of The SpeedKings
feels like a roadmovie and you are sucked in as one of the roadcrew.
There is no holding back. You have been warned! The story may even be
true!
Check out also Nick Cooper's two other books. Cooper and Ludo Halsberghe
wrote together Vergaene Glorie that is sold a lot in Belgium and
Holland. The first edition is in paperback and (limited edition)
hardcover. The second edition is in both the green and the pink cover
versions.
- It tells the story of myself and a friend who started a punk band in
1980 and then talks about all the bands I was in. Marky Ramone And The
SpeedKings is in there too but only two chapters, Cooper told me.
Vergaene Glorie has also of course some photos related to Marky Ramone
And The SpeedKings. Nick Cooper has also wrote the book Anarchist
Anonymous about his time in the anarcho band called -XXX-. Group
released The First Steps
cassette in 1984 and now thanks to Nick Cooper there are also black and
yellow vinyls of The First Steps. LP has 12 songs.
They are originally recorded and mixed at Joke's Koeienverhuurbedrijf,
Wormer, Netherlands in August 1984. Cooper was then 16-17 years old.
Anarchist Anonymous book has 114 pages. Book contains the story of the
band, lyrics and reviews of -XXX- and reproductions of the fanzines
Nick Cooper (Nico Decock) published in the 80's. Zines has as well
cartoons.
Most of the texts are in Dutch but there is material also in English.
You can buy
many great books and records from https://www.huntandpeckbooks.com
or from www.hapmusicandbook.store/en.
You can also send an E-mail to Nick: info (a) heartbreakramones.com.
(Updated: May 31, 2024)
- Marky Ramone And The SpeedKings (read more of band here) was active band in
early 2000's. Band did a lot of shows all around the world in 2001-2003
and released singles/EP's, live release and studio album called No If's,
And's Or But's (title was Legends Bleed in the
USA). Read more of
album here.
Marky Ramone And The SpeedKings recorded a live CD at the Wild At Heart
Club in Berlin on December 31st, 2001. CD release was out in
September, 2002, on Rawk-A-Hula Records! (13 songs). It was released
with two different covers (white and black). See tracklisting here.
There will be a limited edition vinyl release more than 20 years later
in January 2024. Title of LP version is Live In Berlin.
- Alive recordings will be released on limited edition in blue, white,
red and gold. 100 copies only in blue, white and red. Only 50
copies available in gold vinyl. Gatefold sleeve / 180 grams vinyls,
wrote Nick Cooper to me in October and November 2023.
Gatefold sleeve has more photos than CD release. Thanks Nick Cooper for
including also a live (singing) photo of me.
Order LP's from Nick and his friend: www.huntandpeckmusicandbooks.shop
/ info@huntandpeckbooks.com . Get your 20 percentage discount when
ordering multiple copies with a code ALIVE2024.
Scandinavian (North-Europe) customers, please order through Woimasointu
Records / info@woimasointu.com.
CD versions has 13 songs. LP versions has 18 songs. Bonus live song is
a Glad To See You Go. Also bonus songs are four songs from Rawk Over
Scandinavia! 7'.
Woimasointu Records (Hannu Jokinen) published Rawk Over Scandinavia! in
2002. Nick re-sung four Ramones songs in four different Scandinavian
languages. Those songs are included in LP version of this live release.
These:
- Sheena Is A Norwegian Punkrocker (Ramones / lyrics translated in
Norwegian by Andre Dahlmann).
- I Wanna Be Sedated In Sweden (Ramones / lyrics translated
in Swedish by Kenneth Bergdahl).
- Rockaway Iceland (Ramones / lyrics translated in Iceland by
Valgarour Guojonsson).
- Blitzkrieg Over Finland (Ramones / lyrics translated in
Finnish by Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone and Sami "Severi" Kohtamäki).
(Updated: November 4, 2023).
- I just found out information of 12' split maxi-single titled Weird Al
Yankovic & Osaka Popstar: Beat On The Brat. It is Black Friday 2021
release. Original Osaka Popstar line-up plays in three live songs on
B-side. Those Ramones songs Beat On The Brat, Blitzkrieg Bop and The
KKK Took My Baby Away.
Those three songs are from an live CDEP titled Rock'Em O-Sock'Em Live!.
Line-up on those songs: John Cafiero on vocals, Marky Ramone on drums,
Jerry Only (The Misfits etc.)
on bass, Dez Cadena (Black Flag/ Ex-The Misfits) on guitar and Ivan
Julian (Richard Hell & The Voidoids) on guitar. They released Osaka Popstar And The
American Legends Of Punk album in 2006. Marky, Jerry, Dez and Ivan
left soon Osaka Popstar. Read more of 12' split maxi-single
Weird
Al Yankovic & Osaka Popstar: Beat On The Brat here. (July 16, 2023)
- Marky Ramone, excellent and official Italian Ramones tribute band
Wardogs
and Italian DJ and punkrocker Andrea Rock created together
Pet Sematary / I Don't Want To Grow Up 12' maxiEP / digital release
for charity.
- Songs are physically printed on 12' vinyl in a limited edition.
Release is also available on all major audio web platforms in digital
format, told Sandro Mariuz.
Mariuz is Wardogs' guitarist.
Read more of Pet Sematary / I I Don't Want
To Grow Up 12' maxiEP here. Charity project named High Five For The
Kids is a Ramones
branded event to raise funds for the activities of the L'isola Che Non
C'e Association. It was created to support children with disabilities
through activities related to music.
Marky Ramone and Wardogs recorded one of the most famous Ramones songs
Pet Sematary. Biggest difference in their version compared to original
Ramones version is 25-30 seconds long guitar solo by Wardogs'
Sandro Mariuz. That really works and comes as a bit surprise when
listening a
song. It is cheery.
- I decided to do a solo, to do something little different respecting
always the Ramones' tradition. I Don't Want To Grow Up is more
similar to the original, Sandro said.
Some parts Marky Ramone does play a bit more tight
than in original version. I know Dee Dee Ramone and Daniel Rey would be
happy of this version. Dee Dee and Daniel wrote original version to the
Ramones.
Wardogs and Andrea Rock recorded I Don't Want To Grow Up together.
Ramones covered I Don't Want To Grow Up for Adios Amigos album in 1995.
An association that for years Andrea Rock, through the PGA (Punk Goes
Acoustic) follows and supports through a large number of activities.
The Wardogs' previous single was released in 2016. It has songs Go
Mental and Dirt Off and an illustration on it is created by John
Holmstrom (Punk Magazine etc.).
Also illustration of I Don't Want To Grow Up side of 12' maxiEP is
created by John Holmstrom. Other artworks are by Luca Carraro. See
cover artworks of both sides in right. Songs were recorded at Attitude
Studio Milano and Bridge Studio Treviso.
- The mix and mastering are masterfully performed by Marino De Angeli
who, with a touch of modernity, combined with the magic of Marky
Ramone's (Pet Sematary) drumming, manages to revive once again the myth
of the Ramones, tells Sandro Mariuz.
There were four events to support release and charity. Marky Ramone
did DJ appearances and played some songs together with the Wardogs.
- Marky will be present in all the four events. We'll present the 12'
maxi we recorded with Marky and he'll do the DJ sets, wrote Sandro
Mariuz to me in advance.
- Marky played a set of songs with us, different in different shows: Pet
Sematary, I Don't Want To Grow Up, Surfin Bird, R.A.M.O.N.E.S., I Don't
Care and Teenage Lobotomy, Sandro wrote afterwards.
The
Andead were an opening band for the Wardogs. Events were:
April 20, 2023: Estragon, Bologna, Italy.
April 21, 2023: Bottega 26, Poggibonsi, Italy.
April 22, 2023: Capitol, Pordenone, Italy.
April 23, 2023: Live Music Club, Trezzo Sull'Adda, Milan, Italy.
You got to see in these events also Henry Ruggeri's photograph
exhibition and DJ Ringo. The
Wardogs has earlier released Ramones'
tribute/ cover album titled
Raw & Dirty (2012) etc. 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.
- Raw & Dirty Days is our personal tribute to the Ramones and we don't
want to try to emulate them (it's impossible!!!). We tried to maintain
album raw, Sandro Mariuz explained to me in 2012.
Bonus track in a album 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. After song
ended, it turned to 2012. Mariuz has organized in past many Ramones
tribute events and Italian
Ramones' 40th Anniversary Festival in Treviso, Italy in September 4-8,
2014. See photos
of festival here. (Updated: June 17, 2023).
- Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg released a new single New York, New York in
early December, 2022. Marky says the song and version being his love
letter to the city. It is the theme song from the Martin Scorsese film
New York, New York that was released in 1977. Song is composed by John
Kander. Lyrics are written by Fred Ebb. It was written for and performed
in the film by Liza Minnelli. It remains one of the best-known songs
about New York City. Most famous version was recorded by Frank Sinatra
for his album Trilogy: Past Present Future (1980).
Duration of Marky Ramones Blitzkrieg's version is 2.23 minutes. Duration
of Liza Minnelli's version is 3.16 minutes and Frank Sinatra's version
is 3.26. Marky produced version together with Rich Morales.
You can listen song on YouTube or on Spotify.
It was more than 10 years since Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg had released
material. If And When single was published in 2011 and When We Were
Angels in 2009. (Updated: February 15, 2023).
- There is two interesting music conference in Germany in July. Marky
Ramone, Ramones tour manager Monte A. Melnick, PUNK! Magazine co-founder
John
Holmstrom and photographer George DuBose will speak of the Ramones in
panel discussion in Dusselforf (one event) and Holmstrom and Melnick in
Dusselforf and Berlin (two events).
- July 16, 2022: Me And All Hotel, Dusseldorf, Germany (featuring Marky,
DuBose, Melnick and Holmstrom). Event starts at 14:00 (2PM). That
same day Marky Ramone Blitzkrieg have a show in Kulturbanausen Im
Ratinger Hof in Dusseldorf.
- July 19, 2022: POSH Teckel, Berlin (featuring Monte A. Melnick and
John Holmstrom). Event starts at 19:00 (7PM).
Discussion / Q&A event in Berlin is run by Ramones Museum Berlin founder
Flo Hayler. Ramones Museum Berlin is still closed but it is great that
Flo will run this event.
Monte A. Melnick was the Ramones tour manager in more than 2200
shows in 1974-1996. John Holmstrom is co-founder of the PUNK
Magazine! and in a back-side of Ramones album Rocket To Russia you can
see a cool cartoon illustration by Holmstrom etc. etc.
George DuBose is man 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 etc.
etc. (July 2, 2022).
- Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg had to cancel and/or postpone European tour
again. They are going to play 26 shows in Europe in June-July 22. They
are going to play in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy,
Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Slovakia Spain and Sweden. See all dates here (July 17,
2021).
- Bands Lucifer and Kadavar collaborate for a special vinyl split 7"
single. Both bands have recorded a cover song. Single features Lucifer's
take on the ferociously moody classic Pull Away/So Many Times which is
the opening track of Dust's second and last album Hard Attack released
in 1972. Many people think that Dust are considered one of the earliest
heavy metal groups.
Marky Ramone (then Marc Bell) recorded two albums with Dust. He was only
16-17 year old by this time. Marky played of course drums and other
players on this trio were bassist Kenny Aaronson (Joan Jett, Billy Idol
and Bob Dylan) and Richie Wise (Later produced Kiss). Dust broke up in
1972. Read more of Dust here.
- We go back to the founding days of both bands where we shared the same
scene. With our combined love for the deep cuts of the 60's and 70's we
decided to cover two of our favorite songs together for a 7" single. We
picked Marky Ramone's criminally underrated, glorious first band Dust.
It is the first time that I duet together with our guitarist Linus
Björklund and we had a blast recording it, told Lucifer's singer
Johanna Platow Andersson.
In addition to Linus and Johanna, Lucifer's members are drummer Nicke
Platow Andersson (aka Nick Royale of The Hellacopters etc.), guitarist
Martin Nordin and bassist Harald Göthblad.
On the flipside Kadavar takes a bow to one of Britains most important
guitar players, Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac, to cover the heavy The
Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown) which would be Green's last
ever recorded track with the band.
You
can watch here graphic video of Lucifer's version of Pull Away/So
Many Times.
The single will be physically available on March 19th, 2021 on
Lucifer's own label Riding Reaper Records, as well as Kadavar's very own
label Robotor Records. The 7" is limited to 1500 copies and comes in
five different colors
(black, red, orange, white and blue) along with different bundle package
options that are now available for pre-order via the bands web stores:
European
Union and USA.
(February 26, 2021).
- Marky Ramone's signature printed motorcycle shoulder bag was released
in 2020.
Bag is a collaboration product Marky did with the Tripp NYC and
legendary
Trash And
Vaudeville.
Marky's signature is printed on the front and Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg
logo on the back of the bag. Adjustable shoulder straps. Zipper closure
on top. This is 100% vegan "leather". Fully lined. See more
information of Marky Ramone's
signature products here. (December 25, 2020)
- Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg had to postpone or cancel lot of shows due
to the coronavirus pandemic. Many of those shows were postponed from
June-July (2020) to June-July 2021. Some shows were canceled but there
are also new venues and cities in that tour.
If the coronavirus pandemic let Marky and his band tour in 2021, Marky
Ramone's Blitzkrieg will play for example in France, Germany, Ireland,
Italy, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom. See
more details here.
(December 13, 2020)
- Marky Ramone is doing in three days in Texas, USA, event that has
screening of Ramones related
Rock'N'Roll High School movie and Q&A. First is an exclusive
screening
of movie and it is followed by an intimate Q&A with Marky himself. Every
ticket guarantees a photo with Marky as well as an autograph. Events
are:
March 12, 2020: EVO Entertainment, San Marcos, TX, USA.
March 13, 2020: EVO Entertainment, Kyle, TX, USA.
March 14, 2020: EVO Entertainment Schertz, Schertz, TX, USA. (March 6,
2020)
- Marky Ramone is doing with his band extensive tour in Europe in
June-July. There are shows in Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands,
Norway, Sweden, UK, Ireland, Poland, Macedonia, Italy, Serbia, Slovakia,
Hungary, Austria and Spain. See dates here. (March 5, 2020)
- Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg punkrock full show at the
7th annual Rock
Against MS benefit concert and award show on March 30, 2019. Rock
Against MS is at the Palace Theatre in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Rock
Against MS Foundation is currently focused on a brick and mortar
facility they will call The Rock House, is in the planning stages,
offering free support groups, integrative therapies, creative and
educational workshops to all those whose lives have been affected by MS
designed to heal the mind, body and spirit of all those whose lives have
been affected by MS. Read
more here. (March 19, 2019)
More Marky Ramone news
in my archive.
- Jeffrey Ross Hyman became Joey Ramone in 1974. Now his brother Mickey
Leigh celebrate 50th years of Joey Ramone when he organize Joey Ramone
Birthday Bash. Mickey (and also earlier mother Charlotte Lesher) are
organized Birthday Bash every year since 2001.
Also this year there appears many great musicians and bands. They
include Richie Ramone, Steve Conte of the New York Dolls etc., Jiro
(Okabe), Sic F*cks, Gobshites etc. MC's include Ramones tour manager
Monte A. Melnick and John Holmstrom. Joey Ramone Birthday Bash is at the
Bowery Electric in New York, USA on May 19, 2024. Age limit is 21 years.
(March 16, 2024).
- World lost drummer Chris Moye who played in Richie Ramone's band more
than 3,5 years. His fiancee Morgan Miller confirmed me in late December
that Chris passed away in Katy, Texas on December 26, 2023. She wrote
me that Chris was born on July 5, 1985. So world lost Chris at the age
of 38. He played also in other bands like Spunk. Also Chris had
played a show only some hours before he died.
First show Chris Moye played with Richie was at the Basement in
Copenhagen, Denmark on March 5, 2020. Then with them played as well
bassist Clare MissTake and guitarist Glenn Gilbert. Last show was
at the Teatro Cariola in Santiago, Chile on December 2, 2023. Bassist
was Clare and guitarist Txory Goni. I attended that show and five other
shows in that tour in South America. We had a great after party
after that last show in tour.
Next day Chris, Richie, Clare and me had a great feelings and laughs in
Santiago's (Chile) airport and we said "see you soon in 2024" when we
were returning back to our countries (USA and Finland). Chris was a
person who was always in happy feelings and cheering other people and he
had time for everyone. There is a big amount of hours we got to speak in
hotels, venues and cars while traveling etc. I updated to my Facebook 30
photos in memory of Chris. See
photos here. I ever saw him being in bad mood. You can certainly
see through those photos how he was as a person. Those photos are from
Edinburgh (UK, 2022), Leeds (UK, 2022), Santiago (Chile, 2022), Sao
Paulo (Brazil, 2023), Londrina (Brazil, 2023), Buenos Aires (Argentina,
2023), Solano / Buenos Aires (Argentina, 2023), Quilpue (Chile, 2023)
and Santiago (Chile, 2023). Photos are not in "time order." Thanks
Chris. R.I.P. (Updated: January 13, 2024)
- Richie Ramone, Clare Misstake, Chris Moye and Txory Goni toured
in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Chile in November-December 2023. There
were eight dates in Brazil, two in Argentina, one in Uruguay and three
in Chile. See dates
here. Argentinean Txory Goni played the first show in Richie's band
at the Centor Cultural Martin Cerere in Goiania, Brazil on November 10,
2023.
Txory Goni told me they had practised five days in Mexico before this
tour and Ronnie Simmons had helped him. He said this tour is like he is
living his dream.
We will see if Ronnie Simmons continue in the band or if he
only skip this tour in South America in 2023?
- Yes, I have been busy working in Australia with Rose Tattoo but
hopefully I'm available for the next South American tour!, Ronnie
Simmons wrote to me.
Band is promoting Richie's third solo album Live To Tell. Album was
released on April 21, 2023.
Only 3,5 weeks after this tour world lost Chris Moye. He passed away on
December 26, 2023. (Updated: December 28, 2023)
- Richie Ramone wrote his book titled I Know
Better Now: My Life Before, During, And After The Ramones together
with Peter Aaron. Book was released in English on November 27, 2018.
Richie Ramone informed in late August, 2023, that book is coming out in
Spanish soon.
Release date of Spanish edition I Know Better Now: My Vida Antes,
Durante Y Despues De Ramones is on November 21, 2023. Publisher of
Spanish edition is Pinhead Press (Pinhead Records). Version has 336
pages.
There are an meet and greet book signing events in Buenos Aires
(Argentina) and Chile (Santiago).
Buenos Aires: Strummer Bar at 18.00 on November 27, 2023.
Santiago: Que Leo / The Knife Music at 16.00 on November 29,
2023.
Richie Ramone, Clare MissTake, Chris Moye and Txory Goni
tour in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Chile in November-December. See
dates here. (Updated: November 26,
2023)
- Release date of Richie Ramone's third solo album Live To
Tell was on April 21, 2023. Richie released second video
(Suffocate) of it on October 30, 2023. See Suffocate
here. First video (Cry Little Sister) was published one year earlier
on November 1, 2022. Check out video of Cry Little Sister
here.
- Suffocate is a really hardcore song, feeling like you know I'm in a
straight jacket, I am trying to find self love, it's about self love. I
always like be myself father and try to do that. The words were made by
a woman called you Julifer Day. A friend of mine. She wrote those lyrics
and Old Ways lyrics, Richie Ramone told me in 2022 in Edinburgh,
Scotland.
Richie's third solo album Live To Tell has 12 songs. Labels of Live To
Tell are Livewire / Cargo Records and Outro Records. Live To Tell got
published as a CD, LP and digital. Read a lot of details of Live To
Tell from here. (November 7, 2023)
- Release date of Richie Ramone's third solo album Live To
Tell was on
April 21, 2023. Richie's first solo album is Entitled (2013)
and second Cellophane
(2016).
Live To Tell has 12 songs. Read a lot of details of Live To
Tell from here. Labels of Live To
Tell are Livewire / Cargo
Records and Outro Records. Live To Tell got published as a CD, LP and
digital. Buy LP
from here (Outro Records) and CD from
here (Cargo Records). Outro Records release clear vinyl (signed and
limited to 250 copies) and black vinyl.
Richie Ramone plans to support the release (Live To Tell) with a South
American tour in October, 2023, and with European dates to follow in
November 2023. See information of Richie Ramone's shows here on my Ramones
page. (May 28, 2023).
- Ronnie Simmons is an Australian-born, Los Angeles based, guitarist.
Ronnie is rocking in Richie Ramone's band. Ronnie told
me of his upcoming solo record. Album comes out in 2023. It has 15 songs
and Richie Ramone plays drums in most of the songs on it and Chris Moye
in few. Also Chris Moye is in Richie's band. He play drums when Richie
is singing in front of the stage at live.
Ronnie Simmons first show in Richie Ramone's band was on April 22, 2016.
After him guitarist was Glenn Gilbert. Gilbert's last shows with
Richie Ramone, Clare MissTake and Chris Moye were in Europe in March
2020. Ronnie returned to Richie's band in late 2021.
Ronnie Simmons is born on August 26, 1988, and he is also member of the
Faster Pussycat and Rose Tattoo. (February 28, 2023).
- Richie Ramone is one actor in Friday The 13th Vengeance 2: Bloodlines
horror movie (2022, Newton To Newton Productions) and that was one main
reason why he was interviewed for Zompire Horde Podcast on Valentine's
Eve on February 14, 2023. You can listen one hour long podcast also
afterwards, click here. Read
more of Friday The 13th Vengeance 2: Bloodlines movie here on my site.
Movie is sequel to Friday The 13th Vengeance (2019). Friday The 13th
Vengeance 2: Bloodlines was published on YouTube on October 7, 2022. You can
watch 108 minutes long
movie here. Friday The 13th Vengeance 2: Bloodlines is written and
directed by Jason Brooks. As I said, read more of movie here on my site. (February 15,
2023).
- Richie Ramone is one guest at the TerrorFest 2022. It is at The Lone
Star Convention & Expo Center in Conroe, TX, USA on December 17-18,
2022. This is first horror convention in Conroe. TerrorFest is produced
by Silverback Events. Other celebrities include Vinny Appice (Black
Sabbath and Dio), David Ellefson (Megadeth), Robert Mukes (actor),
Oliver Robins (writer, director, actor) etc.
Press release tells: "People can act in a real
film with famous celebrities from popular horror films you grew up
loving! Our Battle Of The Bands takes place on a professional stage
with optimal sound and lighting. The competing bands are judged by
famous rock stars and the production is filmed in 4k. Locals are able to
completely submerge themselves in our unique Christmas-themed horror
convention. There will also be a Costume Contest, Selfie Stations,
Escape Rooms, Haunted House, Celebrity signings, Gaming Room, Special FX
Workshops, Macabre Artists, Vendors, and much more."
Visit TerrorFest
Convention site here. (December 14, 2022)
- Richie Ramone completed a digital and 7' single: Not
Afraid / Cry Little Sister in spring 2022. More details here. Richie
did show to me and Pia video of Cry Little Sister
song in Edinburgh, UK, in September, 2022. World premiere of video is
on YouTube on October 31, 2022 (Halloween night). Check out
really cool video here. Richie Ramone is on it
Vampire King. That is also official video for the film Protege Moi.
Release date of Protege Moi is also October 31, 2022.
Robbie Lopez is a director and writer of the Protege Moi. It is action,
adventure and horror movie. Here is an introduction text: "Medieval
Vampire Horror on a Planet Ruled over by the Vampire King worlds oldest
and most cruel vampire, his chained female servants terrorize as Soelene
the outcast finds mortal love taking care of her sick human Mother."
See Protege Moi
trailer here. Richie Ramone's character name is Vampire King. Movie
is also starred with actors like Dave Sheridan, Felissa Rose, Chris
Wolfe, Masuimi Max and Tamara Glynn. As I said, release date of Cry
Little Sister video and of Protege Moi movie is October 31, 2022.
(Updated: October 29, 2022)
- Richie Ramone will play together with Clare Misstake, Ronnie Simmons
and Chris Moye in Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Guatemala in
November-December in 2022. Show in Uruguay got canceled but there is
now two shows in Londrina (Brazil) as is also in Santiago (Chile). See
details here. (Updated:
October 23, 2022)
- Richie Ramone is one actor in Friday The 13th Vengeance 2: Bloodlines
horror movie (2022, Newton To Newton Productions).
- Having recently gotten into acting, Richie Ramone shows his talents go
far beyond music and shows his abilities as an amazing actor as well. We
are beyond honored to Richie and his new music in our film, is written
in promo material.
New movie is sequel to Friday The 13th Vengeance (2019). Friday The 13th
Vengeance 2: Bloodlines was published on
YouTube on October 7, 2022. You can watch 108 minutes long
movie here or you can support movie makers and
buy movie and material related to it.
Friday The 13th Vengeance 2: Bloodlines is written and directed by Jason
Brooks. Story is by Jason Brooks (writer) and Kim Terreson (co-writer).
In this movie Elias Voorhees (C.J. Graham) is back and has plans for his
undead son Jason Voorhees (Jason Brooks) that involve bringing an end to
the Jarvis family once and for all. Lot of blood and murders.
Richie Ramone can be seen for the first time after 47 minutes of
watching. Richie Ramone is the touring musician who gets wrapped up in
the events around Camp Crystal Lake as they pass through town.
Road got closed and Richie was waiting to get to venue with
his band (people are other than who are in his real life band). After a
while you can see them again in this film and later Richie Ramone hit
drum stick for Jason Voorhees eye. Jason still continue walking...
Richie Ramone is kind of hero who help to rescue people etc. You can
see that in around after 60 minutes of watching. But Richie
dies in this Friday The 13th Vengeance 2: Bloodlines movie.
You can hear in this movie / soundtrack Richie Ramone's solo career
songs I Fix This (written by Richie Ramone / Ben Reagan) and Braggadocio
(Richie Ramone / Adam Bones). Other songs include Pamela Moore's
Sickness and Charlie Ryan's Annihilator.
Movie is also starred with actors like Tamara Glynn, C.J. Graham, Thom
Mathews, Darcy DeMoss, Tammie Smith and Kelly Tappan. Richie Ramone and
Tamara Glynn are both also in YouthQuake that is a family film adventure
rooted in Greek Mythology and wrapped in the challenges and conflicts of
modern day politics and religion. YouthQuake is expected to be released
on August 12, 2022. (Updated: October 21, 2022)
- I (Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone) met with Richie Ramone in Great Britain
in September, 2022. We did an interview and he did mention great news of
audio book version of the I Know Better Now: My Life
Before, During, And After The Ramones.
- I'll be doing audio book in October, 2022. I'll be reading tbe whole
book to fans, with my own voice which is gonna be really special. I
think reading will be a lot of fun and I can add little jokes in there
that goes along, told Richie to me in September, 2022.
Read more of I Know Better Now: My Life
Before, During And After here. Richie wrote this
book together with Peter Aaron.
I told Richie in Edinburgh (2022) how his book is really honest and
open-minded. For example Marky Ramone doesn't speak in his book of his
bands like The SpeedKings, The Misfits and Osaka Popstar. I recommend
you to read Richie's book.
- When you read my book, it is like we are sitting together at the bar
and I am telling stories. Because I am speaking very short sentences. I
don't have long sentences, so it sounds like me. When you are doing
autobiography the writer has to understand your voice. Have to
understand how you speak, Richie Ramone underlined in September, 2022.
(October 7, 2022)
- Richie Ramone will play with Clare Misstake, Ronnie Simmons and
Chris Moye nine shows in September, 2022, in the West Coast in the USA.
Support band is Go Betty Go. This tour is before Richie's tour in United
Kingdom and Ireland in same month (September). See dates here.
USA (West Coast) dates:
September 1, 2022: The Funhouse, Seattle, WA, USA.
September 2, 2022: High Water Mark, Portland, OR, USA.
September 3, 2022: Black Sheep Pub, Ashland, OR, USA.
September 4, 2022: Goldfield Trading Post, Sacramento, CA, USA.
September 5, 2022: Ivy Room, Albany, CA, USA.
September 6, 2022: Full Circle Brew, Fresno, CA, USA.
September 7, 2022: Cold Crush, Lancaster, CA, USA.
September 8, 2022: Tiki Bar, Costa Mesa, CA, USA.
September 9, 2022: The Paramount, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Richie Ramone played with his band 24 shows in East Coast USA in
March-April, 2022. See dates of all tours since 2010 here. (April
23, 2022)
- Richie Ramone will play with Clare Misstake, Ronnie Simmons and
Chris Moye 10 shows in United Kingdom and Ireland in
September, 2022. See dates here.
Richie Ramone and his band had to cancel / postpone many shows they
planned to do in Europe in 2020. They got to play 10 shows in March
5-15, 2020 until they had to stop because of covid-19. Richie and his
band planned to play in many countries in Europe in 2022 but in the end
they do only play in UK and Ireland (in Europe).
- Those are the only Europe dates I am doing this year. We have an
extensive European tour planned for next year (2023) as well as a new
album coming out, wrote Richie Ramone to me on April, 20, 2022.
September 13, 2022: The Workman's Cellar,
Dublin, Ireland.
September 14, 2022: Dolan's, Limerick,
Ireland.
September 15, 2022: Roisin Dubh, Galway,
Ireland.
September 16, 2022: Mike The Pies, Listowel,
Ireland.
September 17, 2022: The Deer's Head, Belfast,
UK.
September 18, 2022: Bannerman's Bar, Edinburgh,
UK.
September 20, 2022: The Constitutional, Leeds,
UK.
September 21, 2022: Waterloo Music Bar,
Blackpool, UK.
September 22, 2022: Real Time Live,
Chesterfield, UK.
September 23, 2022: The Black Heart, London,
UK.
Richie Ramone played with his band 24 shows in East Coast USA in
March-April, 2022, and there are going to be also West Coast USA tour
in summer 2022. See dates here. (April 20, 2022)
- Richie Ramone recently completed a new digital and 7' single: Not
Afraid / Cry Little Sister. Outro Records
published it. Cover song Cry Little Sister (check out video of song
here) is from the
movie Protege Moi. Robbie Lopez is a director and writer of the Protege
Moi. It is action, adventure and horror movie. Here is an introduction
text: "Medieval Vampire Horror on a Planet Ruled over by the Vampire
King worlds oldest and most cruel vampire, his chained female servants
terrorize as Soelene the outcast finds mortal love taking care of her
sick human Mother."
See Protege Moi
trailer here. Richie Ramone's character name is Vampire King. Movie
is also starred
with actors like Dave Sheridan, Felissa Rose, Chris Wolfe, Masuimi Max
and Tamara Glynn. Release date of Protege Moi is October 31, 2022.
Richie Ramone and Tamara Glynn are both in YouthQuake that is a family
film adventure rooted in Greek Mythology and wrapped in the challenges
and conflicts of modern day politics and religion. YouthQuake is
expected to be released on August 12, 2022. (April 19, 2022)
- Richie Ramone recently completed a new digital and 7' single: Not
Afraid / Cry Little Sister. Outro Records
published it along with a cover of Cry Little Sister (from the
movie Protege Moi). Check out video of song
here.
You can buy it from Outro Records or from streaming
platforms.
- This first single from his upcoming album proves he refuses to fit in
anyone's box. As he continues to push himself as an artist, we are the
fortunate ones who get to sit back and enjoy RocknRoll history being
created by a legitimate RocknRoll legend!, tells Outro Records'
staff.
There is two versions of 7' single: 1) black vinyl and 2) the limited
orange vinyl (only 300 pressed) with sleeve signed by Richie.
Single was released before Richie Ramone's tours. Richie, bassist
Clare Misstake, guitarist Ronnie Simmons and drummer Chris Moye started
an tour in the USA (March-April, 2022) and then are dates in Europe in
August-September (2022). See dates here.
Song is written by Marc Diamond (The Dwarves). Richie tells of Not
Afraid in
The Houston Press's article by Jesse Sendejas Jr.
- It's (Not Afraid) not really about covid. This song, first of all, was
written by Marc Diamond from The Dwarves. I was on tour with them two
years ago or three years ago and I said: "Marc, you've gotta write me a
song," and finally he wrote me this song. It really had nothing to do
with covid but I loved the lyric in it and it sounds great. Not many
people write songs for me and I was really pleased that somebody wrote
me a complete song that I could lyrically make my own, tells Richie
Ramone in The Houston Press's article.
AC Rock Reviews writes following of new single Not Afraid / Cry
Little Sister: "Too often do you see old school musicians sticking to
the same path and not pushing the boat out as much as they should. But,
this new single from Richie Ramone is not like that at all. Both these
songs sound fresh, energetic, catchy and distinct in their attention
stealing presence. The level of enthusiasm and cutting edge energy in
this song could easily fool you into believing this was released by a
new up and coming band, instead of a pioneer of the punk genre."
This is a first single from Richie Ramone in close to four years as The
Last Time single was released by Outro Records on iTunes on April 19,
2018: click
here to buy it / listen the sample.
So single was released by Outro Records.
- Outro Records will definitely be releasing the next Richie Ramone
album on vinyl, wrote Steve Pilace of Outro records.
DC-Jam
Records has published CD and LP versions of Richie Ramone's both
earlier solo albums Entitled
and Cellophane
(2016). (Update: April 5, 2022)
- Richie Ramone will first do an tour in the USA in March-April (2022)
and then in Europe in August-September (2022). There are shows in the
USA for example in Chicago, Dallas, Indianapolis, New Haven, New York
and Worcester. There are 24 shows. Public Nature will be
a support band in 17 shows, Amo and Dano in three shows and Jarett
Adloff Band in four shows. See all dates here.
Then later drummer-singer Richie Ramone, bassist Clare Misstake,
guitarist Ronnie Simmons and drummer Chris Moye arrives to Europe.
- Our Euro Tour starts August 11th, 2022, in Copenhagen, Denmark. Let's
hope Covid behaves itself!, wrote Richie Ramone to me (Jari-Pekka
Laitio-Ramone) on February 2, 2022.
Richie also told me that Ronnie Simmons is back in band. First show
Simmons had in Richie's band was on April 22, 2016. After him guitarist
was Glenn Gilbert. Gilbert's last shows with Richie, Clare and Chris
were in Europe in March 2020 until covid-19 stopped touring. So
now line-up is Richie Ramone, Clare Misstake, Chris Moye and
Ronnie Simmons. (March 3,2022)
- Richie Ramone hosts punk rock storytime at bookstore at Joseph
Sheridan's Village Works in New York, USA on February 5, 2022.
Sheridan's independent shop exclusively sells books from New York-based
authors. The East Village
cultural hub also showcases and sells the work of emerging artists.
Address is 90 E 3rd St Suite B, New York, NY 10003, USA.
Event starts at 1PM on February 5, 2022. Richie will read The
Unauthorized Biography - Ramones, that is a picture book for fans of
all ages to children ages 8
through 10. The Unauthorized Biography - Ramones is a book by Soledad
Romero Marino with illustrations by Joe Padilla. So it is an all-age
look at a rock band that defined a generation. It is a book for those
parents who want to introduce their early readers to the group.
Many of the Ramones are familiar with I Know Better Now: My Life
Before, During And After the Ramones book. Richie wrote this book
together with Peter Aaron. (February 1, 2022)
- Richie Ramone will first do an tour in the USA in March-April (2022)
and then in Europe in August-September (2022). There are shows in the
USA for example in Chicago, Dallas, Indianapolis, New Haven, New York
and Worcester. There are 24 shows. Public Nature will be
a support band in 17 shows, Amo and Dano in three shows and Jarett
Adloff Band in four shows. See all dates here.
Then later drummer-singer Richie Ramone, bassist Clare Misstake,
guitarist Ronnie Simmons and drummer Chris Moye arrives to Europe.
- Our Euro Tour starts August 11th, 2022, in Copenhagen, Denmark. Let's
hope Covid behaves itself!, wrote Richie Ramone to me on February 2,
2022.
Richie also told me that Ronnie Simmons is back in band. First show
Simmons had in Richie's band was on April 22, 2016. After him guitarist
was Glenn Gilbert. Gilbert's last shows with Richie, Clare and Chris
were in Europe in March 2020 until covid-19 stopped touring. (March 3,
2022)
- Richie Ramone is one guest at the New Jersey Horror Con and Film
Festival on November 12-14, 2021. Event is at the Showboat Hotel.
Address is 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, USA. He was asked to
New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival event as a member of the Ramones
and because of Cabin Fever 2. Richie Ramone's version of Somebody Put
Something In My Drink is in the Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever movie and
soundtrack.
Opening hours:
Friday November 12th 2021: 5PM-11PM.
Saturday November 13th 2021: 10AM-7PM.
Sunday November 14th, 2021: 10AM-5PM.
Other guests include Tamara Glynn, Felissa Rose, Dave Sheridan, Tyler
Mane, Naomi Grossman, Danny Pintauro, Mark Holton etc. etc. (October 15,
2021).
- Guitarist Glenn Gilbert played first shows in Richie Ramone's band on
March 14, 2018. Shows were that day in the USA: in Bethlehem, PA, and in
Easton, PA. Last shows Gilbert played with Richie were in Europe in
March, 2020, until covid-19 stopped touring. He has no chance to play
in Richie's band anymore. Gilbert wrote in Fall 2021:
- Richie Ramone is a friend, a good guy and someone who showed me the
world. I am leaving his band a better musician than when I joined and I
met the love of my life on tour with him. His music is amazing and his
setlist is impeccable. Catch him on tour if you can!, Gilbert told.
(October 15, 2021).
- Richie Ramone and his band had to postpone tour they planned to do in
the USA in October-November, 2021. Richie wrote in early September:
"Hey everyone, due to the current spike in Covid cases, the band and I
feel that it is best to postpone the tour till March. We just don't feel
right about putting our fans in harms way unnecessarily. Be safe and
keep an eye out for some new music coming soon. Peace, Richie
Ramone."
Richie Ramone and his band had to cancel / postpone many shows they
planned to do in Europe in 2020. They got to play 10 shows in March
5-15, 2020 until they had to stop because of covid-19. Richie and his
band hope to play again in Europe in 2022. They want to play in some
same clubs again. These are venues, cities and countries where they hope
to punkrock. (September 3, 2021).
- The Midwest Monster Film Fest is the horror film festival and pop
culture covention on September 3-5, 2021. Festival is in the Quad Cities
area (USA), which consists of Moline & Rock Island of Illinois, and
Davenport & Bettendorf of Iowa, along the mighty Mississippi River. It
is open to the public, and local patrons are encouraged to attend. This
year's guest include Richie Ramone.
Organizers says their goal is to provide a showcase for indie filmmakers
who will have the opportunity to have their work seen and appreciated by
fellow horror lovers, scored by a panel of judges where the top films
win an award, as well as the chance to network with others in the field.
The film festival takes place on September 3-4 2021, during the second
annual Midwest Monster Fest horror convention, held at The Rust Belt in
East Moline, IL. This three day event features celebrity guests and
panel discussions, an fx competition, a cosplay contest, vendors galore,
an awards ceremony for the winning filmmakers, and an after party to
celebrate the fest. This year's guests include in addition to Richie
Ramone C.J. Graham, Linnea Quigley, Thom Matthews, Rob Mello, Marc
Price, Clint Howard..... (August 15, 2021)
- As I told in March, 2021, Indy PopCon is at the Indiana Convention
Center, Indiana, USA, on July 9-11, 2021, and Richie Ramone and CJ
Ramone will be guests there in those three days:
"Our convention is an opportunity for fans of popular culture to gather
and celebrate their hobbies and interact with other fans. With attendees
expected to enjoy a culture of comic books, video games, science
fiction, and entertainment, and a total fan experience. Music is one of
our genres that hasn't often been featured well, so
this July we are turning the volume all the way up to 10! Please
welcome both Richie Ramone and CJ Ramone from the Ramones to PopCon Indy
2021! We couldn't be more excited to bring in legends. Get your tix to
meet them July 9-11, 2021", is written in newsletter. More
details here.
So Richie Ramone and CJ
Ramone will be guests there in those three days (July 9-11) and they are
in some 10-20 minutes long panel interviews. See schedules here.
You also has a chance to grab a photo with them by professional
photographer. Photo
with CJ Ramone cost US$$ and with Richie Ramone also US$$. Details are:
"One photo op ticket is good for two adults and up to three children
under 16 in the same photo with the celebrity guest(s). You will
receive one 8x10" print and a digital download of your photo op.
Session times can be referenced on the photo op schedule. The schedule
is released approximately 2-3 weeks prior to the event." You can ticket
to photo
session here. (Update: July 6, 2021)
- Positive Motion Pictures produces and distributes positivity and
uplifting films and content. Positive Motion Produces was created late
2020 by industry pros.
They are working with TV series Rivals. Casting is/was in May 2021.
Richie Ramone was chosen to cast. Cast include also Hector David Jr,
Tamara Glynn and Alexa Ketchum. All four are also in the cast of
YouthQuake that is a family film adventure rooted in Greek Mythology and
wrapped in the challenges and conflicts of modern day politics and
religion. (May 21, 2021)
- YouthQuake is a family film adventure rooted in Greek Mythology and
wrapped in the challenges and conflicts of modern day politics and
religion. Casting began in January, 2021, Richie Ramone star in this
family film adventure. YouthQuake filming started in late March,
2021.
Richie Ramone's role name is Ody. Other people in cast include for
example Tamara Glynn (known from Halloween 5), Hector
David Jr., Sofia Lauren, Gigi Leighton, Alexa Ketchum, Gabriella
Estabrook, Kiley Opsal, Gianna Angela, Mike McRobert and Kevin
Siegelbaum YouthQuake is written by Dominic Giannetti. Giannetti is also
executive producer. (March 31, 2021)
- Finnish guitarist god Alexi Laiho died due to complications from
unspecified "long-term health issues" in late December 2020. Date is
not confirmed. He was only 41 years old. Singer-guitarist Alexi Laiho
and drummer Jaska Raatikainen founded Children Of Bodom (name was first
IneartheD) in 1993. Children Of Bodom became famous melodic death metal
band and they sold some million records. Alexi Laiho received widespread
acclaim for his guitar work. In 2009, Laiho was voted the best metal
guitarist in the world by the readers of Guitar World magazine.
The Children Of Bodom split up after 26 years in 2019. After Children of
Bodom Laiho founded the act Bodom After Midnight. Alexi Laiho had also
other bands like Sinenergy and a side-project trio called
Kylähullut together with Vesku Jokinen of Finnish punk band
Klamydia and Tonmi Lillman of Sinergy / Lordi.
Children Of Bodom covered the opening track Somebody Put Something In My
Drink of the Ramones album Animal Boy. Song is written by Richie
Ramone.
- Another very talented musician, gone too soon. I never got to meet
Alexi Laiho personally, but I really enjoyed his interpretation of
Somebody Put Something In My Drink. Godspeed..., wrote Richie Ramone to
me on January 5, 2020.
I (Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone) had played Children Of Bodom's version of
Somebody Put Something In My
Drink to Richie long time ago and I wanted to inform him of Laiho's
passing.
I did interview with Children Of Bodom's Alexi Laiho to
my second book Rock In Peace:
Dee Dee And Joey Ramone. It was great surprise to hear this news of
their cover version in 2002 and also how enthusiastic Alexi Laiho was
when I spoke of their version with him in 2003. Listen their version
here or here.
- The original version of Somebody Put Something In My Drink contains
such megacool vocals, sounds proper woozy amusement. Also lyrics are
great, like the whole song. Somehow in those words everything is just
good going, and sometimes you also have a similar feeling in real life,
tells Alexi Laiho in my book Rock In Peace: Dee Dee And Joey Ramone.
Somebody Put Something In My Drink is B-side of Children Of Bodom's
You're Better Off Dead! single which quickly gone gold in Finland in
2002. It is included also to Children Of Bodom's compilation cover album
titled Skeletons In The Closet (2009). Their death metal version of this
song is a pretty different kind of blitzkrieg than what the Ramones did,
but it seems to work really, really well.
- It was great for our single to do such a cover which our group of fans
didn't expect. I think our version was a success. We don't try to be too
tricky, but we do the wholeness of the tune quite straight. My vocals
came pretty naturally, considering that I don't sing in clear voice,
told Alexi Laiho to me in 2003.
Children Of Bodom also played song from time to time at
live. Here are some more comments that Alexi Laiho tells in my second
book Rock In Peace: Dee Dee And Joey Ramone.
- I got to know Ramones, when my older sister was fan of them. It happen
in late 1980's when I was younger than 10 years old, so I've liked the
Ramones since I was a small brat. Of course I didn't understand anything
of punk at that age, but music sounded cool. My favourites are the
records from the 1980's like Brain Drain. As a musician I've been
fascinated especially of it how Johnny Ramone forms chords, playing
downward strokes with his right hand, told Alexi Laiho to me (Jari-Pekka
Laitio-Ramone) in 2003. (January 5, 2020).
- Richie Ramone is doing a new record... I (Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone)
got an excellent surprise call. Richie Ramone called me for 20 minutes
as he wanted to gongralute me of 25th Anniversary of my site Ramonesheaven.com. We spoke of
many things.
Richie's first solo album is Entitled (2013) and
second solo album is Cellophane (2016).
Jari-Pekka: You did mention for me great news that you are writing new
songs and album.
Richie: I have a lot of good new songs. This album is probably gonna be
darker than my first two records, it's just gonna be dark.
It's just where my mind is at. It's just like: "Help me, I'm falling,
I'm drowning!" - that's the kind of record this is gonna be, Richie
told me.
Jari-Pekka: You has dark feelings...
Richie: Yea, so that's how I'm feeling it. "I'm drowning, there's
weight" and that's what this record is gonna be. But it's gonna be
punkrock and it's gonna be hardcore and it's gonna be "In Your Face!" I
have a great hardcore song that I did when we were in Germany,
Richie did continue. (November 25, 2020)
- Richie Ramone wrote about Headcheese
The Movie and told it is a fun
flick! It is directed by Robbie Lopez. It is 70 minutes long. Background
details tells: "Join Richie Ramone from the iconic punk band The Ramones
as he is stuck in a small town surrounded by hillbillies, flesh eating
trolls, a obsessed waitress, a goofy Sheriff and Deputy with itchy
trigger finger."
Headcheese The Movie is also starring Jeff Vaughn and Chris Stimac.
Supporting actors are Mark Dodson, Robbie Lopez, Doug Todd, Ben Ulrich,
Adam Fletcher and Alyssia Paige. Genres of movie are comedy and horror.
People who are watch this wrote comments: "The characters are so over
the top, yet down to earth. I grew up in a small town in Texas and knew
several people just like this. It was that throwback to the 80's horror
movies that I loved. Great time for a good laugh and easy to follow."
and "If you are into cheesy "horror" films this is for you. The chef
with the apron and Richie are great!" (August 7,
2020)
- Richie Ramone sent a message on June 23, 2020, that he is supporting
SHARE! project to
end the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles, USA. Richie did video
you can see here. He tells on it for example:
"Since I moved to Los Angeles 10 years ago, the homeless situation has
gone worse, worse and worse."
Then Richie tells of the impact of covid-19 and he continues: "I want to
do something and I want all you to help out too. SHARE!, we find housing
for the homeless in LA, immediately housing, collaborative housing. We
really need you to donate now 'cause so many more people are on the
street than ever before. Text: sharelove to 243725 and donate today.",
Richie tells.
So please join Richie and text sharelove to 243725 and donate. To people
living outside of the USA, here are ways to do payment
to SHARE!.
Here are links to some news I found of homeless situation in Los
Angeles: CBS
News and
Los
Angeles Times. (June 23, 2020)
- There was Virtual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash on May 19, 2020. Because
of coronavirus there were no permission to organize live music event in
New York in May 2020 (and for many months ahead that is forbidden).
One highlight in Virtual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash was video Richie
Ramone did one day earlier with Steve Fiddleboy Miller. Richie sang and
Miller did play guitar and sang backvocals.
Look great video here.
They recorded video in countryside. Video and music has country and rock
elements. It is medley of songs. First Richie Ramone and Steve Fiddleboy
Miller are doing Howlin' At The Moon that was written and recorded by
Hank Williams. It rose to #3 on the country singles chart in 1951. Then
video and their performance jump to Ramones song Somebody Put Something
In My Drink. And then to another Ramones song: Howling At The Moon
(Sha-La-La).
- The medley seemed like a natural, as Ramones and Hank Williams both
recorded songs called Howling At The Moon. So, sandwiching that with
Somebody Put Something In My Drink (one of Richie's songs) just seemed
to fit, wrote Steve Fiddleboy Miller to me in June 21, 2020.
So you can see great video
here. Miller has a long history and friendship with Richie
Ramone.
- Played with Richie Ramone in a couple bands before he joined the
Ramones, and have stayed good friends ever since, told Miller.
He is multi-instrumentalist, touched by the influences of several music
genres. I asked from Miller what are those old bands. Is one The
Velveteens?
- Met Richie when he replaced a drummer that wanted to play guitar in a
band called Whiteboys. Over maybe over the course of two years,
personnel changed until we stayed a three piece. We rehearsed a couple
blocks from there Capitol Theater, and remember having a heck of a time
finding parking the night The Who played there. The band just sort of
faded, not making any headway, Steve Fiddleboy Miller wrote to me in
June 21.
Then Miller started a band called Ambulance.
- Richie agreed to fill in as drummer until we could find a permanent
one. He was already playing with a couple other bands by that time. Did
record a couple tunes that were released cassette only. There was
renewed interest in Ambulance. So I put together a CD of
some old and new stuff - two tunes, Richie did the drumming on, Miller
did mention.
Richie Ramone tells in his book I Know Better Now: My Life
Before, During, And After The Ramones (2018) that those Ambulance
songs are
Tonight and Believe In You. CD is titled Planet You and you
can buy it here. You can also buy and listen separate tracks:
Believe
in You and Tonight.
They were recorded circa 1979-1980. In his
book Richie for example mention following of Miller:
- In early 1978, I saw and ad in the Aquarian for an originals-only band
in the Bloomfield/Montclair area called Whiteboys, who were looking for
a drummerm and I went to try out. Most of their songs were written by
Steve Miller, who sang lead and played guitar. Steve was a cool guy:
we're still friends today. I liked the sound of the band. It was snotty
and punky and had a little hard rock to it, maybe some Alice Cooper or
Thin Lizzy, Richie tells in his book that he wrote together
with Peter Aaron.
So Ambulance's CD is titled Planet You and you
can buy it here. You can also buy and listen separate tracks:
Believe
in You and Tonight.
You can order Richie's book from
Amazon.com
or from
Amazon.co.uk. (Updated: June 23, 2020)
- Because of coronavirus there is no permission to organise
live music events in New York in May 2020 (and for many months ahead).
So 2020 is first year when there is no Joey Ramone Birthday Bash for
live audience on May 19, after we lost Joey Ramone on April 15, 2001.
Joey's brother Mickey Leigh announced in early May that he will
organise Joey Ramone VIRTUAL Birthday Bash on May 19, 2020. Birthday
Bash is a memorial event to Joey on his birthday (May 19). This is 19th
Joey Ramone Birthday Bash.
- Just didn't feel right to let the day go by un-celebrated, told Leigh
on Joey
Ramone's Fabebook page on May 3, 2020.
Mickey wrote more details on May 16.
- You don't need a ticket, you don't need a plane, train or automobile.
you don't anything more than you have right now. Just come back here
(Facebook) on May 19th at 8PM EST and we'll all celebrate the birth,
life, and music of Joey Ramone together!
CJ Ramone, Richie Ramone, Clem Burke (Blondie/ two shows in the
Ramones), Andy Shernoff (Dictators, The Master Plan), Knox (Vibrators),
Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols) & Earl Slick, Barb Wire Dolls, Tracy
Thornton, Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick), Chris
Frantz (Talking Heads), Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads), Jesse Malin
(D-Generation, Bellvue), Vernon Reid (Living Colour), Ed Stasium
(producer), Monte A. Melnick (tour manager), John Holmstrom (Punk
Magazine) and Allan Arkush (director) are among of bands and people
who are featuring performances and speeches at Joey Ramone Virtual
Birthday Bash at Joey
Ramone Fabebook.
So event starts at 8PM EST. That time is for example 9PM in Brazil, 1AM
in United Kingdom, 2AM in France, Spain, Germany and Sweden, 3AM in
Finland and Moscow (Russia), 9AM in Tokyo (Japan) and 10AM in Melbourne
(Australia).
Donations to the Joey Ramone Foundation for Lymphoma Research will be
optional and greatly appreciated. (Updated: May 16, 2020)
- Richie Ramone has the reading / question&answer / interview event at
the Ramones Museum Berlin in Berlin, Germany on March 16, 2020. Read
more of Richie's book titled I Know Better
Now: My Life Before, During, And After The Ramones here.
You can order book from
Amazon.com
or from
Amazon.co.uk.
(March 13, 2020)
- Richie Ramone was going to tour with his band in Europe in
March-April,
2020. There were dates in Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech
Republic, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Switzerland and Spain.
See dates here. Sadly lot of dates had to
cancel because of coronavirus problem. Like there were planned to
have four shows in Italy.
- Italy shows have cancelled, wrote Richie Ramone to me in March 8,
2020.
Richie did rocked with his band shows in March 5-13 and March 14. Also
Richie has the reading / question&answer / interview event at the
Ramones Museum Berlin in Berlin, Germany on March 16, 2020. Read more
of Richie's book titled I Know Better
Now: My Life Before, During, And After The Ramones here.
You can order book from
Amazon.com
or from
Amazon.co.uk.
Also in this tour Richie did main vocals. In many songs he
does sing in
front and in many songs he is drumming and singing at the same time.
Bassist is Clare Misstake and guitarist is Glenn Gilbert. Another
drummer is Chris Moye. First show where Moye played was at the Basement
in Copenhagen, Denmark on March 5, 2020.
- He is fucking great. Sold-out Copenhagen. Shows are doing really well,
wrote Richie on March 8, 2020. (Update: March 13,
2020).
- Andy Kaos Vehnekamp is not playing with Richie anymore in 2020 but I
want to keep this information of Vehnekamp on my site as a part of
history.
So this I composed in 2019: I want to tell of background of new member
in Richie Ramone's
band: Andy Kaos Vehnekamp is playing drums. Richie sing but he also
still play drums insome songs. Clare Misstake is bassist and Glenn
Gilbert guitarist.
Ben Wah Reagan played rhythm guitar and drums in Richie's
band for many years, like already in 2012. They had tour in the USA in
October 2018. Ben Wah Reagan played in seven shows
in that tour. Then Andy Kaos Vehnekamp played in last eight shows in
that tour in October 2018.
- Yes, I took over when Ben left mid-tour (2018). Richie met up with The
Guillotines, then I stepped in. The first gig I did with Richie was in
Atlanta Georgia at Star Community Bar (October 12, 2018). Super fun,
also had a special guest onstage that night, Joe Queer from the
legendary Queers. I have sent a photo of Richie, Joe, and myself on
stage, wrote Andy to me.
See photo in right. It has copyright mark: Will Cal Photograph.
Andy is happy to play with Richie, Clare and Glenn.
- As a permanent member of the Richie
Ramone band it is challenging, and rewarding. We are all becoming
friends, and look to be with Richie as long as he can go, wrote
Andy.
The Guillotines was doing support band shows for Richie Ramone's band in
October 2018, so Andy played then in some nights two shows.
- I have been playing professionally for about 30 years. Musically a
mix of punk rock and thrash metal. I spent most of the times in
Chicago, USA, then I moved to Texas, USA. The band's I have mostly
worked with have been local acts that would get on big tours, wrote Andy
after tour in South America in early August, 2019.
Show at Valentino in Londrina, Brazil on July 18, 2019 was first show
after Richie had a operation close to his heart on March 31, 2019.
Operation was success. Richie Ramone wrote on April 5, 2019.
- It's been a tough couple of weeks, but I just wanted to let everyone
know I am back home and resting. Thank you for all the love and get
well wishes! Ramones fans are the best in the world and I am so grateful
to have you in my corner, Richie wrote.
Read more (and see photos) of show at Valentino in Londrina,
Brazil on July 18, 2019 here.
See all tour dates here. (Updated:
March 8, 2020)
- Los Wezos is a band from Buenos Aires, Argentina. They released album
named El Principio Del Final in September, 2019. Richie Ramone does play
drums in four songs on it. Album has 12 songs and Richie drums in
Fuerzas Para Aguantar, Mala Religion, Perdedor and El Principio Del
Final. You can also hear his voice and hand clapping
in few songs in album. El Principio Del Final is around 20 minutes long
and it has high-octane and catchy punkrock songs with great and
positive attitude. You can
listen album here. It does not
matter if you do not understand Spanish (songs are in Spanish). See
more photos and information
here.
Band members are:
Rodrigo Goni aka Chory Von Creeper: guitar, keyboards and vocals.
Daniela Acosta Cura aka Dhany 6: bass and vocals.
Facundo Percossi aka Facu Kadaver: drums and backvocals.
I asked more details from Rodrigo Demian Voncreeper. Rodrigo sent
message to Richie Ramone and to his manager Jeff Jones.
- I sent five demo songs. I wrote that we can search a good recording
studio close to his hotel when he comes next time to play in Buenos
Aires if he is interested. Jones replied and said Richie wants to know
more details. He said he can can do something with us the next time
they are in Buenos Aires, Rodrigo Demian Voncreeper explained to
me.
Richie Ramone and his band played in Buenos Aires in July, 2019.
- Jeff Jones called and we spoke of details. We never did expect and
believe Richie Ramone really comes. He came. I still can't believe I was
playing with him. I realize it when I look the footage of that day.
First Richie said he only plays in one song. Then he asked to show him
another song and he said let's do it. Jeff Jones said they need to go to
make an interview. Richie said he wants to do more songs with us,
Rodrigo Demian Voncreeper wrote.
So in the end Richie plays in four songs and you can also hear his voice
on record.
- Also his hand clapping in two songs. It is hard to explain how humble,
great and warm-hearted man Richie was to us. I think that was one of
greatest day in my life. We possibly play as his support band in some
shows in 2020, Rodrigo tells.
So you
can listen album here.
One video featuring Richie Ramone you can
see here. (Updated: January 11, 2020).
- Richie Ramone was going to play with his band three shows in the USA
in March and 26 shows in Europe in March-April. Those shows were
canceled in February because of health issues. Richie had a operation
close to his heart on March 31, 2019. Operation was success. Richie
Ramone wrote on April 5, 2019.
- It's been a tough couple of weeks, but I just wanted to let everyone
know I am back home and resting. Thank you for all the love and get
well wishes! Ramones fans are the best in the world and I am so grateful
to have you in my corner, Richie wrote.
I asked from Richie of his health situation in May 10, 2019. I am really
relieved that friend is doing well.
- I am doing great. Back to normal and we start touring again in July.
Tell everyone I am in good spirits and I'm back on my feet, Richie told
to me in May 10, 2019.
Here is older information... Richie Ramone wrote on February 15: "- TOO
TOUGH TO DIE.. but not too tough to skip this little medical tweak my
doc is insisting on. So while I'm strong as ever, I do need to get in
the shop and have it fixed. Unfortunately, it needs to happen in the
next few weeks (days?).. and so I need to reschedule my March and April
tour dates. Disappointing for sure but.. I'm in real good shape, I have
no fear.. and next time I see you I'll be as loud and fast as ever",
Richie Ramone wrote on February 15, 2019.
Richie Ramone will inform me when he has chance to continue playing at
live. Now it is of course most important that he rest.
Update:
Richie wrote to me on May 10, 2019, that he will start touring again in
July, 2019. Dates are announced soon...
See dates here.
(Updated: May 10, 2019)
- Richie Ramone is guest at the Big Apple Comic Con. It is at the Hotel
Pennsylvania, NYC, USA, on March 9-10, 2018. Richie is appearing at the
convention in both days. There are appearing also for example
David Gerrold, Jim Steranko, Bill Griffith, Diane Noomin and Larry
Welz. Read more information
here. (February 14, 2019)
More Richie Ramone
news in my archive.
CJ RAMONE/ WARD
- After years of planning and tireless collaboration from the punk
collective, The
Punk Rock Museum opened its doors on April 1, 2023. It
is located in Las Vegas in Nevada, USA. The Punk Rock Museum houses
inclusive and intimate display of artifacts, fliers, photos, clothing,
instruments, handwritten lyrics, artwork, and just about everything else
donated by the people and bands who were there. You can see there of
course also a lot Ramones related items.
CJ Ramone is doing guided tours at the The Punk Rock Museum on
September 20-22, 2024.
- Hear my story of the history of punk, CJ told.
Book
guided
tours here. Tour guided by CJ cost 100 dollars. CJ has guided people
also earlier in this museum.
(September 15, 2024)
- Me First And The Gimme Gimmes is pretty legendary band founded in
1995. CJ Ramone played as a bassist first shows with the Me First And
The Gimme Gimmes in 2018-2019. About dates in 2024: Me First And The
Gimme Gimmes toured in June-July in Europe and
they tour in August-September in USA and in October-November in
Australia. See dates
here. (Upated: August 17, 2024).
- There is a memorial event for Johnny Ramone at the
Hollywood Forever Cemetery in LA, USA on June 2, 2024. It was
sold-out weeks before the event. There is
performing project band Cretin Commandos that is featuring Tim
Armstrong (Rancid, ex-Operation Ivy), CJ Ramone, Billy Idol, Fred
Armisen and some surprise guests. DJ is Shepard Fairey. Gates open at
6PM, Cretin Commandos starts at 7.15PM and then is Pulp Fiction (movie)
30th anniversary deluxe screeing presened by actor John Travolta.
Admission is 35 dollars. So it got sold-out in advance.
People may bring blankets, pillows, low chairs
(seat no more than 6" high), and picnics. There will be onsite food and
beverage for purchase. This event is rain or shine. Main person behind
the event is Johnny's wife Linda.
Statue/monument in honour of Johnny was unveiled by Linda on January 14,
2005. Read more
of statue here. Dee Dee Ramone's grave is close of Johnny's
statue.
In addition to Pulp Fiction (1994) John Travolta has had leading roles
for example in Carrie (1976), Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Grease
(1978). Pulp Fiction directed by Quentin Tarantino is a genre-defying
masterpiece that captivates with its blend of dark humor, intense
violence, and philosophical depth. The film follows interconnected
storylines involving hitmen, a boxer, a mob boss, and various eccentric
characters navigating the gritty underworld of Los Angeles. Through its
non-linear narrative structure, Pulp Fiction keeps viewers engaged as it
explores themes of morality, redemption, and chance. With its iconic
dialogue, memorable scenes, and standout performances, Quentin
Tarantino's film remains a timeless classic that continues to thrill
audiences worldwide. (Updated: May 30, 2024)
- There is a cool mini festival at the Foro Indie Rocks in Mexico City,
Mexico on Februay 23-24, 2024. Event named Treasure Club International -
A Two Day Pop Up Of NYC's Treasure Club has many bands, artists, DJ's
etc. Main band of first day (February 23) is CJ Ramone & The Fast
Movers. Other bands that night are Promiseland, Gnarcissists and Flasyd.
Fran Healy of Travis is main artist in second day.
Audra Angeli-Morse from CJ's management wrote that line-up for this CJ
Ramone & Fast Movers show is CJ, Dan Root and Pete Sosa. Dan and Pete
have played a lot with CJ. Dan Root punkrocked first shows with CJ in
2012 and Pete Sosa in 2015 with CJ what I look at from details on my
site.
CJ has had
many line-up's but for a long time with CJ, Dan and Pete played together
with Steve Soto (RIP 2018). Now they do play as a trio.
Back to event in Mexico.... During Treasure Club International - A Two
Day Pop Up Of NYC's Treasure
Club you has also chance to see art of people like Ramones
creative director Arturo Vega, Richard
Hambleton, Erik Foss, Johnny Yerington, Lisa Brownlee and Kauri Sievers.
(Updated: February 15, 2024).
- After years of planning and tireless collaboration from the punk
collective, The
Punk Rock Museum opened its doors on April 1, 2023. It
is located in Las Vegas in Nevada, USA. The Punk Rock Museum houses
inclusive and intimate display of artifacts, fliers, photos, clothing,
instruments, handwritten lyrics, artwork, and just about everything else
donated by the people and bands who were there. You can see there of
course also a lot Ramones related items.
CJ Ramone and Andrew "Pinch" Pinching did as a members of the Me First
And The Gimme Gimmes guided tours at the The Punk Rock Museum on May
26-29, 2023. Now CJ Ramone is doing guided tours again.
- I am giving guided tours from February 15th-18th, 2024. Two tours a
day at 12:30PM and 4PM. In between I'll be pounding creamy pints of
Guinness at the The Triple Down and then (after I'm well stewed) giving
tattoos at The Shop at The Punk Rock Museum. This is your chance to hear
some stories, have a pint with, and get tattooed by me!!! Disclaimer; I
am not a tattoo artist, but I will scar you, CJ Ramone wrote.
Book guided
tours here. (January 28, 2024)
- CJ Ramone told me first time around 2010 that he is working with a
book. Then 2013 he did mention he is working with his memorials
daily.
- It is gonna be more about my entire life, not just my years with the
Ramones, said CJ in October 2013.
I met with CJ in Berlin, Germany on August 6, 2023. We did an
interview. I asked what is the situation with the book.
- I stopped writing a long time ago. I have a whole bunch of pages
written. I might pick it back at some point but right now I have no
any plans to finish it, told CJ to me. (August 12,
2023)
- Me First And The Gimme Gimmes are touring in Europe in July-August
2023. They are doing punkrock at least in following dates:
July 28, 2023: Tsunami Xixon Festival, Gijon,
Spain.
July 29, 2023: Barna'N'Roll, Barcelona,
Spain.
August 1, 2023: Dynamo, Eindhoven,
Netherlands.
August 2, 2023: Zakk, Dusseldorf, Germany.
August 4, 2023: BrakRock, Duffel, Belgium.
August 5, 2023: Fährmannfest, Hanover,
Germany.
August 6, 2023: SO36, Berlin, Germany.
August 8, 2023: Backstage Werk, Munich,
Germany.
August 9, 2023: Punk Rock Holiday, Tolmin,
Slovenia.
August 10, 2023: Rocco Del Schlacko 2023,
Puttlingen, Germany.
Some other bands in this festival are Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls,
Sido and Donots.
August 11, 2023: Taubertal,
Rothenburg Ob Del Tauber, Germany.
August 12, 2023: Open Flair Festival, Escwege,
Germany.
August 13, 2023: Beky Bay, Igea Marina,
Italy. See all Me First And
The Gimme Gimmes dates here. (Updated: July
13,2023)
- After years of planning and tireless collaboration from the punk
collective, The
Punk Rock Museum opened its doors on April 1, 2023. It
is located in Las Vegas in Nevada, USA. The Punk Rock Museum houses
inclusive and intimate display of artifacts, fliers, photos, clothing,
instruments, handwritten lyrics, artwork, and just about everything else
donated by the people and bands who were there. You can see there of
course also a lot Ramones related items.
One special thing is a guitar room where people can play the actual
guitars and basses played through the amps the artists played them
through. Museum informs: "We have guitars and amps from Rise Against,
NOFX, Pennywise, Sick of it All, Strung Out, and many more. Yes you
can actually PLAY THEM. A lot of people ask, "what happens if something
gets broken?" The simple answer, we fix it - just like we did on
tour."
CJ Ramone and Andrew "Pinch" Pinching did as a members of the Me First
And The Gimme Gimmes guided tours at the The Punk Rock Museum on May
26-29, 2023. They were in Las Vegas also because Me First And The Gimme
Gimmes played at the Punk Rock Bowling And Music Festival on May 26,
2023. See other dates by Me First And The Gimme
Gimmes here.
In those days in late May CJ Ramone was a guest tattoo artist in The
Punk Rock Museum's tattoo parlor (The Shop).
- CJ Ramone was there giving tours and tattoo's too!! I got both! CJ is
an amazing human. Such a great guy! And his wife was very nice too! So
cool, wrote to me Jake Coyner, who did attend Dee Dee Ramone's last
real show on May 25, 2002.
See photos and
texts of the show here.
Address of the The
Punk Rock Museum: 1422 Western Ave., Las Vegas,
Nevada. Hours open 7 days, noon-10PM. (June 13,2023)
- Mosrite 70th Anniversary Super Bash was on January 28, 2023. Jiro
Okabe was main man behind of this event. He was owner of Mosrite
Guitars. That night (70th event) Jiro Okabe played together with
singer-bassist CJ Ramone, drummer Clem Burke (aka Elvis Ramone) and
guitarist Alex Kane. Venue was Maui Sugar Mill Saloon. Address: 18389
Ventura Blvd, Tarzana, CA 91356, USA.
Age limit was 21+. Event was free.
- Door opens at 7PM. This show will be packed, Jiro Okabe told in
advance.
And house was full. And full of happiness. Together with CJ Ramone, Jiro
Okabe, Clem Burke and Alex Kane played many songs Dez Cadena
(ex-Misfits, ex-Black Flag). Jiro had busy night also because he, Alex
and Tim Jimenez formed Jiro's solo band.
Night also featured artists like Tosha Jones and Sean Rowley. And
older musicians.
- Special announcement: legendary Deke Dickerson and his band on the
board for this special event performing Ventures, Jiro Okabe wrote
of Venturesmania in advance.
Janelle Barreto of Rocket was the MC for this historical rock
event. She also sang with The Mosriters special line-up. Also other
guests jumped on stage then.
- We were super excited to welcome Rayko of Lolita Dark to perform with
Mosriters at Mostite 70th Anniversary. She is worked on Eric Andre show
on Season 5 and many movies and film as an actress as well, Okabe told
of singer Rayko.
The Mosriters line-up consist at least of Rayko, Janelle Barrento, Tosha
Jones, Sean Rowley, Billy Bones of The Skulls, Rick Johnson and Nick
Alexander.
Some more background from details on my page. CJ Ramone, Clem Burke and
Alex Kane have done a lot co-operation with Jiro. Richie Ramone and CJ
both played in Mosrite's 60th event in 2012. Read more of event here.
People can remember Clem Burke for example from the Blondie (and he
played two shows with the
Ramones. He used then name Elvis Ramone). Alex Kane played with
Richie and Marky Ramone for many years.
This was first time when CJ and Clem played full set (around 15-17
songs) together. We had We're A Happy Family feeling. I traveled to
event from Finland, Gonzalo (Sapo Ramone) from Argentina, Marcus Padula
from Brazil, Randy Wisebrod from Mexico etc.
Next I tell some things of the Jiro. Jiro plays bass on Richie Ramone's
solo album Entitled and he was in Richie's tour line-up in 2012 etc. He
is singer-bassist of the original Kamikazi. Jiro's album Return Of The
Kamikazi got published in 2014. CJ Ramone and Clem Burke plays on it.
Read more of album here. Now he is working
with his second album My Revolution (Kamikaze Invasion).
- Few songs written with CJ Ramone and Andy Shernoff (The Dictators,
Master Plan etc.), it will be a great album!!. (Updated: February 1,
2023).
- Jiro Okabe's album Return Of The Kamikazi got published in 2014. Read
more of it
here. Now there is coming out his new album.
- My second album My Revolution (Kamikaze Invasion) will be released in
2022, line-up on guests will be CJ Ramone, Elvis Ramone (Clem Burke),
Dez Cadena and Eric Arce, Steve Soto (RIP), Dan Root, Greg Hetson, Ace
Von Johnson and Daniel Rey, wrote Jiro Okabe to me (Jari-Pekka
Laitio-Ramone).
People can remember Clem Burke for example from the Blondie (and he
played two shows with the Ramones), Dez Cadena from the Black Flag and
the Misfits, Eric Arce from the Misfits, Steve Soto (RIP 2018) and Dan
Root from the Adolescents and CJ Ramone's band, Greg Hetson from the Bad
Religion and Circle Jerks, Ace Von Johnson from the Faster Pussycat and
L.A. Guns and Daniel Rey as a Ramones producer and songwriter etc.
Jiro Okabe and Alex Kane produced My Revolution (Kamikaze Invasion).
- Few songs written with CJ Ramone and Andy Shernoff (The Dictators,
Master Plan etc.), it will be a great album!! Also planning on doing
European tour in late March, 2022, Mosrite 70th Anniversary event
sometime in summer (2022) with many great guest in Los Angeles, USA. And
back in South American tour in fall. It's all depends on pandemic of
course, wrote Jiro Okabe to me.
Jiro has shows in Italy in March. Line-up is: Jiro Okabe, Alex Kane on
guitar and Jamie Oliver (ex-UK Subs etc.) They will be performing
for example at Ramones Mania event at Revolver Club in San Dona
di Piave (Veneto), Italy on March 12th, 2022. All dates:
March 11, 2022: The Moon, Verona, Italy.
March 12, 2022: Revolver Club, San Dona di Piave, Italy.
March 13, 2022: Il Borgo, Montebello, Italy.
March 17, 2022: Circus, Darfo Boario (BS), Italy.
March 18, 2022: Spazio Webo, Pesaro, Italy.
March 19, 2022: Teatro Sala Europa, Monte San Pietrangeli (Fermo),
Italy.
March 20, 2022: Piroka, Toscolano Maderno, Italy.
Sandro Mariuz of Italian Ramones' tribute band Wardogs is main man
behind of this tour and many other events in past.
- The traditional Ramones Convention will be in December, 2022, at
Alcatraz in Milan, hopin' Covid virus will be deleted, wrote Sandro to
me.
The Wardogs has released Ramones' tribute/ cover album titled Raw
& Dirty and singles etc. Sandro will soon tell of new special
release. (Updated: February 11, 2022)
- CJ Ramone's first solo album titled Reconquista was
published in 2012 (digital) and 2013 (CD and LP). There are some LP
versions.
Again new LP version will be published in December 2021. It is published
in Argentina by Pinhead Records and it has one bonus song: Reconquista.
Pinhead Records' CD version has four bonus tracks. This LP is remastered
and it is limited to 1000 copies. This Pinhead Records version has
include exclusive pictures and artwork curated by CJ Ramone. You can
order it for example from
here. Read more of Reconquista here. (December
1, 2021)
- As I told in March, 2021, Indy PopCon is at the Indiana Convention
Center, Indiana, USA, on July 9-11, 2021, and Richie Ramone and CJ
Ramone will be guests there in those three days:
"Our convention is an opportunity for fans of popular culture to gather
and celebrate their hobbies and interact with other fans. With attendees
expected to enjoy a culture of comic books, video games, science
fiction, and entertainment, and a total fan experience. Music is one of
our genres that hasn't often been featured well, so
this July we are turning the volume all the way up to 10! Please
welcome both Richie Ramone and CJ Ramone from the Ramones to PopCon Indy
2021! We couldn't be more excited to bring in legends. Get your tix to
meet them July 9-11, 2021", is written in newsletter. More
details here.
So Richie Ramone and CJ
Ramone will be guests there in those three days (July 9-11) and they are
in some 10-20 minutes long panel interviews. See schedules here.
You also has a chance to grab a photo with them by professional
photographer. Photo
with CJ Ramone cost US$$ and with Richie Ramone also US$$. Details are:
"One photo op ticket is good for two adults and up to three children
under 16 in the same photo with the celebrity guest(s). You will
receive one 8x10" print and a digital download of your photo op.
Session times can be referenced on the photo op schedule. The schedule
is released approximately 2-3 weeks prior to the event." You can ticket
to photo
session here. (Update: July 6, 2021)
- Me First And The Gimme Gimmes is pretty legendary band founded in
1995. CJ Ramone played as a bassist first shows with the Me First And
The Gimme Gimmes in 2018-2019. Band had annual holiday extravaganza at
the Gimme Gimme TV! on December 12, 2020. CJ Ramone was part of
that.
Audra Angeli-Morse from Me First And The Gimme Gimmes management and
Dino & Luigi Presents told me in May that there is coming next Gimme
Gimme TV episode in June, 2021 and CJ is playing also on it. Second
episode is titled Saturday
Night Special and it premiers Saturday, June 19th, 2021 at 6PM PDT
and
is available through midnight June 20th, 2021. When it is 6PM, it is
then for example 10PM in Argentina, 2AM in Great Britain and Portugal,
3AM in Spain, Italy, France and Germany and 4AM in Finland and Greece, 10AM in
Australia etc.
Buy
ticket here. Here are some more details: "Gimme Gimme TV! returns
with its
second episode: "Saturday Night Special" and we're headed to Miami
Beach for some neon-laced, rock n roll madness! If you can't paddle
out, you'd better watch from the shore as Spike, Fat Mike, Joey Cape,
Scott Shiflett, CJ Ramone and Pinch slang some persy nugs from the
bottom of the barrel. The Gimmes will be joined by their guests: glam
gods Glitter Wizard, funny man Joe Sib, Western Cuck Exchange and
world renowned MC Leigh Crow." (June 18, 2021)
- From time to time there are also special items of the Ramones in
RR Auction. Now there are some items from CJ Ramone's collection. And
as well Ramones fan Bobby Martel sells in RR Auction many items from his
collection. Auctions ends on June 24, 2021. See
Ramones items here.
Like there are CJ Ramone's copies of Mondo Bizarro ("recorded" versions)
cassettes, his
backpack, some posters and a Ramones
tour itinerary (11
concert tour of Greece, Spain, and Italy between May 5-18, 1993) which
also has handwritten lyrics by CJ Ramone for a pair of songs. Another of
them became the Los Gusanos song Carve Your Name.
Ramones fan Bobby Martel sells in RR Auction many items from
his collection that are signed in a Strawberries Records in-store
signing on October 13, 1984 in Manchester, NH, USA. Signed items
include Too
Tough To Die (1984) flag from TTTD tour. It is
signed by Dee Dee, Joey, Johnny and Richie Ramone. There are also six
first Ramones albums, Too Tough To Die, It's
Alive live album etc.
signed by Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee and Richie even Richie do not play in
them (except
in TTTD). He had signed all those anyway. Tommy has signed
his autographs later to first albums etc. There are no any Marky
Ramone's autographs (in albums he plays).
Signed records are accompanied by a letter of provenance from Ramones
fan
Robert Martel, who states that the signatures "were obtained by me
at a Strawberries Records in-store signing on October 13, 1984 in
Manchester, NH, hosted by my personal friend, former bandmate, and
renowned Ramones expert Chris Lamy."
There are also some photos from concert in 1982 that were signed in
1984. So now Bobby Martel is
selling these signed items
See
Ramones items here. (June 15, 2021)
- There is a skateboarding and music event titled Shred The Trend in
Pala, CA, USA to connect veterans and service members to promote mental
health & awareness of veteran suicides. CJ Ramone, Dan Root and Pete
Sosa do play in this event.
Shred The Trend is sponsored by Thrash N Raid, the OG Pumpkin, and North
County Canine, will have an indoor skatepark for free skating and
competition with prizes, food and vendors, horseback riding, raffles
and giveaways and live music from CJ, Dan and Pete as a trio and some
other bands. This is charity event and aid goes to Six Feet Above
who uses skateboarding to connect with veterans and service
members who battle mental health illnesses and PTS while raising
awareness
of the suicide rate in veteran and active military community.
Thrash 'N Raid is a veteran owned skateboard and apparel company.
Their mission is to use skateboarding to help people rise above their
barriers and maintain a positive mental attitude.
The event is located a few miles east of the 15 freeway off highway 76
on a private property. The event's exact location will be sent out to
all approved registered guests a week before the event start date. (June
5, 2021)
- Me First And The Gimme Gimmes had annual holiday extravaganza at
the Gimme Gimme TV! on December 12, 2020. CJ Ramone was part of that.
Now there is coming next Gimme Gimme TV episode.
- We have another episode of Gimme Gimme TV! that we are working
on. It will stream online in June (2021) and CJ Ramone is
playing. Keep
an eye
on our socials for info later in May, wrote Audra Angeli-Morse from Me
First And The Gimme Gimmes management and Dino & Luigi Presents to me in
April.
So that will be virtual show. More infos soon. (May 6,
2021)
- Me First And The Gimme Gimmes is pretty legendary band founded in
1995. CJ Ramone played as a bassist first shows with the Me First And
The Gimme Gimmes in 2018-2019.
Covid-19 started turning the world upside down in 2020 and Me First And
The Gimme Gimmes had to reschedule European dates etc. from summer of
2020 to 2021. Situation still not looking good in April 2021.
- All of the dates listed for The Gimmes from May to September (2021)
are rescheduled dates from 2020. The May/June, 2021, dates are probably
not going to happen because we still cannot travel to Europe due to the
pandemic. We hope to go in September, 2021, but again we do not know for
sure yet, it may all be moved to 2022. CJ was scheduled to play on all
of these dates, wrote Audra Angeli-Morse from Me First And The Gimme
Gimmes management and Dino & Luigi Presents
to me on April 24, 2021.
Five shows were rescheduled from May-June to August-September
(situation on April 30). Read more details / see dates here.
(Updated: April 30, 2021)
- CJ Ramone will play in the Me First And The Gimme Gimmes when
group is doing annual holiday extravaganza that is punkrocked on
Gimme Gimme TV at midnight (PST) on December 12, 2020. So that is
a virtual show.
Press release says: "COVID can't stop these rockers, and everyone is in
for a special treat this year with the premiere of Gimme Gimme TV!
That's right folks, it's not a concert, it's variety television at its
best. The Gimme Gimmes and Dino & Luigi Presents have put together a
star-studded event that you won't want to miss! This Christmas
Spectacular episode includes special guests: Shannon Shaw (Shannon And
The Clams), Karina Denike (Dance Hall Crashers/NOFX), your host, Belly
Reynolds, and straight from FX's "Two Pink Doors." Western Cuck
Exchange.
Regular ticket is 20 US$.
more
details here. (December 5, 2020)
- Jiro Okabe has recorded his second solo album titled My Revolution
with his friends. CJ Ramone and Clem Burke (aka Elvis Ramone) played in
his solo album titled Return Of The Kamikazi (2014) and they do also
play in this second one. As well Jiro and CJ wrote two songs together.
As well Ramones' producer Daniel Rey is among of musicians in this
upcoming album. I asked situation of My Revolution album from Jiro Okabe
in late June, 2020.
- Hope to be released this year, all the songs were recorded. Just need
to mix down. Can't wait till it's done. Record will be really good!,
Jiro wrote in June 2020.
Here are lot details he has wrote me before.
- Recording with CJ Ramone was held on January 27-28, 2018, at Raquet
Studio in Santa Ana, California, USA, for my upcoming second solo album
(My Revolution). CJ had played bass on three songs, one is called
Whole Wide World, and two of covered tunes My Bonnie and Stand By Me.
Also CJ had back-up vocals on My Bonnie, Stand By Me and Whole Wide
World and duet Summer Time with me, Jiro wrote to me in February
2018.
Stand By Me is extremely well-known song. It is written and recorded by
Ben E. King in 1961. My Bonnie is Tony Sheridan's song and he recorded
song with The Beatles in 1961.
Jiro Okabe and CJ Ramone wrote together for this album Summer Time and
Only Wanna Be With You. Elvis Ramone (Clem Burke) had played on
songs Carolina and Forever Young (Rock Boys).
- Danie Rey played on Don't Wanna Be Like You and Whores Of Societease.
Dez Cadena (ex-Misfits, ex-Black Flag) played on Man That Married With
His Car and Who Are You. Alex Kane had played on nine songs and
co-produced nine songs with me on this upcoming album, Jiro told me in
2018.
Alex Kane has toured in past with Richie Ramone and Marky Ramone. Other
guests appearing in this upcoming album include Allison Robertson of
Donnas and Greg Hetson of Circle Jerks and ex-Bad Religion.
I tell now more background details of Jiro Okabe. So his first solo
album is titled Return Of The Kamikazi and CJ Ramone
and Clem Burke plays on it. Jiro has played with his bands as a support
band in some of CJ Ramone's shows. As a Banzai Jiro Okabe, Tommy Bolan
and Christopher Williams 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: July 4,
2020)
- Because of coronavirus there is no permission to organise
live music events in New York in May 2020 (and for many months ahead).
So 2020 is first year when there is no Joey Ramone Birthday Bash for
live audience on May 19, after we lost Joey Ramone on April 15, 2001.
Joey's brother Mickey Leigh announced in early May that he will
organise Joey Ramone VIRTUAL Birthday Bash on May 19, 2020. Birthday
Bash is a memorial event to Joey on his birthday (May 19). This is 19th
Joey Ramone Birthday Bash.
- Just didn't feel right to let the day go by un-celebrated, told Leigh
on Joey
Ramone's Fabebook page on May 3, 2020.
Mickey wrote more details on May 16.
- You don't need a ticket, you don't need a plane, train or automobile.
you don't anything more than you have right now. Just come back here
(Facebook) on May 19th at 8PM EST and we'll all celebrate the birth,
life, and music of Joey Ramone together!
CJ Ramone, Richie Ramone, Clem Burke (Blondie/ two shows in the
Ramones), Andy Shernoff (Dictators, The Master Plan), Knox (Vibrators),
Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols) & Earl Slick, Barb Wire Dolls, Tracy
Thornton, Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick), Chris
Frantz (Talking Heads), Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads), Jesse Malin
(D-Generation, Bellvue), Vernon Reid (Living Colour), Ed Stasium
(producer), Monte A. Melnick (tour manager), John Holmstrom (Punk
Magazine) and Allan Arkush (director) are among of bands and people
who are featuring performances and speeches at Joey Ramone Virtual
Birthday Bash at Joey
Ramone Fabebook.
So event starts at 8PM EST. That time is for example 9PM in Brazil, 1AM
in United Kingdom, 2AM in France, Spain, Germany and Sweden, 3AM in
Finland and Moscow (Russia), 9AM in Tokyo (Japan) and 10AM in Melbourne
(Australia).
Donations to the Joey Ramone Foundation for Lymphoma Research will be
optional and greatly appreciated. (Updated: May 16, 2020)
- CJ Ramone has played as a bassist in this year many shows with the Me
First And The Gimme Gimmes. Also they had at least one show together in
last year. Now in December, 2019, they has these shows:
December 5, 2019: Alex's Bar, Anaheim, USA. They do use in this show
other name than Me First And The Gimme Gimmes.
December 6, 2019: House of Blues San Diego, San Diego, USA.
December 7, 2019: The Observatory Orange County, Santa Ana, USA.
December 8, 2019: Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles, USA.
December 13, 2019: Slim's, San Francisco, USA.
December 14, 2019: Slim's, San Francisco, USA (second night).
December 15, 2019: Slim's, San Francisco, USA (third night).
Me First And The Gimme Gimmes is pretty
legendary band founded in 1995.
(December 4, 2019)
- CJ Ramone, guitarists Dan Root and Nate Sander and drummer Pete Sosa
entered Buzzbomb Studios in early January, 2019. They recorded CJ
Ramone's next solo album The Holy Spell... It has 12 songs. Release date
of album is May 10, 2019. Record label is again mighty Fat Wreck Chords. Producer is Paul
Miner.
- I am here making good on my promise to myself that I'd never release
anything as CJ Ramone that would taint the Ramones legacy, CJ said.
There was published two single. First single: Blue Skies was
released on March 11, 2019. Listen Blue
Skies here.
Second single Stand Up was released on April 17, 2019. Listen Stand
Up here.
The album closes with a tribute to CJ's late collaborator Steve
Soto with the song Rock On.
- Steve really has a lot to do with where I am now, and every
record, Steve was right there with me. He is completely
irreplaceable. I owe Steve a lot. It's definitely strange going on
without him, but even though he's not on the record, a lot of what
we learned from Steve is still on the record, CJ Ramone
underline.
Read more of The Holy Spell... here.
CJ Ramone is promoting album in his tours. See dates here. (Updated:
April 26, 2019)
- Great and famous label Fat Wreck Chords released new
7' single by CJ Ramone on December 7th, 2018. A two-song release
was available digitally and on 7'vinyl .
- A-side is my own tune Christmas Lullaby. B-side is my cover of The
Kinks song Father Christmas. I hope y'all will enjoy a little bit of
the holiday cheer on this record, and that you'll spread it around!!
Don't forget to leave Santa a little whiskey!!!, CJ Ramone
wrote.
You can order 7' single or buy it as a digital from
here.
Originally Father Christmas was released as a single by The
Kinks in November 1977. There is in Wikipedia this information of the
song: "It tells of a department store Father Christmas who is beaten
up by a gang of poor kids who tell him to give them money instead of
toys, as toys are impractical; and asks that the toys be given "to the little
rich boys." At one point, a child asks the narrator to give his/her
father a job for Christmas - or, if he must deliver a toy, a machine
gun."
First time song Christmas Lullaby was published in compilation
LP on November 24, 2017. Song is on album Rodney On The Rock
Presents: Santa's Got A GTO, Volume 2. (Updated: April 26,
2019).
More CJ Ramone news in
my archive.