MY TRIP TO NEW YORK TO THE JOEY RAMONE BIRTHDAY BASH IN MAY 2006: PAGE 5

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Copyright. 2006 -> Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone

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Through the night was also shown videos from big screen. Like there was shown I Just Want To Have Something To Do from Joey's and Dee Dee's last show together and interview with Red Hot Chili Peppers members. People also got chance to watch at Irving Plaza photos which were shown at the CBGB's exhibition.

Then was magical feelings when Friends Of Joey set started with Somebody Put Something In My Drink. Richie Ramone was singing backvocals. Also on stage were George Tabb and Evan Cohen of the Furious George, Richie Stotts and Jean Beauvoir. George dedicated Wart Hog to Andy Helliwell (Ramones fan from Netherlands). There was then some technical problems which luckily got solved quickly. Line-up's changed after every 2-4 songs. Like Bebe Buell performed I Just Want To Have Something To Do and I Wanna Live together with Richie Ramone, Stotts and Andy Hilfiger. Bebe had tie and suit and she rocked hard with smiling a lot. Bebe also told nicely greetings to Adele Holzman from stage. Then Richie Ramone and Cheetah shared stage with The Bullys guys Joey Lanz, Walt Stack and Todd Feyh. Lanz's performance was one of the highlight of the night, he also rocked hard with attitude songs Cretin Hop, Beat On The Brat and Rockaway Beach. Richie wasn't played show for ten years, like he told for me and David Kelly in hotel, and it was hard to understand because he played the whole set so great way. I can imagine how many people were smiling in happy feelings when they got chance to see Richie and Tommy Ramone on stage together. After Suzy Is A Headbanger Tommy sang We're A Happy Family and so many fans were singing along. Tommy thanked people of coming to the event.

It was cool to hear also MC5 classic Kick Out The Jams. Wayne Kramer sang it and on stage were then also Richie Ramone, Richie Stotts and Andy Shernoff. Jean Beauvoir did then Bonzo Goes To Bitburg, that song which he wrote together with Joey and Dee Dee. I went to take some photos from the side of the stage, I got really nice shots of the Richie Ramone, Mickey Leigh, Andy Shernoff, Andy Hilfiger and Jesse Merrill. Jesse's father Dave Merrill wrote to the Joey Ramone message board that Jesse is now only 12 years old and he started playing drums and piano at age of 4. At the Friends Of Joey set he played Something To Believe In, Danny Says and Wonderful World. Those songs are also always so lovely to hear at live. What A Wonderful World was last song and then bag pipes men came to play traditionally Happy Birthday for our Joey.

After the show ended I was talking with Cheetah Chrome and Dave Frey. Then I asked Richie Ramone's feelings of the show. He was happy how things went. Richie introduced me to his wife Annette. It was really happy meeting, even I got really touched and I was nearly crying after two minutes of listening Annette and her thoughs how greatly I do my Ramones works and how I introduced animal rights issues in my site which they sent to me. David and Celine also heard what she said, like how Richie doesn't want to do interviews in general but with me he wants to do. I wanted to take some photos of Richie and Annette together. Then Annette asked if I wanna come and have some drinks with them in one bar, sure I was happy and honoured to go. There Richie and Annette and their friends and relatives Joey Trezza, Lenny Reinhardt, John Van Dyk, Sunny Parsons and Jeff Jones were sitting with me and Diane Hatcher in a same table. David, Maggie, Hannu, Timo, Åzzy and Rosa came to the restaurang as well. It was nice to just sit and discuss of all kind of subjects about 2 hours. I and Diane found out that they all were really friendly people. Richie's brother Lenny told that he was played two weeks before at the New Orleans Jazz Festival. When bar was closing, Mickey also came to say hello for us. He thanked Richie with really nice words. Mickey also thanked me again and asked if I and David are coming next day to the opening of Bob Gruen's photo exhibition.

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