Hey ho let’s go pay tribute to Ramones in Joey celebration
It is often disputed up and down the land who the progenitors and catalyst for what became known as punk rock in the late 1970s were. Some say it was the Sex Pistols, some say the much earlier Iggy Pop and the Stooges or the New York Dolls.
But a significant number come down on the side of US no frills rockers the Ramones.
The focus of the band was frontman Joey Ramone and, this weekend, musician fans are set to pay tribute to him.
A host of bands will don their guitars and various instruments to play Ramones covers in honour of what would have been the frontman’s 70th birthday.
On March 28 the eclectic mix of bands will come together for a livestreamed gig in tribute to what many regard as the late great Joey.
Bands tackling the ‘no frills’ Ramones’ approach include Creeper, We Are Scientists, The Futureheads and Kathryn Williams, who have all signed up for the event, which finishes at an unspecified time.
Before the main event begins Tim’s Twitter Listening Parties will showcase the band’s first two albums – their 1976 self-titled debut and 1977’s Leave Home.
The Ramones are often cited as the first true punk rock group.
Despite achieving only limited commercial success initially, the band was highly influential in the United States, Brazil and most of South America, as well as Europe, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Belgium.
All of the band members adopted pseudonyms ending with the surname “Ramone” although none of them were biologically related.
Joey, who died aged 49 in 2001 after a seven year battle with lymphoma, would have celebrated his seventh complete decade this year.
In tribute to him the concert night is raising cash for charities researching lymphoma, the disease from which he died.
The show will also make money in support of tackling obsessive compulsive disorder, from which Joey also suffered.
Tickets for the concert are available on a pay-whatyou-want basis.
“Born May 19, 1951 in Queens, New York, US of A, if lymphoma hadn’t taken him from the world on April 15th, 2001, this year Jeffrey Ross Hyman – Joey Ramone – would be turning 70-yearsold,” reads a description for the event.
“To celebrate this greatest of men – and to raise money for lymphoma and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder research, two illnesses that impacted Joey’s life in the most significant of ways – this event will see many of Joey’s greatest compositions performed by many of today’s greatest bands.
A number of limited edition art prints featuring Joey Ramone in his pomp are also for sale in aid of the event.
Ramones’ discography continues to provide fertile grounds for cover versions.
December saw PINS share a downbeat take on the band’s 1987 Christmas single Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight).
Idles also covered Ramones’ I Wanna Be Sedated at their livestreamed Abbey Road performance.