Joey Ramone (Jeffrey Hyman) died just shy of 50 years old; way, way too young after a 7 year bout of lymphatic cancer on April 15th 2001. Front man for the punk rockers, The Ramones, Joey created a style on and offstage that was and remains admired by those who ‘question authority’ in music and elsewhere. The success of his band was remarkable, given the polished style and studio sheen of his contemporaries, and his own induction into the Rock and Roll hall of fame was definitely a ‘not-so-likely’ phenomenon given the manner with which he and his colleagues in the band (Johnny Ramone-John Cummings; and Dee Dee Ramone-Douglas Colvin) shook up the rock and roll establishment in the day.
A Facebook friend, Kim Kelsey (who has adopted the Ramones’ tradition and given herself the pseudonymic tribute name Kimmi Ramone), came to me a few weeks ago seeking assistance for this venture, the Concert. She participates in advancing the cause annually and was looking for some support with her online efforts to boost support for this admirable cause, which benefits research and treatment in less-traumatic and less-invasive but effective manners for lymphoma victims. I was glad to oblige in the small ways I could. I’ve since had reasons to interact with Kimmi at a variety of levels on different efforts besides this cause, and she shines. Rock fans, punk fans, rap fans, fans of music in general often get a bad rap. Remember when “Sir” Paul McCartney (Joey is rumored to have gotten his idea for the name ‘Ramone’ from the name McCartney would allegedly use as a cover when he checked into hotels, Paul Ramon) was badmouthed as a ‘mop-top’ counter-culture fanatic before he was dubbed a knight by the most establishment woman on Earth, Queen Liz II? The same could, of course be said for the gay Princess Di supporter ‘Sir’ Elton John.
Questioning authority was what the leader of McCartney’s band, John Winston Ono Lennon, did best on and offstage. Bed-ins, demonstrations, “Power to the People,” and peaceful “Revolutions” as well as unusual attempts at “Revolution Number 9’s” were the true hallmark of the greatest rock and roll band of all time. Simply being Joey Ramone fit that bill. We missya Joey. Being Kimmi Ramone also fills the bill. We missya Dr. Winston O’Boogie. If you can possibly make it the details are below. If I can possibly make it, I’ll be there! Just a hop and a skip down I-95 or the MTA from New Haven:
The Bellmore Poolhouse
2732 Grand Avenue
Bellmore, NY
Doors open at 8pm July 22nd, 2011
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