the NYC Ferry will be hosting Ramones-themed rides to Rockaway Beach on Aug. 16 and 17 and offer riders free samples of Rockaway Soda, a raffle for a Ramones prize back from Rhino Entertainment, a “50 Years of Ramones” sticker – all to the tune of “Rockaway Beach” played at the top of the ride as the ferry leaves the Wall Street terminal. It’s the 50th anniversary of the Ramones first show at New York’s GBGB, when in August 16, 1974 they first took the stage at the now defunct venue. The venue itself was founded on December 10, 1973 by by Hilly Kristal, the son of a a Russian pogrom survivor. Its full name of CBGB & OMFUG stands for “Country, Bluegrass, Blues, and Other Music For Uplifting Gourmandizers”.
GBGB closed in 2006 with a performance by Patti Smith who played for 3 1/2 hours and ended her set with the reading of a list of punk rock musicians and advocates who had died in recent years. In 2013, CBGB’s onetime building, 315 Bowery, was added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of The Bowery Historic District. I never did get to CBGB having arrived in NYC a year after it had closed, but I’m sure it was about the same as any other musical dive bar that I’ve ever been in or played at. It looked pretty filthy, especially the toilets, but that’s part of the charm.
The first song I heard of the Ramones was “Beat on the Brat”. I don’t remember where I heard it. It was probably on community radio. Commercial stations didn’t play anything new back then, and it definitely sounded new and different. I thought it was cool. A lot of what I’ve posted here comes from the NY Post, who did a story about this yesterday. They mentioned that a tribute band, “The Rawmones” were going to be doing a tribute show on Friday in Long Island at Mr Beerys a venue the band calls Long Island’s own CBGB. The Post article had a picture of the Rawmones sitting on a subway train somewhere. You can it see for yourself below.
Makes Green Day look like Oils Ain’t Oils
It reminds me of a Midnight Oil cover band called “Oils Ain’t Oils” I saw in Sydney years ago. One of the guitarists looked about 5 feet tall, although the singer was Peter Garrett height. It was an exceedingly dreadful experience. Way too loud and just painful to listen to. (I feel that way about the real Midnight Oil as well)
Oh No, they’re still performing to this day
I went to Youtube and looked up some videos of the Rawmones. The least said about them the better, however all the Ramones are dead now, so that’s all you’ve got, a tribute band. While I was doing that I came across a video of Joey Ramone talking to one of those TV tonight show goofballs. I think it was Conan O’ Brien. Joey was enthusiastically telling Conan that bands like Green Day and Offsping were inspired by The Ramones.
Green Day – the stupid face of extremist left wing Anti American progressivism
I had to stop watching at that point. I can’t stand Green Day. If there was ever a band that qualified for most weasely, un American, rotten to the core corporate sellout talentless drones it would be fucking Green Day. Even with their bad wigs and shitty sound, The Rawmones have more dignity and talent than fucking Green Day. Yeeech! To compound the stupidity, there are about 500 Green Day tribute bands on the road currently. Never underestimate the stupidity of the general public.
“American Idiots” – Green Day Cover band
“Green Haze” – UK’s number one Green Day tribute band
Some of the members of Green Day have formed a cover band called the Coverups. You couldn’t make this shit up.
What a gigantic load.
Happy Friday.
The King of Rock and Roll died on this day 47 years ago. Requiescat in Pace