May 20, 2011
Okay, tonight I have the night off from work, which is good, because I’m feeling a little burned out from working long hours and then doing something and putting a blog together at the end of the night. So for tonight’s blog I’ll have a little more time and there will probably be tons of photos because I’m going to the 11th annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash! And 365 commenter and good pal Biff has told me her friend Debbie is selling raffle tickets there. And according to Biff, she’s rather easy on the eyes, so, hey ho, let’s go!
And here we are, Irving Plaza. Someday I plan on changing my name to Irving Plaza, but not tonight.
Okay, let's go get in line.
I'm about 45 minutes early, so I'm the fifth person in line.
Okay, through the magic of the internet, you're spared a 50 minute wait and we're now in the main lobby and the first thing we see is Marky Ramone's Pasta Sauce. A Chef Boy Ar Dee Dee moment indeed!
The stairway to Joey!
Ladies and gentlemen...the bar!
And the stars of the evening...the bartenders!
Well, there's a familiar logo...
And a familiar face! John Holmstrom, founding editor of Punk magazine.
I interviewed John years ago when he was the publisher of High Times magazine. He told me he's working on a new book about Punk magazine. I'm looking forward to that coming out!
And here's John onstage introducing the first band of the evening, The Indecent.
And here they go!
This is a band to look out for, they were great!
Check out a video of them here.
Bassist Maddy onstage and...
Offstage in the lobby with friends after the Indecent's set was over.
And here's the raffle ticket table where Biff told me Debbie would be. Debbie...you're not quite what I pictured! Actually this is Staten Island Tom, who was filling in for an absent Debbie. I bought a raffle ticket anyway. I didn't win. Sob!
Bebe and Jim, America's cutest couple!
Joey on the video screen in the theater.
I had a photo pass and ran into my friend Jason Kuffer in the photo area.
A shot of the crowd from the photo area.
Here's former MTV VJ Matt Pinfield introducing the next band...
Next up was Richard Lloyd.
He played a blistering set!
Danny Fields, the Ramones first manager and man whom the book, Please Kill Me is dedicated to is on the video screen.
And now, a series of photos I like to call, "Backs to the Future." Or something.
Next up...The Rattlers!
A face in the crowd, drummer extraordinaire , Clem Burke.
And here's Clem onstage drumming with Hugh Cornwall, formerly of the Stranglers. And at this point my camera batteries gave out, but there was plenty more show and I had a great time. Thanks to Ida Langsam for getting me my photo pass! Happy Birthday, Joey Ramone!
Further reading: Joey Ramone, Mickey Leigh, John Holmstrom and Punk.
You might also like: Joey, Tommy, Dee Dee and Johnny.
Five Ramones
Joey
Johnny
Dee Dee
Tommy
Pauly
(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)
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Bonus Linkage and photos!
My friend Paul Scanlon sent in this link from Boing Boing. Aaaaaahhhhh!
Meanwhile, BBC member and soon to be birthday boy, Gene Rubbico sent in this oblgatory bathroom shot.
And finally, Tim "Clacky" Clack, sent in this photo all the way from Australia. He titled it: "Cardboard box man's fundamentalist cousin has had enough!"
Aaaahhhhhhh!
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