Today would have been punk legend (and very popular street sign namesake) Joey Ramone's 60th birthday, and there's a whole lot of Blitzkreig Bopping going on around town to celebrate (sorry, we had to). Whether you want to bust out your leather jacket and hit the town or just remember the shaggy-haired rocker from the privacy of your own home, here are some options:
Tonight is the big night, with the 11th annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash at Irving Plaza, featuring performances from Richie Ramone, Blondie's Clem Burke, the Rattlers, Richard Lloyd of Television, and Bebe Buell. Tickets are available here, and proceeds from the party will benefit the Lymphoma Research Foundation.
If you miss tonight's bash, there's also a "Not So Silent Auction" at The Suffolk on Friday, where signed items from Henry Rollins, Anthony Bourdain, KISS, Lemmy Kilmister, Cyndi Lauper and more will be sold off to the sounds of Bodyface, Prospector, the Thunderfucks, and Ramones supergroup featuring Ali McMordie of Stiff Little Fingers. All proceeds will benefit the Joey Ramone Foundation for Lymphoma Research.
Finally, if you're not interested in rubbing shoulders with a bunch of punks in a public place but still want to honor Ramone's legacy, we recommend Sound of the City's "Remembering Joey Ramone" series, with sweet and revealing stories from the likes of Jesse Malin and Rock 'N' Roll High School director Allan Arkush. Crack open a Steel Reserve and enjoy.
Happy birthday, Joey!
