Hey ho! Let’s celebrate! Iconic punk band The Ramones will get an official 50th anniversary tribute on Aug. 30 at Los Angeles’ iconic Hollywood Forever Cemetery featuring an all-star cover band of their musical progeny. Ramones Productions, Inc. and Hollywood Forever announced on Tuesday (July 7) announced that the celebration of a half century since the release of the band’s self-titled debut album will be hosted by movie legend John Travolta.
The event will also feature the inaugural live performance from the Cretin Family supergroup featuring Rancid singer/guitarist Tim Armstrong, Green Day singer/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and former Ramones bassist CJ Ramone, as well as some as-yet-unannounced special surprise guests.
“The spirit of the Ramones is alive in every backyard punk show, punk club and festival,” said Armstrong in a statement. “Generation after generation of cretins and weirdos become Ramones lovers. Kids are influenced by the Ramones and they don’t even know it yet. ¡Viva Ramones!” Armstrong added, “From the moment I first heard the Ramones, music was never the same. They are my favorite band of all time! I can’t wait to play those great and perfect Ramones songs with my friends CJ, Travis and Billie. It’s gonna be wild!”
Barker called the Forest Hills, Queens, New York-bred band the “blueprint,” noting that “punk rock wouldn’t be what it is today without them. I’m honored to celebrate 50 years of one of the greatest bands ever!!!”
In addition to the all-star set of Ramones covers, the evening will include a double-feature screening of the 50th anniversary edition of the horror classic Carrie, as well as Travolta’s new film, Propeller One-Way Night Coach. Artist/activist Shepard Fairey will do a guest DJ set, with proceeds from the event earmarked for the David Agus MD Cancer Research at Ellison Institute; tickets for the event are available here now.
The Ramones, released on April 23, 1976, is considered to be the spark that lit the global punk revolution thanks to its 14-song, 30-minute blitz of indelible classics including “Blitzkrieg Bop,” “Beat on the Brat,” “Judy is a Punk,” “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend,” “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue,” 53rd & 3rd” and “Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World.” The group, founded by late members singer Joey Ramone, bassist Dee Dee Ramone, guitarist Johnny Ramone and drummer Tommy Ramone, sneered in the face of the bloated prog and arena rock of the era with punchy, transgressive tunes that mixed girl group melodies with buzz-saw guitar, thumping bass and often defiant, deviant lyrics about the seedy underbelly of America.
As part of the yearlong celebration of the group’s golden anniversary, Rhino Records is preparing a limited edition, first-time picture disc pressing of The Ramones on July 17, as well as a 2LP colored edition of Live at the Roxy, 8/12/76 on July 31.
