JOEY RAMONE DAY IN NEW YORK CITY

NOVEMBER 30th 2003

I heard that they were going to name a street after Joey Ramone, down the block from CBGB's on the corner were Arturos loft is. I thought wow how amazing that'll be if it's true,

I contacted John Holmstrom who told me yes it was, that he had something to do with it, and where and when it was going to happen

Murray Ramone thought it would be great if I went down and took some pic's to put up here for all you Ramones fans.

Also I wanted to go, that sign going up means alot not just for Joey but for everyone who hung out or played at CBGB's a long time ago. For many it was like an extended family and a home, it represents all the time we spent having fun and literally for many "growing up", it really was like a Rock n Roll High School!

It also shows how just anyone with a dream and ambition and stamina and of course talent, that helps. that some nobody kid from anywhere can come to make such a great huge impact on the whole world., and end up with a street in the great city of New York named after them. Certainly growing up in Forest Hills queens it didn't seem to people in school and around him (or maybe himself) that Jeffery Hyman would become a great Iconic PUNK Rock Star! Impossibly tall, gawky, with glasses, not exactly what you'd call handsome, and sexy like say Elvis or Mick Jagger or Robert Plant and other standard front man in rock music, that were around when Jeffery Hyman was growing up.., no offence at all to Joey, but from someone who knew him from school in Queens told me., "he was a geeky guy., and weird looking." But he did become a big Rock Star despite it or maybe because of it, who else could have been the lead singer of The Ramones? He was perfect and Joey had the most wonderful voice. The Ramones have lyrics and songs alot about being an outcast, or bored, and often comical ones about Beating on a brat ( about some neighbour's bratty little kid) We're a happy family, PINHEAD, ( Zippy? from the underground comics?) or Not wanting to go down to the basement (I bet from this campy horror film "don't go down to the basement" set in a mental hospital upstate where all the phone lines were cut! ) couldn't have come from or been sung by anyone else but Joey (and written by Dee Dee and the rest too of course all of them but this is Joeys day......)

Ramones fans span generations from the people that saw them first in the 70s to teenagers today. with an almost cult like following now., and a induction into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.. ! Ramones tee shirt also seems to have become somewhat of a fashion statement, I've seen it in catalogues advertising furniture for teens, walking down a city street this passed summer in a half hour my daughter and I counted 9 people wearing Ramone tee shirts of all ages.., it was weird, I noticed the same thing with CBGB tee shirts and lately also NY Dolls T-shirts and there first album cover photo cut up like a collage on designer clothes ( once worn on a lead character on HBOS Sex in the City tv show series) My 14yr old daughter wants a pink Ramones T-shirt., because "they're cool" to wear., in the Art School she attends alot of kids wear Ramones tee shirts. A teenage neighbor of mine started a band and they try to play Ramones songs all the time..........(badly!!!) and this kid is just here from Russia and heard of them there.( He also loves Chuck Berry and Johnny Thunders who he says is the "real deal and the man"!!)

So all in all it really is fitting and right that Joey Ramone had a street corner named after him in NYC., down the street were he found the place and the people that changed his life, (and he added to ours!) where he found a place where he belonged and people who came to love him very very much., where he became a Rock n Roll hero, Icon, and Legend and leader. The Ramones were like The Beatles of the whole CBGB thing in a way, they really helped make that place VERY popular, and world known.

November 30th, 2003..,

It was great weather that day., sunny not too cold. I'd prepared way ahead getting together plenty of film for my camera, a tape recorder, and a video camera. I enlisted the help of a friend who had experience in video and was also a music fan and fan of the Ramones. I had lots of back up batteries tapes, the works. I was hoping to film it and also record sound. I asked my daughter Sasha to come along and help me and that it would be a fun exciting day.

It was all supposed to begin at 1:00 P.M but I told my video guy to be there at 11;30 since he has a tendency to be late I hoped he'd get there by 12:00! My daughter and I left early and took the train into Manhattan from Brooklyn., everything packed batteries charged lots of film and tapes loaded and protein bars and fruit (hungry teens aren't very pleasant and happy to be around!)

The ride was quick and we got there a bit after 11:00. I was worried about crowds and wanted to get there early, and when we got there were only around 20 people mulling around and forming a line. Sasha my daughter got on line and I walked around, to see what was going on. I wanted to see if John Holmstrom had gotten there yet since he along with Legs and Joeys brother Mickey and Arturo., to my understanding were co-ordinating the whole thing. But they hadn't gotten there yet I didn't bother going inside it looked pretty empty and I guess Hilly had better things to do then be bothered by me!, (anyway Id just written Hilly a note telling him how great it was and that I had some tape and photos of The Slanderband he'd probably get a kick out of seeing, they were very fond Hilly and his whole family of the singer Jessie and when she died held a benefit in her honour a CBGBs., but I forgot to bring it all with me of course!)

What was freaking me out was my video guy hadn't showed , hadn't called my cell phone and wasn't answering his phone and I'd just spoken to the fool the night before who was yes yes it'll be great I cant wait etc count on me blah blah, This was not good, and I and my daughter had to lug all this stuff around. Now I was feeling depressed and nervous and very pissed. There's no way I could video tape get sound on my tape recorder and take photos at the same time., I wasn't even that confident how to work the video camera and my other camera was new and I wasn't used to the lens or the light meter. I was half ready to leave so disgusted I was., it was a bad omen., now EVERYTHING was going to go wrong. As I looked around at the line forming I didn't recognise anyone not even slightly., none of the people that hung out when I did., no one. I thought maybe Id talk to some people on the line ask them why there here.. when did they become Ramones fans did they ever see them or meet them etc. and how far they came for this, The first guy told me he came from Philadelphia for this and showed me this sweatshirt he was wearing a graffiti artist made for him of the Ramones then he started telling me how he met Joey at a show in Jersey and how he asked Joey were he could cop some Ludes., Quaaludes.. and then I kinda ended it saying to my self naw don't wanna hear this idiots story I knew it was not what I was wanting to hear or want to write about!., and I think the guy was still high as he was spitting and drooling while he talked and then thankfully they started letting people in, there were maybe 40 people all together.

Coming in I saw Hilly and talked with him yes he got my letter and he'd love to hear the tapes see Jessies pix, yes he remembered me and he remembered when my daughter was two one afternoon I dropped by with her to say hello., and I introduced her all grown up and asked how his daughter Lisa and son Danya was and he said great but they couldn't be here. I believe Lisa became a lawyer., don't know what's up with Danya., I remember him as a good kid., he loved Debbie Harry ( who didn't??!!!) and hated Pattie Smith.................uh....

People were milling about the stage they had a big replica of the sign Joey Ramone Way with the word "WAY" covered with PLACE as they changed the name of the sign. Now I realised that my video guy was probably NOT going to show and called my friend(!??) and left a very pissed off message on his machine and said it better be because your in the hospital or dead!

I went by the side of the stage dumped my huge heavy bag down took a few pics of the stage and dressing room., everything is totally covered in graffiti and stickers of bands, we didn't have stickers -who could afford stickers ! but there were 1,000000000000's of them all over the place in every color, it was mind boggelingly blinding. My daughter loved it and thought it was so cool., she said the place looks like one giant collage!.., then this old man came up to me and said' DO you know where Charlotte is? I'm Sy., Sy Hyman" At first I thought he was Joeys father then realised its his fathers brother. He was deaf in one ear he explained and showed me his hearing aid. I tried to talk with him but he really couldn't hear correctly., I said one thing like "Maybe they're on there way now or at Arturos around the corner" and he'd answer "so when's the band starting"? Who's got the car? so it was kinda hard to communicate but he was a adorable man and started talking about Joey "Joey was my nephew his whole life". I loved Joey his whole life" He loved me his whole life" then he'd repeat it. He was really cute ., he pointed to his right ear and said "totally useless"!! I took a few pix of Sy and then he wanted to take a pix of me in my Ramones t shirt but actually I wasn't wearing one I had on my ancient threadbare full of holes worn-out CBGB tee shirt, the first made. (it's so fragile I have to wash it by hand now) I tried to tell him but he couldn't hear me so I just said OKAY! and he took my picture then he took a picture of this other guy who did have on a Ramones T shirt.

We found Sy a chair and he sat and talked and I looked out and hung with him till John Holmstrom came along., which shortly after he did with Legs. And I told John here's Sy he's looking for Joeys mom and brother and he took care of him., guess he went over how this all was going to work. I took some pix of Legs and Holmstrom., Legs said yeah I know who you are (oy) and I introduced my daughter to him she already met Holmstrom before. Then people started flooding in pretty fast. Suddenly there was Mark Bell, and EVERYONE was all over him talking to him at once I just started trying to take pictures and figured I'll talk to him eventually. Finally I said "hey Mark hi its me Debbie! how r ya!" and he smiled and said hey hi!.....shure I remember you!"., how are you?" and we hugged., I introduced him to my daughter Sasha, I tried to speak but people were Marky can I take your picture :"shure if you have a camera he said to them", can I take a picture with you? can I have your autograph! the best was one lady who came up all flustered and excited and blurted out "Oh Mark your my favorite Ramone I've loved you since I saw you here in 77! And Mark said "that's nice.., but I was in another band then"! ( that was my daughters favorite comment of the day) and I thought dam wish I had that on video! I tried to speak with Mark I asked him so how's Freddy doing (his twin brother) and he said "you know he's Fred he's doing his thing" I asked if he got a package I gave to Mickey., Joeys brother a while back that had photos and a tape of a bunch of old friends of his (and mine) and he said " "yeh yes I did thanks that was great , really nice thanks!"..... and then more "MARK can I take a picture of you"!!!! it was getting crushingly confusing at one point someone asked me to take a picture of he and Mark and Mark said shure and put his arm around me and my daughter., it was getting crazy., then I took the dudes camera and took the picture and he's in one of my pictures I took. It was really hard to focus my camera and get any good shots of Mark alone and people were pushing so I took my by then very annoyed daughter ( she wasn't to crazy for all the people shoving her around!) we went in the back into the former kitchen now dressing room and sat down, it soon filled with people,, Mark Bell, John Holmstrom, Legs, Arturo, Jim Marshall, Lenny Kaye , Stevie Van Zant, Jessie Malin, Danny Fields, Richie Shotts, Tommy Ramone etc some of the city council people like Bradford Sussman who had a plaque for Charlotte were in and out

People were asking Mark is Johnny coming and Mark said seemingly joking "I heard Rumours"! then someone said, I think Legs.. "check outside for a Cadillac" someone else said "No check for a limo"!!

But Johnny Ramone never came., I don't know why., didn't ask and no one mentioned it

In a way this was truly bizzaro., here I was back, just like old times, sitting in that room with alot of the same people EXCEPT I had my teenage daughter who is really not much younger than I was when I started hanging out here, I'd never thought this day would come either. me sitting in CBGBs with my daughter?! Despite that in a way I felt it was a very sad day because Joey wasn't there to enjoy it or DeeDee (I'd imagine DeeDee wanting his own street named after him as well!)., everyone was in a very happy mood

I was very glad to see Lenny Kaye when he walked in., he was always one of the most gracious guys around and I always admired him, he always had an air of dignity and a Zen like peace about him, just a real mellow intelligent guy. I thought he looked wonderful , I said Lenny Hi! and he said Hey hi how are you? I asked you remember me? and he said yes I do but I forgot your name sorry! what is it?" Deborah "Well Deborah good to see you" the last time I saw Lenny was at Johnny Thunders memorial when he died in 91, the guy at the door was checking some list for my name when someone from behind said "no she's cool., she's a friend" and I turned and it was Lenny. So we said to each other how are you what's new I introduced my daughter, he mentioned he still works with Pattie., I told him I saw her walking around during the war rally at 34th Street awhile back but didn't say anything " I don't think Pattie liked me all that much.. you know" I laughed and he laughed and nodded. I don't know if he really remembered me though he might or was just being polite, whatever it was very nice to see Lenny

(I once said to Lenny in front of Pattie at CBGBs one nite "what's a nice Jewish boy like you doing with a Pattie Shit"? and he laughed shrugged and said "hey that's the music biz" Some fans had come over to Pattie all happy gushing and excited wanting to meet her get her autograph and she put her arm out with her palm to them to keep them away and said loudly ' NO!...NOT NOW"., the girls were crushed and shrunk back looking very hurt and shocked and I thought it was the most ungrateful rudest thing., these were the people who were buying her dam records!., and Pattie wasn't doing anything but standing there with her attitude and that neck brace that I don't think she needed any more from falling off a stage, just kept wearing it for attention, not the way she was leaning against the bar, she wasn't in pain anymore.. the clutz)

I spoke to Tommy and said you moved into Chris's apt the day I was moving out, and he laughed and nodded I took a few pix of Tommy he seemed really quite and looked I dunno sad?

I heard sound from the stage and tried to squeeze in somewhere and get some shots, it was very crowded there was one very hostile guy hissing at everyone and I got stuck next to him which made it very miserable. I stayed for most of it and photographed it then ran outta film and realised my daughter had my bag and she was nowhere to be found, I looked around and noticed filmmaker Jim Jarmush behind me. I am a big fan of his work, I love the film"Nite on earth" especially. I had to take his photo!

so I did, then he looked at me and I just stupidly blurted out Hi I love your work Nite on Earth is one of my favorite films and he said Thankyou and put out his hand and shook mine. I was pretty thrilled to have met him and his photo I think came out pretty good. Then I hadda go squeeze out of there, find Sasha , my film etc and I was sorta squeezed out by the crowd most who were very friendly but this one guy.........anyway I sorta got popped out and into Steven Van Zants Arms "Opps sorry, gee crowds get hostile don't they!" if he hadn't of smiled and said you okay Id be very embarrassed. I found my daughter sitting in the first dressing room with two teen age boys, all 3 looked glum and were kinda sulking and bored looking, some woman was laying down taking a rest high on top of a stack of equipment boxes. I started talking to my daughter one of the boys asked who are you and I introduced myself and he put out his hand and said I'm Robin., the other boy who looked 'Punky" said I'm Egan., then this happy looking smiling man walked in and I recognised him, it was Chris Franz from Talking Heads the woman taking a cat nap was bass player Tina Weymouth, these were her sons. Suddenly Tina got up and jumped down., I guess all her years touring and on the road she learned to sleep anywhere!

we started talking and she said she was so tired from just getting back from London and then the whole thanksgiving thing, They posed for pictures for me then Tina started talking about politics and getting very intense which makes me nervous , when people start talking about politics, and I wasn't shure were she was coming from except she really wasn't happy with Bush. And I agreed with that, Then she went on how the youth today better get out there and vote, vote for anyone just not BUSH, she looked at her sons and my daughter and I said oh she's only 14..and Tina looked like oh, a lost vote! we talked about some likely candidates then I realised I left some stuff with this woman to watch by the side of the stage while I went to look for my daughter., a very nice woman who later I learned was Joey's brother's wife, excused myself got my stuff and squeezed back out, I returned to the room with Tina and her husband and sons, Tina was still talking about politics and how there's no real NY any more no great clubs nothing exciting and I fully agreed and I didn't like how people cant even smoke in bars that I hated our mayor , now I was starting to get riled up! Chris just kept smiling as always

Then I changed the subject I told Tina "I thought you hated me at one time" ( laughing)

"No I never hated you I never hated anyone" ( laughing) no why"?

"oh, once someone shoved me into you and you had a drink and it spilled a little on your dress and I thought you were really pissed even after I explained what happened and apologised"

Tina thought this was very funny and asked "Dress? what dress, David Byrne didn't like me wearing dresses..

"No you were wearing a dress, a satiny kinda orange pinky color sleeveless like a shift a mini dress short"

( I forgot to mention they weren't playing that nite I'm pretty shure it was the Police)

"A pinky orange dress?? I wonder did I have a dress like that? gee I still have all my old clothes? which one was that?"

"No I swear, I remember and you were drinking a screwdriver or orangejuice with something"

Tina burst out laughing "Wow you remember all this geez...........ahahahahahah"

"Yeah" I said "I have this crazy memory its like watching a movie in my head I can remember far back to being 2 years old people old neighbors, I used to freak my mom out telling her stuff"

"A pinky orange dress? Satin? a shift? I'm going to go look !!hahahahah,

well no I never hated you or anyone,, maybe the person that shoved you I did! Hahahah"

then I mentioned "gee I wonder how long it'll be till someone tries to swipe Joeys sign because you know they will! they stole Bill grahams sign by the Fillmore East so many times they just stopped replacing it!

Tina said "oh you know I never thought of that your right!" Chris agreed

I said "I think maybe if they made up replicas of the sign and sell them maybe Aurtro can on his website it might deter people from stealing it., and anyway they can use the profits to set up a charity or some foundation for cancer research in Joeys name, it would be a great thing"

"Oh that's brilliant! I love that isn't that great.. why didn't I think of that it never occurred to me isn't that great ?" Tina asked Chris

He nodded and smiled "its a very good idea"

Tina then said "lets find Joeys brother lets tell him that's brilliant.. what's your name again?"

Deborah

"Yes Deborah that's the best idea where's Joeys brother ?" then she went off looking for him

The kids were sulking, now I needed a cigarette I said were can we smoke and Egan said outside in the back, I forgot all about the backyard, I remember smoking weed with Eric Emmerson and his crew during a break at one of the first shows

I went out with Egan and we lit up.. cigarettes. Marc was outside talking with one of the Dictators, some guy was just standing nearby in heaven starring at Marky Ramone and giggling to himself while those two were deep in conversation

Talking to Egan , Tina and Chris's son he told me he had a band the Misgiven and he's played CBGBs , I asked if people know whom his parents are and he said sometimes they recognise the last name but he prefers they don't know because then they get the additude, well its easy for you because of your parents., which I can fully understand, then he said his brother is into making music but he's doing a new-wave-punky kinda thing and that its really different and good., then we talked about the Sex Pistols and he thinks they were the worst awful and Sid Vicious? he couldn't even play I told him how after the Sex Pistols people were coming to CBGBs all English punked looking with safety pins in there cheeks mowhawks the whole number but nobody from CBGBs EVER looked like that and he said I KNOW its so stupid! I told him he wouldn't believe how many awful and really bad bands that were coming out, it was the worst music and no one sang they screamed-talked, we laughed Egan said people think the Sex Pistols "invented Punk" but the Ramones had an album out way before they were even around! Then I told him The Sex Pistols were to the NY Music scene what Charles Manson was to the hippie movement (I really believe this)., they ruined it in alot of ways and made people afraid of Punk rock, like everyone was a deviant! Egan liked that analogy and laughed.. suddenly who comes wandering by Sy! Sy Hyman, he wanted to get out of the place and couldn't get past the crowd but the gate in the back was locked so we told him well soon everyone will be leaving to go outside to unveil the sign

Then we all went back in I managed to get back to the spot I was by the side as they were finishing up. I didn't see everyone give their speech, for me the sweetest was Sy Hyman who said again Joey was my nephew his whole life and he was just adorable and well received.

When Arturo spoke I started to cry, I felt very sad that Joey and DeeDee weren't here and many other people that I knew who either died from drug abuse or mysterious circumstances and I knew 3 other women they were girls really very young who died of cancer along time ago from this big CBGB family...., and I thought of my old pal Jessie Blue., how much I wished she could be here now maybe with her daughter, and all the fun we had here...., Arturos speech was so heartfelt and touching and full of passion. He was the Ramones biggest fan and supporter and I wonder if they ever would of made it with out him, he was the glue and the foundation that held them together, He is a creative genius an incredible artist, he was like a brother father and guardian angel of The Ramones., you can sorta say that Arturo was one of the Ramones

then as the end neared

the city council people were on stage, one said this was the coolest thing that he ever did on his job., there was alot of HEY HO LETS GO! chanting ..over and over for several minutes with Mark Micky Leggs Holmstrom Tommy etc.....till finally it was over and everyone started going outside for the unveiling

on the way out Tina was still obsessed about the dress, she thought it was the funniest thing she asked what year and I told her I remember it was exactly at the end of the summer of 77! Wow Tina said I have to go home and see if I still have that, then she turned to some bearded guy I didn't recognise and laughing said "do u remember a pinky orange satin mini dress I had, a shift" ..laughing

I wonder if she did go home and find it?! but I am so positive of it I'd bet my life on it! I forgot to mention her hair had been half up in a little ponytail... that would have really got her hysterical ....if you see Tina tell her

oh and to all of you the youth of America and I suppose all over

TINA Weymouth SAYS!!!! "The youth today out there have to go and VOTE and try to make a difference"

and vote for anyone just try and help to get rid of BUSH!!

I enjoyed talking with Tina., I really like her., I always thought she was alot more intense and serious than she really is., she was really funny and fun to talk to, I told her after she said "NO I never hated you" oh Good" I said " Now I don't have to hate you anymore"!! which she found very funny and we had a good laff. I'm sorry I didn't get to know her better along time ago., she's definitely a very cool and talented woman, and alot of fun., And Chris., he was always smiling and he's still smiling!

I asked him about the Rock n Roll hall of fame and that its so great that now The Ramones and talking Heads are in., its sorta like our people are part of it all, I asked does that mean he can vote and he said yes though the nominations are mostly by record people the big ones like Amhet Ergant from Atlantic Records and magazine publishers like Jann Wenner . from Rolling stone., etc we discussed the NY Dolls and Johnny Thunders getting inducted and Chris said he'd definitely vote for them if they get nominated and that its true there'd be no Motley Crue or guns n Roses Poison (etc the hair bands) with out their influence, especially Thunders. I told him I think they go by some point system you need 5 and the Dolls did get 1 point once and after they get the points they can be nominated and then voted for., and Chris said lets hope one day., I said maybe they can one day name a street after Johnny,....but not on Ave A. Chris laughed getting the (sad) point (Ave A was where alot of street dealers were in the 70s-80s on the lower east side selling junk etc.

Out side it was just teaming with people spilling out in to the traffic. We made our way towards the sign were people were already standing up on this bench thing talking about what a great day it was, the crowd was cheering, the sign was covered with a Ramones T shirt attached to a string one enterprising guy made a huge papier machie Head of Joey he was holding high up in the air,

I tried to get as close as I'm short to get pictures and it wasn't really possible so I just held the camera up in the air and clicked away

Before they pulled the shirt of the sign everyone chanted Hey ho lets go over and over., they musta heard it all the way in Forrest Hills! finally the shirt was yanked off and everyone cheered like mad!

it was pretty emotional and awesome! then after the crowd started to loosen and I spoke to Mickey Leigh and thanked him for giving Mark the package I had given him and he said really when? I did, you did, did I ?Yes thanks Mark said he got it and he really liked it, it was some stuff with old friends of his I thought he'd like to have, and Mickey said oh then I'm glad I got it to him and didn't lose it! Mickey is very nice and he has almost the same speaking voice as his brother Joey which is kinda spooky, if you closed your eyes its Joey.., at least I think so.

Then some woman from a newspaper The NY POST started asking me questions and I told her she should speak to John Holmstrom of Punk Magazine he knows more and she said she wished she could so I said oh you want to meet him YES PLEASE! so I bought her over to him and introduced her and Holmstrom just happened to be holding a copy of the NY post and said he reads it all the time! Then Holmstrom introduced me to "Jolly" who he said is Legs replacement, as the resident PUNK. Jolly I have to say is alot nicer and more pleasant than Legs and it flipped me out how much he looked like my late brother Michael who got very ill and passed away after my daughter was born, He looked so much like him I had to mention it. We stood around talking about the whole NY scene and it turned to Johnny Thunders which it turns out he is a huge fan so we talked alot about John, then we all headed over to Arturos loft for the party but it was incredibly crowded there were people sitting in the windows you could see how packed it was so they all decided to go back to CBGBs for a beer. I noticed by now my daughter was finished with all this, tired hungry and ready to go already, I can't say I blame her, this wasn't her thing. Even though She met alot of people today and before and at events I catered for the organization Peta and she's not that impressed except she was impressed with Kid Rock, she thinks Ricky Lake is really nice and pretty and Paul MacCartney because well he's one of the BEATLES! She met Debby Harry once and thought she was very pretty and nice but I think Johnny Knoxville was her most exciting moment.. till she gets to maybe meet Aston Kutchner ( ouch ! my daughter just pinched me!) or comic Jimmy Fallon from the show Saturday Nite Live (OUCH AGAIN!)

We hung out at CBGBs for a few then I said bye to Holmstrom and Jolly and his friend

SO it was time to go., I took my daughter for something to eat, we went to St marks place and looked round and went home

I wondered what Joey would have said about today

I think he'd say

"This is so …, TOTALLY TWISTED!"

ALL PICTURES AND WORDS © Deborah Olin