Fourth Arts Block & Antagonist Movement unveil Joey Ramone mural behind CBGB

This month, Raul Ayala and other members of the Antagonist Movement went to work on a mural on Extra Place behind the location of CBGB, where Fourth Arts Block has an ongoing public art project. The inspiration for the mural is a poem written by Dee Dee Ramone after Joey’s death. It was given to the artists by Arturo Vega, and describes Joey’s spirit as a dragon riding through the blue sky.

Michael Alago remembers Arturo Vega

Long time music biz vet & photographer, Michael Alago remembers Arturo Vega. This is an outtake from an in-progress documentary being shot about Alago. Vega's obituary ran yesterday in the NY Times. Read it here.

Arturo Vega RIP

Arturo Vega - RIP. A giant amongst the original NYC punk crowd, Vega was responsible for the Ramones logo (as ubiquitous as the CBGB logo these days), and, often referred to as "the fifth Ramone," served the band loyally over their entire career. He also created some provocative & wonderful art. This seems to have happened quite suddenly & details are not available just yet. As soon as I can, I'll post an obituary link.

Visit his website here.

The last time I caught them I walked home high

  

Ramones by The Ramones as advertised in the June 1976 issue of Creem magazine.

The Warriors vs The Ramones

By Nathan Stapley

New video: "New York City" by Joey Ramone

"New York City" from the recently released ...Ya Know? by Joey Ramone. It includes over 1600 photographs with appearances from Tommy Ramone, celebrity chef and author Anthony Bourdain, Andy Shernoff of the Dictators, Matt & Kim, Andrew WK, Reggie Watts, members of Les Savy Fav, The Drums, and the Flatbush Zombies, JP Patterson, Ricky Byrd, Tish & Snooky Bellomo, and legendary photographer Godlis, stars of television’s 30 Rock (Scott Adsit, John Lutz and Kristen Schaal), Ramones’ producer Ed Stasium, and Joey Ramone’s brother, musician and author Mickey Leigh.

Its a great video...Gotta love these proud New Yorkers!

Before & After: Morrissey & The Ramones

Before:

The above image really made the rounds yesterday...thanks again to Alex for pointing me to it. This morning I just had to rerun what he posted over at Flaming Pablum. One of these days I'll have to dig up some more of the fan letters he wrote professing his adolescent love of the New York Dolls.

After:

Ramones Rubbish Says Morrissey

Thanks Alex!

Movie of the Week: Rock & Roll High School (1979)

Did your high school principle ever take your concert tickets away?

The Ramones - Its Alive - At The Rainbow (1977)

Here's an edited version of the Ramones concert recorded & filmed at The Rainbow in London on Dec. 31, 1977. The concert was eventually released as a double live album on Sire Records in the UK in 1979, and the film saw the light of day officially in 2007 on the comprehensive It's Alive DVD collection. These guys were one well oiled machine...Hey ho!

Saints of the Lower East Side

Saints of the Lower East Side: Martin Wong, Joey Ramone, Miguel Piñero, Ellen Stewart, Charlie Parker, Arthur Fellig and Allen Ginsberg. For more information visit EV Grieve as well as the website of artist Tom Sanford.

Installing Charlie Parker

The Ramones and The Runaways (1978)

Courtesy of Hardcore Show Flyers

The Ramones first PR bio - Incredible!

Miriam Linna, who blogs over at Kicksville 66, and runs the wonderful Norton Records with husband, Billy, shared this amazing bit of ephemera today - the very first Ramones bio from 1975! Wow...dug out of her collection, she's promising more to come, and I can't wait to see what's in store!

Dead Pop Stars

Me, Joe Strummer, Howie Pyro, and Joey Ramone, Avenue A & 7th Street, NYC

Movie of the Week - End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones

Friday Ephemera - Ramones vs Runaways

Via

Before and After: What A Wonderful World

Before - Louis Armstrong:

Louis Armstrong on Amazon

During - Nick Cave & Shane MacGowan:

Nick Cave on Amazon

After - Joey Ramone:

Joey Ramone on Amazon
The Ramones on Amazon