The Ramones are still rockin’ — but now it’s the museum scene. Forty years after the April 23, 1976 release of "Ramones" --- the debut solo album from what would become America's most beloved punk rock band --- a new exhibit in Queens pays homage to the ragtag group of misfits who made music history.
It's been 40 years since the release of the Ramones self-titled debut album and a new exhibit at the Queens Museum is honoring the punk rock band.
Forty years after the April 23, 1976 release of "Ramones" --- the debut solo album from what would become America's most beloved punk rock band --- a new exhibit in Queens pays homage to the ragtag group of misfits who made music history.
"Hey! Ho! Let's Go: Ramones and the Birth of Punk" features more than 400 items, from T-shirts to posters to old guitars, road gear and photographs.
Curator, Marc H. Miller, worked with the Grammy Museum on the exhibit. He says they were able to gather collectibles from people close to the Ramones.
"We were very fortunate," he said. "We've been able to borrow from almost all the people connected to the exhibition, from Linda, Johnny's widow from Mickey Leigh, Joey's brother, from Vera (Boldis), Dee Dee's first wife and from Claudia Tienan, who is the longtime companion I'm not sure if they were married, of Tommy's. So, we got the real stuff out of the real archives," Marc H. Miller said.
Some of the Ramones songs include "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue", "I Wanna Be Sedated" and "Let's Dance." Monte A. Melnick, former tour manager for the Ramones, says the group went on to influence other musical acts.
"Hey! Ho! Let's Go: Ramones and the Birth of Punk" features more than 400 items, from T-shirts to posters to old guitars, road gear and photographs.
"They were kind of like the Johnny Appleseed of rock," he said. "So, when they were around they would go out and play all over the country and all over the world and kids would see them and say, 'Hey, look. This is simple stuff but it's good music.' You don't have to be like a virtuoso on the guitar or whatever or the bass."
"And they inspired a lot of bands to start groups and I'm amazed at all these humongous groups now idealized the Ramones. I mean there's Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam, Bono from U2. The first song on their new album, the last tour was 'The Miracle of Joey Ramone.' And how the Ramones influenced his life and they're massive groups. metallica. Sound Garden, Rancid. All idolized the Ramones and they were sparked by what the Ramones did when they first came through the area," he said.
The exhibit will be open April 10 through July 31 at the Queens Museum and then move to the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles from Sept. 16 through Aug. 7.
