GABBA GABBA HEY INDEED

Hank III

Celebrating what would have been the 59th birthday of punk icon Joey Ramone, the annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash will take place Wednesday, May 19 at The Fillmore at Irving Plaza in New York City. Mickey Leigh, event organizer and brother of Joey Ramone, has announced this year’s lineup, and net proceeds will go to benefit Lymphoma research.

This year’s headliners are Hank Williams III and Morningwood. Once again, the spectacular party will conclude with The Joey Ramone Birthday Bashers featuring Richie Ramone, Hank III, Walter Lure, Cheetah Chrome, JP Thunderbolt, Ed Stasium, Jean Beauvoir, George Tabb, Ivan Julian, Al Maddy, Walt Stack, Dave Merrill, Mickey Leigh and others. Also appearing are The Sic F*cks, The Independents, Spanking Charlene (winners of Little Steven’s Wicked Cool Records contest) and Heap.

As the audience enters the venue they will once again be greeted by musician Tracy Thornton, playing Ramones songs on the steel drum. And, in what has become a Birthday Bash tradition, Sean O’Sullivan’s Punk Pipers will round out the night with their rendition of “I Wanna Be Sedated” on bagpipes. The Masters of Ceremony for this year’s fete will be Steven Van Zandt, Steve Craig, Matt Pinfield and Pete Ashner.

Ramone, who passed away in April 2001 after a seven-year battle with Lymphoma, had a history of encouraging up-and-coming bands in New York’s downtown music scene by showcasing them at his special “Joey Ramone PresentsÂ…” events. Since Ramone’s passing, his brother and their mother Charlotte Lesher have carried on the tradition “by featuring bands that make great music and getting together some of Joey’s friends to celebrate him on what would otherwise be a sad, somber day,” Leigh explains.

Tickets are available in advance at the Fillmore box office for $25 ($30 day of show) or here.