Ramones Mark 50 Years at Hollywood Forever: All-Star Lineup Set to Perform
The 50th anniversary of the iconic punk band Ramones' debut album will be celebrated with a special tribute concert on Aug. 30 at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. John Travolta will host the night, with an all-star cover band on the bill.
Hey ho! Let's celebrate! The iconic punk band Ramones will mark the half-century milestone of their debut studio album with an official tribute concert on Aug. 30 at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. Ramones Productions, Inc. and Hollywood Forever announced in a joint statement on Tuesday (July 7) that film legend John Travolta will host the event.
The night's lineup will be an all-star cover band made up of Ramones' musical descendants. Confirmed participants include Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong. The program will focus on songs from the band's self-titled 1976 debut album; classics like "Blitzkrieg Bop," "Judy Is a Punk," and "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue" are expected to be performed by different artists throughout the night.
Hollywood Forever holds a special place in Los Angeles's cultural memory: it's the resting place of many music and film legends, including Ramones frontman Joey Ramone. Tickets for the event will go on sale in the coming weeks.
As the band that set the template for punk music, Ramones left behind not just a legacy tied to New York's CBGB club, but a language that has influenced generations since the late '70s. All four of the band's classic lineup — Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, and Tommy Ramone — have since passed away, which is why the 50th-anniversary tribute has been framed less as a farewell and more as a celebration.