All-star Joey Ramone B-day Bash Set

Previously unheard solo recordings will be aired.

By Blurt Staff

Expect the May 19 birthday celebration for what would have been Joey Ramone's 58^th year to be a total bash with a show headlined by Fishbone and Supersuckers and what we're guessing will be wall-to-wall celeb partygoers (You know Eddie Vedder was a close friend of Joey's, right?). It'll be held at the Fillmore NYC at Irving Plaza.

But despite all the outside star power, our bet is Joey will steal the ninth annual show. Mickey Leigh, Joey's brother and the event producer, has announced fans will be treated to a special advance sneak peek listen to rough mixes of never- before-heard Joey Ramone solo recordings.  Various producers, including long-time Ramones producer Ed Stasium, are currently preparing tracks for a full album worth of material, slated for posthumous release at the end of the year.

The party will conclude with The Friends Of Joey featuring Richie Ramone, Handsome Dick Manitoba, Jean Beauvoir, Ivan Julian, George Tabb, Al Maddy and Mickey Leigh.  Also appearing are Death and Rough Francis, Uncle Monk (featuring Tommy Ramone), Bebe Buell, and Tom Clark & The High Action Boys.  

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 on the bagpipes. 

Joey died 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 Presents..." events.  His brother and their mother Charlotte Lesher 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 said in a press statement.

Tickets are available in advance at the Fillmore box office for$25 ($30 day of show) or through http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/404523.  The Fillmore is located at 17 Irving Place, corner 15^th Street, NYC.  Doors open at 7PM.

Net proceeds from the Bash go to support the Joey Ramone Foundation for Lymphoma Research.

Want more news? Go to www.joeyRamone.com