The Ramones Rise From The Grave For 50th Bday

The Ramones’ 50th anniversary celebration is heading to one of Los Angeles’ most fitting venues: a cemetery. Ramones Productions and Hollywood Forever Cemetery have announced the Official Ramones 50th Anniversary Tribute, set for Aug. 30 at the legendary Hollywood landmark, kicking off a yearlong celebration marking five decades since the release of the band’s groundbreaking 1976 self-titled debut.

Hosted by John Travolta, the event will feature the live debut of Cretin Family, a new punk supergroup comprising Rancid’s Tim Armstrong, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, Blink-182’s Travis Barker and former Ramones bassist CJ Ramone, alongside surprise guests performing a full set of Ramones classics. The evening will also include a double-feature screening of the new 50th anniversary deluxe edition of Carrie and Travolta’s new film, Propeller One-Way Night Coach, while Shepard Fairey will spin a guest DJ set. Proceeds will benefit David Agus MD Cancer Research at the Ellison Institute.

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“I’m excited to celebrate the best band ever with Ramones fans from all over the world, and to welcome our new generation of fans,” the late Johnny Ramone’s wife Linda says. Travolta adds that after attending the annual Johnny Ramone tribute two years ago, he was eager to return.

For the musicians involved, the event doubles as a tribute to one of punk’s foundational texts. “From the moment I first heard the Ramones, music was never the same,” Tim Armstrong says. “They are my favorite band of all time! I can’t wait to play those great and perfect Ramones songs with my friends CJ, Travis and Billie.”

Billie Joe Armstrong calls the band’s legacy inescapable, saying, “the spirit of the Ramones is alive in every backyard punk show, punk club and festival. Generation after generation of cretins and weirdos become Ramones lovers. Kids are influenced by the Ramones and they don’t even know it yet.” Seconds Barker, “the Ramones are the blueprint. Punk rock wouldn’t be what it is today without them,” while CJ Ramone promises “the biggest celebration of the Ramones anyone has seen for a long time.”

The anniversary celebration arrives amid a broader campaign honoring the album’s enduring influence, including Rhino’s July 17 release of the first-ever picture-disc edition of Ramones and a July 31 colored vinyl reissue of Live at the Roxy, 8/12/76 as part of its Spirit of ’76 series.

In related news, Green Day contributes four unreleased live recordings plus the brand new song “I’m Never Gonna R.I.P.” to the soundtrack to the film NIMRODS, which is out July 31. The project centers around three bandmates traveling to Los Angeles under the mistaken impression that they’re opening for Green Day on New Year’s Eve.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.