Punk Turns 30

Johnny Ramone, 1977 In Los Angeles about this time in November 1977, the frequency of punk rock shows was accelerating. I attribute this to the late summer opening of The Masque. It forced the mainstream clubs (and I worked at one) to really step up their game. And as more punk rock records were being released, it was a great time if you were a punk rock music fan. The Ramones were back for the FOURTH time in this year alone! Joey Ramone, 1977 AND better yet, Mumps were in town for a few weeks... Kristian Hoffman and Kevin Kiely, Mumps on Halloween, 1977 (note Jack O Lantern!) after their stints earlier in the month opening for Devo at the Starwood on Halloween, and the Dead Boys a few days later, they co-headlined a gig with their pals, The Dickies, and then they had an even more prime gig opening for The Ramones to kick off the month of December! The Dickies This was that time that is always romanticized in print by both those who were there and those who weren't born...

And good riddance to 2006 already.... Actually, 2006 had its ups and its downs, just like any other year. Before we go any further, let's wish a Happy Birthday to David Quinton Steinberg the young man on the right, flipping you off. He's 18 in that photo, taken for the Stiv Bators solo album, "Disconnected." At 18, he was already a punk rock veteran before joining Stiv, having been playing punk rock since 1976... And 1976 is when I really felt the active punk rock era began for me...the first time I saw Patti Smith in January 76, touring in support of her debut album, "Horses" which was released in November 1975. Its also Patti Smith's birthday this weekend, and Lenny Kaye's too! But by most counts, people credit 1977 being the year punk broke (despite the fact there's a documentary/tour film called "1991: The Year Punk Broke" - which is a movie about grunge bands and includes the Ramones). And what all that means is that 2007 is...

stiv & dee dee , originally uploaded by Theresa K . I miss them both -- Dee Dee Ramone and Stiv Bators. Here they are backstage at the Whisky A Go Go in 1980. Stiv had just played a set with the band that backed him on his solo album "Disconnected," that came out on Bomp. Dead Boy Jimmy Zero played with this group at these shows. Stiv and Dee Dee were close friends, and Dee Dee joined in on a few songs and generally hung out and created merriment for all. This photo was used - as you can see - as the postcard invite for the Dead Boys reunion on September 18, 2004 at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, OH. It was a sold out show and the proceeds went to Stiv's elderly parents, who were in attendance. Stiv was the spit n image of his Dad, Stephen Bator. The same twinkling blue eyes and mischievous smile. Lovely man. It was an incredibly melancholy moment talking with the senior Mr. Bator. I do miss them - Dee Dee and Stiv. It's time to let their s...