Punk legends unite for special Ramones tribute in Los Angeles

Rock ‘n’ roll changed forever 50 years ago when the Ramones released their self-titled debut LP, blasting radio airwaves with songs like “Blitzkrieg Bop” and “Beat on the Brat.”

Now, to celebrate the anniversary, several of punk’s modern legends will come together for a special tribute concert in Los Angeles to support cancer research.

Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, Rancid’s Tim Armstrong, blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and former Ramones bassist C.J. Ramone will perform as Cretin Family on Aug. 30 at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

The concert is part of a tribute hosted by John Travolta that also includes a double-feature screening of Carrie (1976) and Travolta’s new film, Propeller One-Way Night Coach. Proceeds will benefit cancer research at the Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine.

“The spirit of the Ramones is alive in every backyard punk show, punk club and festival,” Billie Joe Armstrong said in a statement to Rolling Stone. “Generation after generation of cretins and weirdos become Ramones lovers. Kids are influenced by the Ramones and they don’t even know it yet. ¡Viva Ramones!”

The Ramones, Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy, formed in New York City in the mid-1970s and are widely regarded as the main pioneers of the early punk rock movement. Their high-speed tempos, stripped-down production and short, catchy anthems arrived at a time when pop music was dominated by disco and bloated progressive rock acts.

They performed their final show in 1996 after achieving only limited commercial success, but their impact remains indelible.

Joey Ramone died in 2001, Dee Dee Ramone in 2002, Johnny Ramone in 2004, and Tommy Ramone in 2014. C.J. Ramone joined the band in 1989 and remained with them until they disbanded. Dee Dee is interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, which also features a bronze statue of Johnny Ramone.

Tickets for the tribute went on sale Tuesday.