MY TRIP TO NEW YORK, SAN DIEGO, LOS ANGELES AND TIJUANA IN MAY-JUNE
2007
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Copyright 2007 -> Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone
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I had 6 hours flight from JFK to San Diego where to Randy Wisebrod and
Shazz Carrington were moved from Toronto. I had visited them last time
in Toronto in 2005. I was so excited to see them. I landed to San Diego
at 8:20. They found that Finnish punkrocker from airport and accepted
long hugs. I gave hugs for Randy and Shazz also as a gongralutions
because they were got married in Las Vegas, priest was then Elvis
imitator. We visited quickly their house and then we decided to go to
their favourite pub Live Wire. We had lot things to discuss and of
course they wanted to hear how was the Joey Ramone Birthday Bash, Uncle
Monk performance, my meetings with great people etc.
I went to do some shoppings with Shazz Carrington in May 25, like I
found for one people "Fuck 60th" shot glass. She is soon sixty years
old. We called for Shazz's darling after we returned for their house,
Randy was already at the Live Wire. He was there with friends Lorie
Kubert and Pete Devito. Pete had seen one of the last shows by Dee Dee,
it was at Dream Street in San Diego on May 17, 2002. Pete was too at Dee
Dee's show in San Diego in 2001. Later that night they talked for me of
video what they had seen of the Air Guitar World Championships competion
which has organised in Finland since mid 90's.
I slept 13 hours. I was working then with E-mails. Richie Ramone's wife
Annette was E-mailed me and I was happy to read from them also birthday
greetings. I called for them and we spoke fifteen minutes. They were
going for a small trip in next day (May 27) and I promised to call back
in June 3. So Richie and Annette were invited me to visit them earlier
in May and I also asked more details how I would get to their city. I
also was trying to call for Johnny Ramone's wife Linda Ramone and Maria
Montoya-Kaye. Maria lives in Los Angeles. I left message for her
answering machine. She E-mailed me soon back. I was happy that I would
travel to see them also later in this trip.
I, Randy and Shazz went to visit their friends Allan and Jen. They had
lovely house. They had there also swimming pool and nice garden, I was
checking out apricot and lemon trees etc. Allan and Jen cooked for us
nice meal. Then Allan, Jen, Randy and Shazz had a fun time watching when
I was trying to do some practises with a surfboard in swimming pool.
Next morning we had plans to go to the ocean beach, Allan would have
shown for me what is real surfboarding. But we couldn't go because of
bad weather. Later that day I booked my train to Los Angeles. Next
morning (May 28) Shazz took me to the train station. It was time to say
many thanks and goodbye for her because after some days she was leaving
to Toronto and she wouldn't come back before I return to Finland.
After 4,5 hours of travelling I saw in a railway station California Sun
= Maria Montoya-Kaye. After long hugs I started to tell for her how was
the Joey Ramone Birthday Bash and my and Diane's visit at Joey's grave.
Maria's husband is David and son Nathaniel. This was third time I was
visiting them in Los Angeles, first trip was to the small Dee Dee memory
event in 2003
and second to the Ramones 30th Anniversary Party in 2004. Maria, David
and Nathaniel lives in a beautiful house and in a nice living area. I
and Maria were calling that night first for Linda Ramone and Bobby
London. We got meeting schedules confirmed with Linda and Bobby. Then
Maria cooked tasty meal. Next day I went for shopping when Maria and
David went to work. I bought for example CBGB's Forever CD. Some of you
know that I do use lot leopard patterned clothes. I saw in one shop
leopard patterned bag which cost 2 250US$!!! Of the some reason I did
not bought it.
Maria picked me up after she got from work and we went to enjoy pizza to
the Redballs Rock & Roll Pizza pizzeria. Maria wanted to take me there.
It was a special pizzeria in New York style. Walls were filled with some
real guitars, concert posters, backstage passes, tickets, band photos,
music magazine covers etc. There was material of the Ramones, Misfits,
Channel Three, Screeching Weasel, Plasmatics, Vindictives, Social
Distortion, Fear etc. There were many photos from Rock'N'Roll High
School movie, also Rock'N'Roll High School LP signed by the Ramones and
full signed Ramones promo photo of Joey, Johnny, Marky and CJ.
Then was time to meet Bobby London. Finally we met at live. We had been
E-mailing regularly during the last few years. Bobby London is famous
drawer, like you can find his works from Weird
Tales Of The Ramones box
set. He was friend with the Ramones members especially in the 1970's.
Like with Joey he became friend in 1976. He has told me lot nice stories
for my third book. It was great to talk with him at live and hear for
example of the Ramones show which he saw at My Father's Place in New
York in mid 1970's. There had been then only few other people in
audience. Bobby is nice and funny man. It was also nice to see his
works. At the moment he was doing for example next Dirty Duck comic
strip which he created in 1971. It has been published for example in
Playboy since 1977. We went out to eat together before I and Maria had
to leave. Maria, David and Nathaniel had to wake up next morning at 4AM
because Nathaniel had to leave for one trip at 5AM. They came back to
sleep.
David owns a book and memorabilia store and
later I went with him to the area where is the store. I was hanging out
there five hours and from David's store I found a good gift book for
Lynne Cameron. Maria picked me up again and then was time of the next
exciting meeting at 5:30PM. Johnny's wife Linda Ramone was told us
restaurang what was nice and where is great to meet and also do an
interview. I met with Linda in New York in 2005 and 2006, at the Joey
Ramone Birthday Bashes and also in 2005 Linda asked me to come with her
and her friends to the restaurang. Linda was again really friendly and
openspoken for me. I, Linda and Maria did order meal at first and I and
Linda made cheers with a red wine and Maria with a beverage in a memory
of Johnny. So also interview was really openspoken, we talked first of
the time after the Ramones quit, how they were in touch with other
Ramones members, of their move to California, of Johnny's political
views, illness and statue etc. So also that interview comes to my third
book. Also I was so happy when Linda wanted to give for me extra special
photos to the book. Few of them were from their wedding party. One of
them was that kind of what I wouldn't have believe ever to see (you will
see it then..., it is so surprising and great). It was so nice meeting.
Linda didn't give me pay the restaurang bill. When we were leaving, I
wanted to take her for a little dance in the end of our meeting. I got
an honour to do it. Maria videotaped that part.
Special day had more exciting things. Maria was wrote to me week earlier
that she was got for us an invitation for a movie premiere and
after-party for Susan Dynner's documentary film Punk's Not Dead. We were
in hurry and I asked aloud help from Joey Ramone for us that we would be
in time at Henry Fonda Theater. Joey helped us. They had took photos of
the bands etc. before documentary film started. We were there just in
time. There was in a beginning of Punk's Not Dead of the Ramones, Henry
Rollins (Rollins Band, Black Flag etc.), Wattie Buchan (The Exploited),
The Adicts, UK Subs, TSOL, Subhumans, Bad Religion etc. There was also
later Ramones clips, for example of the Joey Ramone Place ceremony. From
the first moments it had international feeling. There was first clips of
Mike Ness of Social Distortion from time when he was only 16 years old.
Then it featured more newer punk bands like NOFX, Green Day, Pennywise
and Rancid. Punk's Not Dead lasted 1,5 hours and it told more of the DIY
scene than of the birth of punk.
After the document I and Maria were talking with Channel Three members.
Maria is good friend with them and she has also been doing backvocals in
really many Channel Three shows etc. Channel Three interview as well
comes to my third book. Guys were really nice. We went to the backstage.
There I was speaking for example with Pete Dee of The Adicts. He had
seen the Ramones 32 times. There was also his son whom middle name is
Ramone and whom godfather Joey was. Channel Three was playing five songs
with a tight attitude. Then we had to leave because Maria had to go to
work next morning.
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