May 20, 2001 19:13

STARS PAY TRIBUTE TO JOEY RAMONE

A memorial gig is held in New York on what would have been the punk icon's 50th birthday...

BLONDIE, THE DAMNED and CHEAP TRICK were among the stars who turned out to pay tribute to the late JOEY RAMONE in NEW YORK last night (May 19) on what would have been the RAMONES singer's 50th birthday.

Friends, family and fans joined together at the 'Life's A Gas - Joey Ramone's Birthday Bash' memorial show at the 2,400-capacity Hammerstein Ballroom.

Joey's mother Charlotee Lesher, had vowed to continue with the night's events in honour of her punk hero son, which had been planned as a birthday celebration prior to his death from lymphoma last month.

Profits from the show are to be donated to the Lymphoma Foundation.

Yesterday was declared national Joey Ramone Day by congressional proclamation, a spokesman for Republican Gary Ackerman of Queens is reported to have said. A US flag that flew over the Capitol is to be presented to Joey's family, www.ananova.com reports.

If you are a Ramones fan who was at the show, tell us what you thought.

To leave a message on the The Ramones message board click here.