Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza
17 Irving Pl. at East 15th St.
Thursday, May 19, $35.25 (with fees), 7:00
www.joeyramone.com
www.livenation.com
Musician, legend, icon . . . New York native Joey Ramone would have been celebrating his sixtieth birthday on May 19, and, as has become a grand local tradition, the eleventh Joey Ramone Birthday Bash will be held that evening at the Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza. Joey (born Jeffery Hyman) died of lymphoma in 2001, and the annual affair is, as always, a fundraiser benefiting the Joey Ramone Foundation for Lymphoma Research. The festivities, put together each year by Joey’s brother, Mickey Leigh, and a dedicated cast of friends and supporters, are, inevitably, a celebration of everything Ramones, who were honored earlier this year with a lifetime achievement Grammy. Fans from all over the planet have been known to come celebrate Joey’s enduring legacy (as well of that of his now-fallen bandmates Johnny and Dee Dee) and enjoy film clips, interviews, art displays, and plenty of live music. This year’s lineup includes Joey favorite Black 47, Television’s Richard Lloyd, the Rattlers, Holly Beth Vincent, Sunday Masquerade, Bebe Buell, the Incident, and a band led by ex-Strangler Hugh Cornwell with Steven Fishman and Blondie’s Clem Burke, aka Elvis Ramone. The night always concludes with a marathon medley of beloved Ramones songs, from the obscure to the popular, performed by a virtual who’s who of fellow travelers, from an ex-Ramone or two to those who simply share an era, an ethos, or an influence with Forest Hills’ finest. Leigh is also expected to play songs from his brother’s long-rumored solo album. As tradition holds, Sean O’Sullivan’s Punk Pipers ring out the night on bagpipes sometime in the wee hours. “I want to keep it uplifting, so I’m not going to start talking any timelines,” Leigh writes on Joey’s official website. “I think all of us here are well aware of what this year marks. I always want this to be a special occasion, and something for us to be happy about.” And what’s happier than Ramones songs?