Joey Ramon (Jeff Hyman) headstone. Photo by Tony Fischer
Across from the former location on the Bowery of the famed music venue CBGB artists Solus and Dan (Crash) Matos created a mural to commemorate the debut of the Ramones over 40 years ago there.
The mural depicts the band leader Joey Ramone with bright red boxing gloves clutched together in front of his chest, looking ready for a fight. The non-profit group Little Italy Street Art Project NYC is behind the organization of paintings creation, which was executed within 6 hours on September 3.
Wayne Rada of the LISA Project explained that the fighting position Joey Ramone strikes in the portrait represents the many years of struggle the band had to invest before becoming the household name they eventually became.
“It was pretty cool that the boxing gloves have a symbolic meaning of the struggle,” Rada said.
Solus pointed out on Instagram that in the 22 years the Ramones toured they performed 2,263 times.
CBGBs closed in September 2006 after hosting live music for 33 years. August marked the 41st year since the Ramones first performance there.
The mural can remain for one year until the permit expires, at which time, the rules stipulate, the wall must go back to its “Tawny Rose” color. Rada needs to check with the community every 90 days to make sure there are no problems.
Rada said that word is quickly spreading through social media about the mural, and people have been coming to see it and take photos.