Ramones' 40th Anniversary To Be Marked With Assorted Events

The Ramones' 40th Celebration

The "Blitzkrieg Bop" is on. This year's 40th anniversary of the release of THE RAMONES' classic debut album will be marked with a documentary, a SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST panel, a collector's reissue, a traveling exhibit and in the planning stages, display images of the band in 800 LEVI'S stores across the U.S.A.

The campaign, which focuses on the four original members -- JOEY, JOHNNY, DEE DEE and TOMMY, all now deceased -- is the result of an agreement between JOEY's brother MICKEY LEIGH and JOHNNY's widow LINDA. The campaign will be orchestrated by JAM INC.'s JEFF JAMPOL, in conjunction with SILENT PARTNER MANAGEMENT's DAVE FREY. 

The events will start off with a GRAMMY MUSEUM-organized panel at SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST in AUSTIN on MARCH 17th featuring SIRE RECORDS' SEYMOUR STEIN, who originally signed the band, with LEIGH and LINDA RAMONE, followed by several bands performing the group's music later that evevning.

An exhibit of memorabilia opens at the QUEENS MUSEUM in NEW YORK on APRIL 10th, with an expanded version headed to the GRAMMY MUSEUM in L.A. in OCTOBER, with a world tour of 19 cities planned for next year.

RHINO will release a three-CD/one-LP deluxe collector's edition of the band's self-titled first album, overseen by its ­original ­producer, CRAIG LEON, including demos and a live concert. Also planned: a singles box ­spanning the group's career.

THE RAMONES' first EURO date -- at LONDON's ROUNHOUSE on JULY 4th, 1976 -- will be featured in a ­worldwide ­theatrical ­documentary that showcases their abiding ­influence.

The celebration could involve a potential ­partnership with LEVI'S, with ­photographs of the group in more than 800 retail ­outlets. There will also be an "ARCHIE Meets THE RAMONES" comic book released in conjunction with NEW YORK COMIC CON in OCTOBER.

Also in the works is a BROADWAY ­version of the band's 1979 cult film "Rock 'n' Roll High School," with the movie's ­original ­producer, ROGER CORMAN, and TV/film executive GAIL BERMAN.

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