In Berlin, Germany, there’s a fantastic museum dedicated to the Ramones, no kidding! You can find out all about it at the Ramones Museum Berlin website.
Danny Fields was at the Ramones Museum to host a showing of his photographs of the Ramones, taken when he managed the band from 1975 to 1980.
Here’s what the opening of the show looked like—all photos in this slideshow are by Danny, except, obviously, for the one that he’s in. That was snapped by Monte Melnick, the road manager of the Ramones during their entire career.
But, hey ho, let’s go!
CLICK ANY PHOTO TO VIEW SLIDE SHOW
Ramones fans assemble at the museum as Monte Melnick (right) checks the setup for the multimedia show he’s preparing to give. Monte is the author of the bountiful book about his life with the band, On The Road With The Ramones. Click the slide above to find out more about his book.
In the Ramones Museum sits Berlin native Joscha Blankenburg, who’d been carrying a copy of PKM in English, AND doing the New York Times crossword puzzle(!), when he and Danny first met in the lounge of the museum.
White curtains hang over Danny Fields’ photographs of the Ramones; when the opening night crowd is in place, the curtains will be drawn open to reveal the array of photos chosen by museum curator Flo for this momentous show. Oh…the museum is free!
Not at the museum, but at a nearby hotel, Danny could not resist taking a picture illustrating the always-amazing efficiency of the Germans. Men are requested to pee sitting down (note little diagram on inside of seat) so that spraying streams go directly to target.
Tomorrow’s Ramones? A young band gathers on the sidewalk in front of the Ramones Museum, where they’ll rehearse for an upcoming show. The museum is located in a neighborhood of art galleries and youth hostels, very much in the hot center of Berlin
The Ramones Museum is not only about the past; it’s very much involved in music and musicians happening right now. On the right is the platform where young bands perform, hoping to get some of the magic to rub off on them.
Danny dedicated the show to the late Linda Stein, his partner in managing the Ramones for five years. In this photo, taken at the time of the Ramones’ 1976 London debut, Linda is with her then-husband, Seymour Stein, founder of the Ramones label, Sire Records.
A marquee over the door of the museum announces the premier of the show, which included rare live appearances by Danny Fields and Monte Melnick, two people whose work with the Ramones was—until this night—happening totally offstage.
Founder and proprietor of the Ramones Museum Florian “Flo” Hayler, in industrial-strength saggies, works with Arturo in getting the display of over 100-plus photos into precise and perfect position.
Scurrying about his creative tasks, and carrying a paint brush and bucket, Arturo gets ready to put in some last-minute touches. Located in the heart of one of the world’s coolest cities, the Ramones Museum draws tourists from all over the world.
Preparing for the opening, legendary and beloved Ramones art director, landlord, T-shirt designer, fan club manager, and famous artist Arturo Vega lays out photos that will go on the wall behind him. Click the slide above to find out more about Arturo!
Just walk in and there’s no mistaking what this museum is about. You enter a café-lounge area where you can chill and chat while snacking on homemade munchies and sipping sodas, coffee and (this IS Germany) some fine local beer.
On opening night, Danny Fields hosts a presentation of his photographs to the crowd gathered at the Ramones Museum. Here, he points to a snap of the long-gone New York City location of the album cover shoots for the first and third Ramones albums.
