Pull out your old leathers because the leather-jacketed, torn-jeans-wearing, ‘hey, ho, let’s go!’-yelling, eighth-note drum-pounding, alcoholism-overcoming, own-pasta-sauce-brand-making, musical-minimalism-promoting, possibly wig-wearing, toy-robots-collecting (300 and counting), 55-year-old rock legend – and only surviving ‘original’ member of the Ramones – Marky Ramone is coming to town.

A quick disclaimer though: Marky Ramone – born Marc Bell in Brooklyn, NY – is not technically an original member of the Ramones. He befriended the original members at the infamous original punk lab CBGB, where he was asked to replace Tommy Ramone after he called it quits. Taking up his mantle, Bell forever became Marky Ramone, the fourth member of perhaps the most influential punk band (cue dissenting voices…) in history.

In essence, Marky is still pretty much only known for his Ramones days. Prior to joining the band, he was a member of the New York Dolls, an even earlier progenitor of the punk aesthetic than the Ramones – not that many remember that far back. The punk icon now lends his name to Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg, a band that travels the world, pumping out dozens upon dozens of Ramones classics in almost tribute-like fashion. Somehow, there’s something almost nobler about this than, say, the image of four 60-year-old Ramones trying to keep up with the rapid intensity of punk. Almost.

James Kim 

Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg plays Hard Rock Cafe on Sat Apr 22 and Tue Apr 24. Tickets: 2111 3777; hardrock.com/hongkong