June 2001

Why Working for the Government is so Damn Important

I am the co-author of the following piece, a touching tribute to a great rock 'n roll hero. It makes my other legislative work seem utterly pointless. Evil Robots is proud to support the following Resolution.

K839 Cahill

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the life of Jeffrey "Joey Ramone" Hyman, distinguished New York resident and performer

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Assembled Body to honor and pay tribute to those individuals whose commitment and creative talents have contributed to the entertainment and cultural enrichment of the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Jeffrey Hyman, commonly known as Joey Ramone, born May 19, 1951 in the Forest Hills section of Queens, New York died Sunday, April 15, 2001; and

WHEREAS, He distinguished himself by his voice, a unique, resonant, British-accented version of Borough Queens-English, heard in clubs, stadiums and on 20 Ramones albums, a voice which echoed the experiences of the many middle-class teenagers growing up in the 1960s; and

WHEREAS, In the spring of 1974, Joey joined three neighbors to form the musical group, The Ramones, who endeavored to recreate the aesthetic and AM-radio back-beat of 1950s bubble-gum, rock and roll and Motown melody; and

WHEREAS, The black leather jackets, t-shirts and torn blue jeans of the Ramones represented the unabashed fun of rock and roll, and penetrated the facade of self-importance that began to dominate rock music in the 1970s; and

WHEREAS, Their weekly performances during 1974-1975 at CBGB's helped make a small music club in the Bowery district a creative center for musicians, artists and media from all over New York City and New York State, and helped revive the flagging New York City live music movement
during the late 1970s; and

WHEREAS, For over 20 years the Ramones toured tirelessly across fifty states and five continents, their itinerary indicative of their wide-spread global appeal, although they have always called New York City their home; and

WHEREAS, Forever a fan of New York rock and roll, Joey Ramone supported the efforts of New York City's local musicians throughout his career by holding an annual local music showcase, always wanting to give back to the community that had given so much to his band for so many years; and

WHEREAS, Joey Ramone's simple songs served double duty, as a critique of the standing cultural order and as a link between what was being marketed as "underground" rock and roll and the thrills of sonic
revolution, represented for previous generations by artists such as Elvis Presley and The Beatles; and

WHEREAS, The Ramones would later make that link explicit by collaborations with producer Phil Spector and other artists from that era, but in many ways it was inherent in the band's very first songs, capturing the wonder, fear, loneliness, discovery and oftentimes, cartoon pathology, of urban youth; and now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Jeffrey "Joey Ramone" Hyman, songwriter, performer and lifelong resident of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Joey Ramone's mother, Charlotte Lesser.