Today Forest Hills, Tomorrow the World: Celebrating 49 Years of Ramones

 Today Forest Hills, Tomorrow the World: Celebrating 49 Years of Ramones  

By John Brenner

4/27/25

This past week marked the 49th anniversary of Ramones. Released on April 23, 1976, this eponymous debut by four kids from Queens would go on to change the world. It never earned a spot on the Billboard charts, and as of today, it’s still only halfway to Platinum sales in the United States, having achieved Gold status. Despite its lack of commercial success, to many like me, it remains one of the most important records ever made — if not the most important.

It’s 14 songs and 29 minutes of some of the most consequential sounds ever put to tape. From the second the raucous opening anthem, “Blitzkrieg Bop,” kicks off, you know you’re hearing something truly special. The album is packed with blistering two-minute jams about being an outsider, chasing girls, being chased away by girls, and a New York that might be gone but is forever romanticized by outcasts around the world.

I was in New York this week visiting my brother, who now lives in Queens, and catching a Phillies/Mets game. While in town on Wednesday, we decided to do a little Ramones sightseeing tour through Forest Hills — the neighborhood where Joey, Dee Dee, Tommy, and Johnny grew up. I didn’t realize until we were already out that it happened to be the anniversary of the first album’s release. What a perfect coincidence.

First stop: The Ramp.

Located at 101-35 66th Ave, this was a favorite teenage hangout for the band. It’s hard to explain, but even this skeptic could definitely feel the “ghosts.” Billed as the “Birthplace of Punk,” the ramp now features a fantastic mural celebrating its history. The artwork, created by Ori Carino and based on a photo by legendary rock photographer Bob Gruen, brings the story full circle. It was incredibly cool being there — and I might just make it a regular pilgrimage.

Second stop: Forest Hills High School.

Located at 67-09 to 67-11 110th St, this is the high school all four original Ramones called their alma mater — their own real-life Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, if you will. The cross street out front has been fittingly renamed The Ramones Way. By default, that makes it the coolest high school ever.

Third stop: The Ramones Mural.

Located at 106-13 and 106-1 Continental Ave, right outside the LIRR station, there’s a beautiful mural of the band. It features all four original Ramones, plus their second (and fifth) drummer, Marky. Completed in June of 2016, it’s definitely faded a bit over the years — especially Johnny — but it’s still a really cool piece of art worth checking out. The mural was painted by Crisp and Praxis Graff.

There are plenty of other pieces of Ramones history you can visit around the city. You can head to the corner of 53rd and 3rd, or if you’re near the Bowery, stop by Joey Ramone Place. But on this day, we wanted to stick to the sites in their neighborhood.

Now it’s time to throw on Ramones for probably the 10,000th time.

Hey Ho, Let’s Go!

If you love music as much as we do, be sure to check out the Nerdthusiast Music Podcast! From classic albums to deep-cut discussions, we cover it all. Tune in at https://open.spotify.com/show/2DwaGIhkJr6368rYFOq0eu!