Martin Scorsese will direct a film about punk pioneers The Ramones.
Billboard reports the director is already on board for the project, one of several in the planning stages as the band approaches the 40th anniversary of the release of their legendary and influential self-titled debut album in 2016.
In addition to the film, a documentary, a theatrical play and a book are also planned to spotlight the group, who formed in Queens, New York in 1974.
“You’ll see a book coming, which is not a biographical book so much, but a story of the band’s formation and those first few records and that craziness that happened,” says Jeff Jampol, who co-manages the band’s estate with Dave Frey. “It’ll be a combination of prose, photographs and memorabilia and posters, just kind of documenting the scene. The Ramones were the first punk band and they started the punk movement.”
In leading up to the anniversary the Ramones will be reappearing in several other ways, including remastered music, fashion and music placement.
“You’re gonna see some really interesting combinations of music and new music and remastered music and apparel,” explains Jampol. “As far as the apparel goes, and really everything, as a company, for me, authenticity is the foundation of everything. And luckily, when you have a really genius artist like the Ramones you don’t have to spin it. It is what it is and what it is is a beautiful moment in time that sparked a revolution in music and in fashion.
So you look at 76 when the Ramones first album came out, and that really sparked that brand new wave of what I call the American rock and roll wardrobe, which is jeans, white t-shirt, leather jacket and sneakers.”
Tommy Ramone – the last of the original Ramones – died July 11th at his home in Ridgewood, Queens, New York following treatment for bile duct cancer; he was 65.
Joey died from lymphoma in 2001, Dee Dee died from a heroin overdose in 2002, and Johnny died in 2004 of prostate cancer.
The Ramones took the inspiration for their both their individual and band names from Paul McCartney, who used the alias Paul Ramon during his Silver Beatles days. Dee Dee adopted the name before convincing the other band members to do the same.
See also:
VIDEO: Rob Zombie leads 10th annual Johnny Ramone Tribute
Tommy Ramone dead at 65
Rob Zombie to host 10th annual Johnny Ramone Tribute
The Ramones: 6-disc box set due this month
Search The Ramones at hennemusic
