Hey! Ho! Let's Go--To The Ramones Museum!

If you consider yourself even a moderate music fan, you've heard of The Ramones. And if you've heard of The Ramones, chances are, you know they are from New York. However, the first and only Ramones Museum is not located in New York, not LA, not London, or Tokyo...

It's located in Berlin.

I bet you knew I was going to say that.

But you probably don't know why. Flo Hayler's love affair with the Ramones began in 1990 when he attended his first Ramones concert. His collection of memorabilia started with that first ticket stub, poster and shirt and his insanity continued for the next 20 years.

Naturally, after years of collection--and billions of Euros spent on collectors trade fairs and Ebay-- the walls of Flo Hayler's apartment were covered. And, as it invariably goes, his girlfriend decided the stuff had to go.

The negative turned to a positive when Hayler decided to turn it into a museum. In September 2005, the first Ramones Museum opened.







This is Dee Dee Ramone's leather jacket, stage worn in the 1980's (and signed by the band). The Ramones used to wear Schott leather jackets, but eventually they "allowed" other brands. This size 44 jacket was made in Mexico and features the usual metal pins.





Dee Dee Ramone, who "invented" the Ramones look (leather jackets, ripped jeans and sneakers) was bored with the dress code by the late 80s and preferred athlete's gear, gold chains and Rolex watches. Musically, he began to explore rap and even released a solo album called "Standing In The Spotlight" as "Dee Dee King". He later switched back to his traditional look. (Here he poses with Douglas)












This is the original 1989 "Brain Drain" tour shirt, the last Ramones shirt to ever feature Dee Dee in the logo. (He played his last show with The Ramones in July 1989-Santa Clara, CA)















Here is an original print from the album cover of Subterranean Jungle. It was taken right before Marky Ramone was kicked out (due to his drinking problem) they put him in a window separated from the others.

I can only imagine how that photo shoot went.








"Johnny, Dee Dee, Joey, you guys look great. Now Marky, why don't you just scoot over. A little more, a little more. How about you jump in the window all the way over there?"

"Over here?"

"Yeah. How great is that?"

"Are you sure? Aren't I a little out of the way?"

"No...it makes you, stand apart. Even draws focus to you. It looks great, trust me."

"Yeah, I guess that's cool, right guys?"

Joey mumbles. Johnny gives death stare. Dee Dee is too high to even know where he is....

Snap. Snap. That's a wrap.