Thursday, October 3, 2024

Bebe Buell Lets Hiro Ballroom, Johnny Ramone Go Out with a Bang

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The Hiro Ballroom is no more. The great space in the bottom of the Maritime Hotel in the meatpacking district closed on Saturday night, but with a bang. The final featured performers were the Bebe Buell Band, and they rocked the place one last time to its rafters. Buell also dedicated the performance to the late Don Hill, who died exactly one year ago. Since then, his famed eponymous rock club has been shuttered and readied for yuppie occupancy, granite kitchens, baby changing tables, etc. It was only one night earlier that Buell paid a visit to the former CBGB’s–now a John Varvatos store thanks to greedy landlords–for the launch of Johnny Ramone’s posthumous memoir, “Commando.” Johnny’s widow, Linda, is touting the book, and Bebe was joined by rock elite including Elvis Costello, Bob Gruen. Mick Rock, Glen Ballard, and Legs McNeil. Long live the Ramones! Bebe’s terrific new album is available on line http://www.bebebuell.org/

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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