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EXHIBIT: Dee Dee Ramone, Hotel Chelsea, NYC

Dee Dee Ramone was definitely one of the more interesting members of the Ramones. He was there at the beginning of punk, laying down many of his own aesthetics through his powerful, and sometimes painfully personal, songs that would become the template for many bands to come. He was handsome, naturally charismatic, and terribly complex. Although it was sad when he died of a heroin overdose in 2002, it wasn’t all that surprising.

There’s a memorable scene at the end of the excellent Ramones documentary End of the Century in which Dee Dee wanders away from the rest of the group murmuring “No one cares about Dee Dee.” It was upsetting to see that he felt that way when so many fans around the world, his wife, and his bandmates actually really did seem to care.

The art of this misunderstood Ramone is currently being celebrated at The Chelsea Hotel Storefront Gallery in NYC. This is a reason to rejoice. It’s the largest collection of his paintings ever assembled. When all gathered in one place, Dee Dee’s different influences and artistic concerns become powerfully clear.

Most of the paintings feel heavily influenced visually by Jean-Michel Basquiat and other Urban Primitives. The paintings are colorful and cartoony. Some of the paintings are engaging and simplistic, such as a pretty and effective painting of a surfboard. Other paintings’ childlike natures mask the more complex themes of pulpy american culture, drug addiction, and his life as a Ramone that they’re addressing. One notable piece in the collection features caricatures of Joey Ramone wearing a McDonald’s shirt and Dee Dee wearing a Burger King shirt. My rough interpretation of this piece is that, although Joey and Dee Dee were fated to have the same artistic aesthetics, they never quite agreed on how they should be acted upon.

Also a big subject of fascination for Dee Dee was his friend Sid Vicious, whom he knew before Vicious joined the Sex Pistols. Vicious is the subject of several paintings (including one featuring Dee Dee asking Vicious, “Did you kill her?” and Vicious answering, “Yes”)  and a bizarre and sad comic written and illustrated by Dee Dee that features an evil scientist cutting off Vicious’ limbs so that he can no longer shoot up.  The comic ends strangely, triumphantly with a panel revealing that Vicious was shooting up underneath the padlock on his neck all along. The morality behind the piece is questionable. Dee Dee seems to be questioning whether he himself knows the answer.

Along with his paintings are photographs of Dee Dee on display, some by Stephanie Chernikowski and Chris Stein, fan art of Dee Dee, some of Dee Dee’s custom jackets, and one of his beautiful guitars in a display case surrounded by fan signatures to which visitors are welcome to add their own. Ramones music written or played by Dee Dee is constantly being piped through the gallery, connecting the visual art with the music in an effective way and giving a better picture of Dee Dee as an artistic whole.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an exhibit about Dee Dee Ramone without a reference to his notoriously bad rap album he released under the name Dee Dee King. Never fear — there’s a framed copy on display, autographed and everything! I heard none of Dee Dee’s raps while I was visiting the gallery, which was a relief.

There is some sweet Dee Dee Ramone swag for sale as well, including some well-designed shirts, buttons, Dee Dee’s fictional novel about the Chelsea Hotel, his autobiography, and a collection of Allen Martin and Jamie Hewlett’s Tank Girl comic, which features Dee Dee as a character.

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This exhibit is well-curated and gives you an excellent portrait of who Dee Dee was as an artist and human. This is refreshing after the entertaining but ultimately meandering Blondie photo exhibit that was at this space a few months ago. Even for fans with only a passing interest in Dee Dee Ramone, this exhibit will leave you with a greater appreciation for his complexities.

The exhibit runs until January 1st and makes a great activity for music lovers over the holidays.

(All photos by Louie Pearlman.)

Louie Pearlman
Louie Pearlman is a comedic performer, songwriter, producer and pop culture writer living in NYC. He loves bubblegum music and punk in all its forms -- his favorite band is Talking Heads, but the Archies are a close second or third. You can check out his current projects at LouiePearlman.com, come see a show, and say “hi” after!