......myself, Joey, and Larry Mac inside the KUKQ studio 1994 As the years go by, you realize, when you meet as many people as I do, not all are friends. Most are aquaintinces. True, some are friends...but as time goes by I guess it's natural to drift apart.
Having said that...I first met Joey Ramone in the early 80's. I interviewed him numerous times live on-air by phone and live in-studio. He was always friendly and giving. I spent many times backstage with him, and did numerous stage annoucements for their shows. The Ramones were something special and always will be. Yet, Joey was even more special.
He had a great heart. We stayed in touch alot by e-mail and he would call the house on many occasions to just talk, sometimes even play me the beginning of songs he was composing. He was a great networker too. He was a gentle and deep person.
In 1996 when he found out I had cancer and an operation, he devulged to me that he also had cancer. A different kind, but cancer nonetheless. I swore I would never say what was wrong with him, even if somone asked why Joey was ill.
I truly believe that the last Ramones tour which went on for a long time if you remember, was because he felt, although ill, he needed to do it. The last Ramones show ever culminated with a star studded shindig at The Palace (now called Avalon) on Vine St. in Hollywood on August 6, 1996. The show was originally scheduled at Billboard Live on Sunset Boulevard, but was switched at the last minute. I still have my tickets that say Billboard Live and stamped 0001. I have it framed. A cherished memento.
It was a show never to forget.
In 1999, I organized and moderated a panel of musicians for the Album Network Conventon in New York City. The panel was the legendary Ronnie Spector, Glenn Danzig, Dee Snider, and Joey.
Unfortunately Joey was feeling very sick from the medications and could not get out of bed. He left a long apology on my phone at the W Hotel. I surely understood.
In September of 2000, I flew to New York to see The 2 Skinee J's. I had some free time, so I went to visit Joey at his apartment. It was a delightful 90 minutes. The memory of that visit will stick with me the rest of my living days.
That would be the last time I would ever see him. He passed away a few months later from a combination of cancer and hip surgery.
As I said back in the beginning, you really only have a few TRUE friends that are musicians when you are a radio/music person. Joey was a TRUE friend. I don't have to prove that to anyone. The right people know. That's all that matters.
There is probably not a day that goes by without me thinking of him, we both had cancer.
I have survived it almost 14 years now. He did not. One of these days we will be laughing and talking again, just like we did years ago. I really miss him so much.
R.I.P. My Brother, Jeffrey Hyman
Alain died of cancer at age 61 in March of 2009. "Gaby Oh Gaby" was on French charts for 54 weeks.
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