Today would be Joey Ramone’s 58th birthday, and tonight Joey’s brother, Mickey Leigh, will be hosting the official birthday bash at the Fillmore at Irving Plaza in NYC. Among the guests will be special appearances by the likes of Handsome Dick Manitoba and Tommy Ramone. But if you don’t have a ticket to the show, you won’t have to wait long to see Handsome Dick and Tommy — along with Lenny Kaye and Chris Stein — again. Ladies and gentlemen, may we present the Loud Fast Jews!

Four Jewish punk rock fathers — Ramones founder and original drummer Tommy Ramone (born Tamas Erdelyi), Dictators singer and radio personality Handsome Dick Manitoba (Richard Blum), Patti Smith guitarist and journalist Lenny Kaye, and Blondie co-founder and guitarist Chris Stein — will convene at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research on Thursday, June 11, to discuss the glorious heyday of New York punk, the arc of their individual careers, and the impact their Jewish experience has had on their music.

Like Sandy Koufax to baseball, these fine men will give you a better appreciation of the impact they had on their craft. And just think, if they can still be considered “chosen ones,” then there’s hope for all of us.

For more information on the panel or to purchase tickets, go here.

The Donnas will be joining them. There was a time I found all of these women extremely attractive.

Blondie, Pat Benatar and The Donnas tour dates
07.21.09 – Saratoga, CA (Mountain Winery)
07.22.09 – Livermore, CA (Concerts at Wente Vineyards)
07.25.09 – Lemoore, CA (Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino)
07.26.09 – Costa Mesa, CA (Pacific Amphitheater)
07.28.09 – Phoenix, AZ (Dodge Theater)
07.29.09 – Albuquerque, NM (Isleta Casino – The Lakes)
08.01.09 – Memphis, TN Mud (Island Amphitheater)
08.02.09 – Atlanta, GA (Chastain Park Amphitheater)
08.04.09 – Vienna, VA (The Filene Center)
08.05.09 – Gilford, NH (Meadowbrook – US Cellular Pavilion)
08.07.09 – Bethlehem, PA (Bethlehem Musikfest)
08.08.09 – Boston, MA (Bank of America Pavilion)
08.11.09 – Canandaigua, NY (Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center)
08.13.09 – Brooklyn, NY (Asser Levy Park)
08.15.09 – Cincinnati, OH (Riverbend Music Center)
08.17.09 – Highland Park, IL (Ravinia Pavilion)
08.20.09 – Austin, TX (Austin Music Hall)
08.21.09 – Biloxi, MS (Beau Rivage Resort)
08.23.09 – Houston, TX (Arena Theater)