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.

There are few people who helped transform the New York City punk scene more than Joey Ramone. Even if only as an icon of New York in the late 70s, Joey helped define a generation of punks as well as a certain country and bluegrass club. So as we approach what would’ve been his 58th birthday tomorrow [May 19], it only makes sense that said bluegrass club — CBGB’s — would be hosting an online chat, featuring family and friends remembering the late Ramones frontman, today.

The official CBGB UK Webstore will be hosting an online chat today. Entitled, Remembering Joey Ramone: An Hour of Stories, Anecdotes and Reflection, it will be moderated by Iran Robbins of Trouser Press and feature Joey’s brother Mickey Leigh and longtime friend and manager Dave Frey as the MCs. It will take place at 8pm (GMT); 3pm (East Coast time) and 12pm (West Coast time) and if you have stories or just memories of the iconic punk, you are encouraged to share them. You can sign up for the online chat here.

And if that’s not enough for you, Mickey Leigh will be hosting the official Joey Ramone birthday bash tomorrow at the Fillmore at Irving Plaza in NYC. With performances by Fishbone, The Supersuckers and Death, as well as special appearances by the likes of George Tabb, Handsome Dick Manitoba and many more, it’s sure to be filled with punk rock parents.