The Ramones hold the distinctive position in City Gardens history as the band that headlined the most—22 shows. The New York City-based group was a touring machine and, given their proximity to Trenton, it is no wonder they played City Gardens so often. Ramones shows were always an event, and just about everyone who ever went to City Gardens saw them in some form, at some point.
EXCEPT.... people took them for granted. "See the Ramones? These guys are here like every other month. I'll see them next time..." Until there was no next time.
As someone once said - you don't know what you have until it's gone.
Joseph Kuzemka (Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market): One thing I’ll never let myself live down is that the first punk record I ever bought when I was 12 years old was The Ramones self-titled record. They’ve been probably one of my favorite bands ever since then, and I never saw them. In the span that I was going to City Gardens, they probably played 10 or 12 times, and I always said, “Well, I’ll see them next time.” I was into the straight-edge scene at the time, and if there was a straight edge show the same night, I’d go to that. I said, “I’m going to see The Ramones next time they come, because they’re always going to be playing City Gardens.” I actually showed up at a Ramones show once, and I met up with some friends outside, and they said they were going to TGI Friday’s to get some food and then go back and see the Ramones. I went, and we didn’t make it back in time. That was my last opportunity to see the Ramones. One of my all-time favorite bands played 22 times within three miles of my house, and I never saw them. I’ll never forgive myself for it. Any time I know someone who says that they saw The Ramones X amount of times, I want to kick myself. It’s difficult to think about a band that I adored so much, that played so close to my home, and I never made the time to see them.
Joey Ramone died of lymphoma on April 15, 2001. He was 49.
Dee Dee Ramone died from a heroin overdose on June 5, 2002. He was 50.
Johnny Ramone died from prostate cancer on September 15, 2004. He was 55.
Tommy Ramone died from bile duct cancer on July 11, 2014. He was 65.
To read the more, check out this blog post.