I like to think of myself as a traveler and not a tourist. Three and a half years ago, I wandered the streets of Berlin with no real purpose. Of course I had some ideas of places I wanted to see, but sometimes it’s better to stay away from the touristy areas and see where the day takes you. Yet wherever I seemed to go I was always greeted with stickers, flyers, and postcards (I saved one and of course cannot find it) telling me about the Ramones Museum. Yes, the one and only museum dedicated to America’s first punk rock band exists in Berlin of all places (maybe it has something to do with “Blitzkrieg Bop”?). The first museum was short-lived (2005-2007) due to a landlord tripling the rent, but by 2009 it was once again open (which explains why I saw so much advertising while I was there). Attached to a place called Café Mania with an entrance canopy in a CBGB style, the idea for the museum began twenty-three years ago by Flo Hayler when he saved his ticket stub, poster and t-shirt from his first ever Ramones concert back in 1990. His memorabilia has since grown to more than 300 items. The basement exhibit is arranged chronologically between 1974 through 1996 in two rooms with unpublished photographs, autographed posters and first edition records, the band’s clothes and shoes, random newspaper articles, set lists, hand-written lyrics, and shit from their last ever concert in August of 1996. Everything’s here…even wedding invitations. And something you don’t see in most museums…famous bands have graffitied the walls with their signatures and there’s even a stage for musicians to perform. And of course the place has a facebook and tumblr because this is the world we live in, unfortunately. So what are you waiting for…“hey! ho! let’s go!”
*I dropped my brand-new camera on the fourth day I was in Berlin because I am an unlucky klutz. Therefore, the camera didn’t function for most of that day, which happened to be the day I paid my visit to the museum so thanks to these people (Pete’s Blog, Vloggerheads, Michael’s Blog ) for letting me use their photos. Much appreciated.
