This petition is for the naming of the brand new outdoor amphitheater that is located on the boardwalk and beach 94th St. in Rockaway Beach Ny. 

The proposed name is

The Rockaway Beach Ramones Amphitheater

The Ramones, were a rock and roll band that started in Queens New York City in 1974. They are literally the undisputed grandfathers of the modern music movement known as Punk Rock. One of their songs that charted  was entitled Rockaway Beach and is literally the theme song for Rockaway Beach NYC. The reason I believe that it is appropriate to name the amphitheater after this iconic and legendary rock ‘n’ roll group is because of the scope of their musical influence and also how they represent an art form and style that is the embodiment of Queens NYC.
   I will debate anyone on a collegiate debate team level that the Ramones are literally the most influential rock and roll band to ever live. More people learned how to play music and sing harmonies from listening and playing along to their records than any of the other bands. The Ramones represented a working class aesthetic to an unapproachable artistic genre that spawned a new version of urban folk music. The punk rock movement that they sparked grew into many new styles, such as new wave, hard core, alternative and thrash metal and so many musical artists I know can trace their musical influence from this monumental band.  
   I have mentioned this proposed naming around for the last year to my Rockaway Beach neighbors and musical colleagues and it seems like many people are just as excited as I am to see the amphitheater named after The Ramones. The bands popularity has grown over the years and if you go to the middle of nowhere and ask them if they know about Rockaway Beach, I’ll bet they know the song before they know where the town is located.
   This naming would created a celebratory feeling about Queens Ny and the art and artists it has produced. This area of Rockaway has become the next hot spot for music that features many new artists, venues, recording studios, and rehearsal spaces. There are music festivals on the Boardwalk and the town right now has the feeling of the genesis of new arts and entertainment, not corporate influence, but homegrown artists that have a Queens  “do it yourself” no holds barred attitude. It sounds like the values of what the Ramones stood for and never changed throughout their career was able to live beyond their lives. 

Rockaway Beach’s musical mascots were the most unlikely of musicians that changed the world,  let’s honor them with something that would make them proud! 

The Rockaway Beach Ramones Amphitheater