Punk Supergroup Cretin Family Debuts at Ramones' 50th Anniversary Tribute
A new punk supergroup called Cretin Family made its debut at a Ramones 50th anniversary tribute in Los Angeles on Sunday night, introduced onstage by actor John Travolta, according to Stereogum. The event took place at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, marking the Ramones' 50th anniversary.
Who's in Cretin Family
Per Stereogum's report, the lineup brings together four veteran figures from across the punk world:
- Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day)
- Tim Armstrong (Rancid — no relation to Billie Joe Armstrong)
- Travis Barker (Blink-182)
- CJ Ramone (former Ramones member)
CJ Ramone is the only one of the four with an actual Ramones pedigree: he joined as bassist in 1989, replacing Dee Dee Ramone, and stayed with the band until it disbanded in 1996. No release plans or live dates for Cretin Family have been announced yet.
Why Travolta was hosting
Travolta had chart success as a singer earlier in his career, which made his role hosting a punk memorial event a notably unusual pairing, as Stereogum's report points out.
The venue's Ramones connection
Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles is the burial site of both Johnny Ramone and Dee Dee Ramone, and has long served as an informal gathering point for Ramones fans; it also regularly hosts film screenings and concerts. The 50th anniversary tribute was staged there accordingly.