Fifty years after the release of the Ramones’ self-titled debut album, the celebration at Hollywood Forever on August 30 was one we won’t soon forget.

There have been many memorable celebrations of the Ramones over the years, and there will undoubtedly be more in the future, but this one brought together an especially impressive group of musicians. The night saw the live debut of Cretin Family, a punk rock supergroup featuring Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Travis Barker of Blink-182, Tim Armstrong of Rancid and former Ramones bassist CJ Ramone.

The evening was hosted by John Travolta, who took the stage ahead of the band and later presented a screening of Propeller One-Way Night Coach, his directorial debut. Johnny Ramone’s wife, Linda Ramone, also came out to welcome the crowd, bringing her signature style and energy to the stage and getting the celebration underway.

Once Cretin Family took over, the band worked through a nearly hour-long set packed with Ramones favorites. “Rockaway Beach,” “Cretin Hop,” “Do You Wanna Dance?,” “Commando,” “Havana Affair,” “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker” and “I Wanna Be Sedated” were among the songs played throughout the night.

One of the things that made the set especially fun was the variety of voices onstage. Billie Joe Armstrong, Tim Armstrong, CJ Ramone and other guests traded vocal duties throughout the performance, giving different songs their own feel while still keeping the set moving at the fast pace you would expect from a Ramones celebration.

The already stacked lineup was joined by several special guests as the night continued. Fred Armisen came out for “Danny Says,” Jason Freese joined on saxophone for “Do You Remember Rock ’n’ Roll Radio?,” and The Linda Lindas took the stage for “California Sun” and “I Wanna Be Sedated.”

Billy Idol then joined Cretin Family for the final stretch, performing “Beat on the Brat” before the group played Generation X’s “Ready Steady Go.” The night came to an appropriate close with “Blitzkrieg Bop,” bringing everyone together for one last song.

The setting made the celebration even more memorable. As the show continued and the sun began to set over Hollywood Forever, Johnny Ramone’s iconic bronze memorial had been decked out for the anniversary, with fans stopping by throughout the night. Others made their way over to visit Dee Dee Ramone’s nearby grave, adding another connection between the celebration and the band’s history.

Billie Joe Armstrong also took a moment during the show to credit Tim Armstrong with putting the night together. With a new supergroup, a rotating lineup of guests and so many different musicians sharing the stage, there were plenty of moving pieces, but everything came together naturally.

More than anything, the night made the lasting impact of the Ramones impossible to miss. Cretin Family alone brought together musicians from some of punk rock’s biggest bands, while guests ranging from The Linda Lindas to Billy Idol showed just how many generations their music continues to reach.

Fifty years after the Ramones released their debut album, those songs are still bringing musicians and fans together.

At Hollywood Forever, that legacy felt very much alive.

Words and photos by Haley Guidry