Strokes, Blondie playing Ramones cancer benefit

Billboard is reporting that The Strokes and Blondie will perform at a Johnny Ramone-spearheaded benefit for Cedars Sinai Cancer Research Center and the Lymphoma Cancer Research Foundation. The event will be held October 8th at NYC club Spirit. Additional acts are expected to be announced soon. Ramones frontman Joey died from lymphoma in 2001 while guitarist Johnny is currently battling prostate cancer. Joey's brother Mickey Leigh will co-host the event.
In other news from the band Johnny is reportedly working on his memoirs with Washington Times reporter Steve Miller. He's quoted that "I will tell my story and the straight story of the Ramones in this book, with all the rough edges attached. Some people will be surprised to find out my version of how life in the Ramones was and the lasting effect that band has had on music."
Meanwhile Tommy Ramone is working as musical director for novelist Michael Hermann's Ramones musical Gabba Gabba Hey. The show just finished a showcase in Perth Australia and is expected to debut in the US sometime next year. It features a cast of seven and a thee piece band lead by Cut The Crap era Clash guitarist Nick Sheppard.