Hollywood Forever Cemetery (and the Johnny Ramone Tribute)

A cemetery is not a place you typically associate with having a good time. The word cemetery carries it own weight in meaning. Hollywood Forever Cemetery (HFC) in Hollywood, California is one of the most fascinating cemeteries in the world (according to Thrillist). Aside from being the resting grounds for famous and not-so-famous souls alike, this place also hosts numerous events ranging from movie nights to concerts and even festivals. At the simplest level it is a cemetery. On a more complex level it is a platform for a bit of entertainment and rock-'n'-roll, as was the case for me on Sunday, August 11, 2019.

HFC is situated on Santa Monica Blvd., which is one of the busiest streets surrounding the Hollywood area. Getting to the cemetery is not for the faint of heart if you don't plan accordingly. Your LA traffic skills will be put to the test in trying to get to this place. If you are savvy you will get there early and maybe find street parking. I would also recommend using a ride share service. Many will drive there shortly before they open and encounter the chaotic queue lane that forms to turn into the on-site parking that wont let you enter until its "time." It will make you feel as though you are one step closer to being in the ground. First you need to pass through the gorgeous entrance gate that makes you feel like you’re in the 1950's. The snake-like queue to get in passes fairly quickly.

Then as you enter, you pass through a large number of tombstones. Finally after a 10 to 15 minute walk you get to the back of the cemetery and suddenly you forget where you are. There is a vast area of grass and walls and typically a concert set up. HFC has many events throughout the year. Some of the events I have been to include concerts and the Day of the Dead celebration. The concerts are fun and relaxed. However, I did once lose the sole to a boot and in order to be able to walk again, had to improvise with a roll of tape (RIP boot-- no pun intended). The celebration held here for the Day of the Dead is nice, but overflowing with so many people that it almost feels overwhelming. I do recall being run over by a stroller or two. It can take up to an hour to get a drink from the bar, the restrooms feel far and you’re constantly bumping into people. Normally this is not an issue and I don’t encounter such a chaotic. The events are usually held in the back left corner of the cemetery. I was lucky enough to be granted access to this event that was held on a Sunday (big thank you for the invitation). This special event had its very own VIP section (maybe someday I will make it in there) to one side where you could stare at celebrities and unique people with bad ass outfits. Fred Armisen (Saturday Night Live and Portlandia) was just chilling at a table right in front of me for a good while. 

Fred Armisen seen in flannel a the table.

There were also other big celebrities such as the lovely and warm Linda Ramone (who organizes the event for her beloved Johnny Ramone) and the quiet but super friendly John Frusciante from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I bet it can be a bit mind blowing to see that many celebrities in one place. Like a rock-'n'-roll watering hole. I’m no stranger to seeing celebrities in LA, but that was still pretty bad ass. There were VIP kids running around unmoved by their parents success and status, super stylish couples dressed in authentic 1960's outfits, a woman sporting the biggest hair spikes I have ever seen, and a guy sporting a Ramones hairstyle. 

Many of the celebrities roaming around such as the director and main actor of the movie The Warriors came to say hello to all the fans and take pictures and sign autographs. It was super cool. Everyone seem to be in a good mood on this Sunday evening. There was Johnny Ramone artwork all over that corner of the cemetery. There were posters and statues (including the iconic bronze Johnny Ramone statue that permanently resides in HFC) to help you remember and celebrate Johnny's life. Following a special performance, we were able to watch the movie The Warriors, that was projected onto a wall in the cemetery. Overall it was a super chill Sunday evening with a bit of pizzazz.

The lovely Linda Ramone projected onto a wall with her fabulous rainbow cape

If you have not gone to HFC I would highly recommend it. I would not only recommend that you go to the actual cemetery, but also to a day they are hosting an event. Plus wouldn’t you like to tell your friends that you went to a concert at a cemetery? How many of your friends can say that? The only thing I am not a huge fan of is the more massive events that they have that draw out thousands of people, only because it is chaotic from beginning to end. 

As the sun sets and you make your way away from the venue and pass by the mausoleums again, and those resting souls, you start to get that creepy feeling that surfaced when you first arrived. Somehow it turns back into a cemetery that for a while during the event, that feeling erased and it was as if you were somewhere else completely. It's as if that place didn't exist and you woke up from some sort of oddly beautiful dream.