We all know that Sheena was a punk rocker. Well, some of us do. The point is; so was I. To prove said point, the Ramone’s song, Sweet Little Ramona, was written about me. I had worked with the Ramone’s as an audio engineer in the late seventies while at the same time playing in various bands. In this series, I will highlight a string of outrageous gig experiences (what it’s really like to play rock ‘n roll) beginning with gig #1 and my first band Comateens; a band originally consisting of only two persons, myself on guitar and vocals, and Nick O’Teen on bass and vocals.

I initially met Nick at Mediasound Recording Studios where he was a receptionist and, I, an Audio Engineer. Nick had style. He was hired, fired and then re-hired all in day one. Sensing a musician, I asked, “What instrument do you play?”

“Piano and bass,” he responded.

“Would you like to be in a band with me?” 

“No,” he said emphatically. Nick then went on to explain how he had been in previous unsuccessful bands, one of which was called Special Jellies, and how he was just flat out done with it. We started rehearsing immediately and soon needed a band name. What better place to get one than from the NY Post headline: Coma Teens Wake Up!

Our first gig:

We had to beg for it. The promoter kept turning us down, however, with enough annoying visits to his office, he finally booked us to play in the lobby of Irving Plaza. We didn’t rate the stage probably for good reason. We were not cool. Here’s why…

1. When everyone else wore black, we dressed in all white; me in a scanty leotard and tights, no skirt or pants. Nick in a white button down shirt, white pants and a red tie.

2. We hung a satin red and white banner with the name, Comateens, on the wall behind us. It looked like a high school rah-rah flag.

3. We didn’t have a drummer. We had Mini-Pops, a Korg drum machine with about five beats ranging from surf to rock to bosa nova. We only used three of them. Imagine skating rink sounds.

4. We were really just learning how to play our instruments.

5. We were playing songs I had written when I was a teenager along with a few covers as indicted in our actual first set list recently sent to me by Nick:

TVC-15 (Bowie)

Dial Tone

Drugs

My Girl (Temptations)

Every Little Bit Hurts (Supremes)

Unemployment Crisis

Separate

Romance

I Try

Your Thing

On December 8th, 1978, we were booked to entertain patrons as they entered Irving Plaza for the Rock ‘N Roll Vaudeville Show. I knew there’d be no stage, but when I saw there was also no platform of any kind meaning we’d be on the same level, face to face, with the audience; people who could just surrey up as close as they pleased, I began trembling all over. A salty sweat trickled down from my brow stinging my eyes and making it difficult to see. More critically, however, my hands began perspiring and I had to fight greasy fingers slipping away from the frets. Somehow, I managed to make it through the 30-minute set.

All the while, people either stared or laughed. There was no in between. This was not at all what I had expected of rock stardom and yet I continued to live the dream by playing live in a string of bands until my first cancer diagnosis in 2018. I do plan to write about my journey in cancer. I owe it to you, my loyal readers, especially those who have supported me in spirit and also through my GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/f/ramona-jan-needs-a-miracle. Until then, I shall continue to entertain you with select gig remembrances.

To be continued…

RAMONA JAN is the Founder and Director of Yarnslingers, a storytelling group that tells tales both fantastic and true. She is also the roving historian for Callicoon, NY and is often seen giving tours around town. You can email her at callicoonwalkingtours@gmail.com.