How can Hallmark be making 'Johnny Ramone' guitars?

[SeanTheFunky]

So I was snooping around Ed Romans website out of sheer boredom and curiosity when I found this post made on his Mosrite page-

[i]Now that Johnny Ramone & Semie Moseley are no longer with us, there are people out there who are claiming things that I am sure are simply not true.
These people want you to think that Johnny played their guitars when he was alive. NOT !!!!
I was one of the lucky people who got to meet both Johnny & Semie. Personally, I think it's despicable for any company to take credit for designing any part of any of the Mosrite Guitars. Especially when they know darn well that Semie himself isn't around to call them a liar.
I think it's totally despicable for any company, to use representations or pictures of Johnny Ramone, who always played real Mosrite guitars, posing with something that is obviously an absolute fake.
If you are going to make a fake, I guess I can understand that, but to use a persons name after he is dead to try and represent that he actually played a different brand. That just plain sucks !!!!
Fakes will always exist, lets face it not everyone can afford the real thing. My thoughts are a fake is OK as long as it is represented as a fake.[/i]

Now I dont agree with Ed on most things (who does? XD) But seriously the man has a good point. How can Hallmark make Johnny Ramone sigs when he never played one? I'm not bashing the Hallmark company because I thought their original 'Sheena and RtoR' guitars were good ideas but I just want to know your oppinions on this

[sleeperNY]

I would guess he has the rights to from the Ramone family.

Jim

[KRamone27]

From what I understand the licensing contract Fillmore had with Johnny Ramones estate was not renewed thus leaving it open season for anyone to come along and offer a deal and the Johnny Ramone name be sold to the highest bidder. Personally I'm a die hard Ramones fan and find it disapointing that the band I love for so many years has been reduced to a freaking clothing line. In a way I feel like they are being exploited. Maybe Bob Shade can shed some light on the whole thing.

[zarfnober]

Personally I'm a die hard Ramones fan and find it disapointing that the band I love for so many years has been reduced to a freaking clothing line. In a way I feel like they are being exploited. Maybe Bob Shade can shed some light on the whole thing.

Die hard fan here too but, the Ramones were always a clothing line, probably one of the most merchandised bands of all time as far as t-shirts go. And they did it themselves, as no one else would exploit them They made a lot of money on shirts, just ask Richie!

They owned the rights and now Johnny and Joeys estates own it. I get what you're saying, but they're gone for good, and if some kid has the shirts, he's probably got the songs too. And that's a good thing.

Rocco

[KRamone27]

Personally I'm a die hard Ramones fan and find it disapointing that the band I love for so many years has been reduced to a freaking clothing line. In a way I feel like they are being exploited. Maybe Bob Shade can shed some light on the whole thing.

Die hard fan here too but, the Ramones were always a clothing line, probably one of the most merchandised bands of all time as far as t-shirts go. And they did it themselves, as no one else would exploit them They made a lot of money on shirts, just ask Richie!

Rocco

Yeah but I never saw womans underwear with ramones across the butt at the merch counter when i saw them

[EFElliott]

Well, I think Hallmark is on to something.

I myself am working on a new line of E.F.Elliott
Jimi Hendrix model guitars, going to have a little
picture of Jimi on the headstock and everything.
(The fans will love it!)
Eddy

[olrocknroller]

Reality is that most artists work well into their senior years, and their families work the name after they're gone because their agents drove Rolls Royces (and still do) while they drove rented cars. Compound that with the genetic makeup of the majority of artists...fantastic at what they do, terrible at managing money, and the financial demands of the "celeb" lifestyle. There are notable exceptions to this, artists who manage their own careers and do very well, but there always are exceptions, aren't there!

It ain't pretty, I agree, but the fortunate ones among us get pensions, the others have to work what they've got, and if that's one famous name in the family, that's probably about all they have...

That said, the junky trinkets, fakes and look-alikes are what the majority of "fans" can afford, so that's what artists have to make available.

[KRamone27]

That said, the junky trinkets, fakes and look-alikes are what the majority of "fans" can afford, so that's what artists have to make available.

Agreed

[GattonFan]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but "Ramone" wasn't the individuals' names, but the group ... Wasn't Johnny Ramone, John Cunningham? And they all took "Ramone" as a surname?
Dennis

[KRamone27]

Yeah Ramones was the name of the band and Johnnys' real name is John Cummings.