Fifty years after the Ramones changed the course of rock music with their groundbreaking debut album, the spirit of the legendary punk band returned to Los Angeles for a special 50th anniversary celebration at Hollywood Forever Cemetery on August 30. The setting could not have been more fitting. Hollywood Forever is home to the memorial for Johnny Ramone and the final resting place of Dee Dee Ramone, making the evening feel less like a traditional tribute show and more like a homecoming for one of punk rock’s most influential bands.

Formed in Queens, New York, in 1974, the Ramones—Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy—helped create a new sound that stripped rock ’n’ roll down to its essentials. Fast songs, simple chords, catchy melodies and an unmistakable attitude became their trademark. Their first performance at CBGB in New York helped establish them as one of the defining acts of the emerging punk scene, and their self-titled 1976 debut album introduced songs such as “Blitzkrieg Bop,” “Judy Is a Punk” and “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue.”

The Ramones influence grew enormously over time. Their music helped inspire generations of punk, alternative and rock bands, while their leather jackets, ripped jeans and unmistakable look became part of the visual language of punk itself. The band eventually released 14 studio albums before calling it quits in 1996. All four original members have since passed away, but the music they created continues to be played by new generations of musicians and fans.

For the anniversary celebration, an unlikely but perfectly fitting group of punk veterans came together under the name Cretin Family. The lineup brought together Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, Rancid's Tim Armstrong, blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and former Ramones bassist CJ Ramone. The combination represented several generations of punk music, while CJ Ramone provided a direct connection to the band being honored. The event marked the first time the four musicians performed together as Cretin Family.

The group delivered a 19-song set packed with Ramones classics, moving through songs including “Rockaway Beach,” “Cretin Hop,” “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker,” “Commando,” “Havana Affair” and “I Wanna Be Sedated.” The night also featured several surprise appearances. Fred Armisen joined the group for “Danny Says,” Jason Freese appeared during “Do You Remember Rock ’n’ Roll Radio?,” and The Linda Lindas joined the band for “California Sun” and “I Wanna Be Sedated.” The evening ultimately reached another level when Billy Idol came out for “Beat on the Brat,” Generation X’s “Ready Steady Go” and the final song of the night, “Blitzkrieg Bop.”

The concert was part of a larger evening presented by John Travolta, who returned to Hollywood Forever for the celebration. Along with the live performance, the event included screenings of the 50th anniversary edition of Carrie and Travolta’s directorial film Propeller One-Way Night Coach, as well as a DJ set from Shepard Fairey. Proceeds from the event supported cancer research associated with Dr. David Agus and the Ellison Institute.

More than simply celebrating an anniversary, the Hollywood Forever show demonstrated why the Ramones remain so important to music. Their songs were short, loud and direct, but their impact stretched far beyond the few minutes of each track. They helped give punk rock its identity and showed countless musicians that a band did not need elaborate production or technical perfection to make an impact. Fifty years later, with members of Green Day, Rancid, blink-182 and the Ramones themselves sharing a stage, the message was still unmistakable: the Ramones may be gone, but the Cretin spirit is very much alive.