The curiosity factor of seeing one of the last surviving Ramones has dragged a healthy smattering of die-hards to the Camden Underworld on this wet and windy Tuesday night. We're here to witness mid-'80s drummer Richie perform alongside London's all-girl tribute to his former combo, the Ramonas. Fans cling to the balcony, gingerly approaching the stage as the iconic main theme of 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' rings out. Many are clad in Ramones merch, from ancient tour tees to pristine Top Shop wares, while the more daring attempt to out-obscure one another with arcane pop-punk garb (prizes to the mohawked gent in the Murderburgers shirt and the bald bloke in the Osaka Popstar top).

As the intro music - used in-concert by 'Da Bruddas' themselves for many years - builds, the assembled super-fans mass on the dancefloor, either reliving that moment they saw the real deal or cursing their luck that this is as close as they're ever going to get. But alas, the momentum is lost, as the Ramonas seem blighted by the same rotten breaks that dogged the main men for much of their career. Guitarist 'Rohnny Ramona's' (real name Hannah Fautley) equipment refuses to play ball, and so we get the intro three times while roadies scurry about with torches and replacement amps.

If it dampens the atmosphere somewhat, it's all forgiven and forgotten as soon as the four-piece pile into instrumental opener 'Durango 95', followed by a rendition of Motörhead's tribute to their spiritual siblings, 'R.A.M.O.N.E.S.'. If the Lemmy tune suggests we might be in for a more off-the-beaten-track setlist, we're soon knocked back into the comfort zone with 'Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?', 'Rockaway Beach', 'Teenage Lobotomy', '53^rd & 3^rd', 'Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue', 'Judy Is a Punk', 'I Wanna Be Sedated' and of course 'Blitzkrieg Bop'.

Lead singer 'Cloey Ramona' (aka classically trained covers bands stalwart Lisa Mari Breyer) brandishes a 'Gabba Gabba Hey' placard for 'Pinhead' and a baseball bat for 'Beat on the Brat'. Her gear now up and running, Rohnny peels out a killer wah-wah solo on 'I Believe in Miracles'. Bassist 'Pee Pee Ramona' (alias top session player Victoria Smith) introduces each song with a piercing screech of, "1, 2, 3, 4," while hard-hitting drummer 'Margy Ramona' (Kate Wilkinson to her folks) powers proceedings with a pained expression peeking through her black fringe. "We don't bite," remarks Cloey, encouraging the crowd to come forward. "Unfortunately!" shouts some joker down the front.

So far, so cabaret, but excitement levels peak when the man we've come to see, the now-54-year-old skin-beater on the 'Too Tough to Die', 'Animal Boy' and 'Halfway to Sanity' albums, Richie 'Richard Reinhardt' Ramone, clatters onto the stage, sporting a trademark leather jacket and smoking (though he doesn't look like he could afford the fine). It's a ramshackle entrance, but his hoarse roar somehow suits the Ramonas' raw renditions of 'You're Gonna Kill That Girl', 'I Just Want to Have Something to Do' (complete with minor stage invasion) and his own 'I Know Better Now'.

But when Richie takes over on drums, that's when the show gets really interesting. He can still play, and he drives the Ramonas through a mini-set beginning with a couple of more unheralded gems: 'I'm Affected', from 'End of the Century', and the self-penned, super-speed 'I'm Not Jesus'. Old chestnuts 'The KKK Took My Baby Away', 'Chinese Rock' and 'Psycho Therapy' ensue, with Richie beating the kit so hard the ride cymbal comes off the stand. Finally, it's time for 'Somebody Put Something in My Drink', the biggest of the several songs the tub-thumper wrote for his erstwhile employers. Richie sings and drums on this one, underlining the all-rounderness that perhaps got him the job in the first place.

'Commando', 'Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment' and 'Rock 'n' Roll High School' keep the fun flowing, and then Margy takes over lead vocals for a winningly hysterical version of 'Wart Hog' (never mind the Ramones, this girl could front a Zeke tribute band). "1, 2, 3, 4," shrieks Pee Pee, but Richie isn't ready. "5, 6, 7, 8," and it's into 'Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World'.

This has been a wildly entertaining evening, but Richie and co aren't done with us yet. The fivesome return for a blistering encore of another pair of underrated, Reinhardt -written nuggets, 'Smash You' and '(You) Can't Say Anything Nice', with everyone sharing the mic. Then, as 'Cretin Hop' clubs us once more over the head, Richie tumbles off the stage and into the mosh pit, high-fiving and hugging the faithful.

You certainly don't get this with Marky Ramone.

Photo Kudos; Claudia Kube