Me & Joey & Billie Jean

In 1983, while living on Avenue A at 12th Street, right around the corner from a 5 floor walk-up that was called "The Poet's Building" because, among other poets, Allen Ginsburg & Peter Orlovsky lived there, I hung out at Saint Mark's Church in-the-Bowery where The Poetry Project had readings on Monday & Wednesday nights; other nights of the week I might be found at the bar of Paul's Lounge, 3rd Ave & 10th St, watching the Yankees on projection TV and listening to the jukebox.

Joey Ramone lived over Paul's.  When the Ramones were not playing at CBGB or another punk venue, Joey  would come down and take a table on the side.  The  jukebox was silent, the bartender slid several red quarters across the bar, my first selection was Billie Jean.  Hearing the base line, Joey looked up from his beer and stared at me with a look that said you dumb fuck.