In Memory of Ram

tacoland.jpg

I'm sad to report that Ramiro "Ram" Albert Ayala, 72-year-old owner of the best li'l punk-bar in SanAntone, was shot and killed early this morning. (Full story at:
MYSA.com.)

Ram.jpg
[Photos of Ram & Tacoland from Nightrocker.com]

If you never had a chance to visit Tacoland and "Jam with the Ram," you've truly missed a unique gem of SanAnto working-class garage-band culture. I was thrilled a year ago to visit S.A. and Tacoland to find that Ram remembered me hanging out at the bar in 1998-1999. Even though he would usually greet you as "HEY PUSSY!" (especially if you were cool with him), he remembered me by name. And then he said: "DRINK THIS, PUSSY!" handing me a Big Red two-liter with some brownish swill at the bottom.

I miss SanAnto right now and really wish I could both observe Ram's passing and celebrate another NBA Championship for a hard-scrabble town that deserves it.

Puro party. We'll miss you Ram!...

Posted by Benjamin at June 24, 2005 10:31 AM
Comments

I spent my youth at tacoland, i've partied with Ram many a night. He was tough, gruff and lovable all at the same time. I've drank that strange concoction of big red brew he made and heard him curse many a patron out.

when i brought my underage girlfriend in the bar, we sat in the corner and i remember i thought he was going to kick us out, but instead, he acted cool and just turned down the lights where we were sitting, so she could drink in the dark.

i'm gonna miss Ram. And I'd like to think right before that guy shot him in the chest, that Ram had the chance to call him a pussy!

Posted by: dino reyes at August 6, 2005 12:29 AM

...a break in the case...
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/crime/stories/MYSA070805.1A.tacoland_arrest.485c13b2.html

Posted by: Ortiz at July 8, 2005 12:07 PM

Ram was definitely a part of SA history and provided a place for the San Antonio subculture to hang their hats and be a part of the world. Talking to Ram was like reliving rock 'n' roll history when he would talk about seeing the Ramones back in '78 and Bruce Springsteen in the '80s. One of the best memories I had was when Robert Tatum drew his portrait of Ram and Ram proudly displayed it on the bar. Ram would also display other artists from the area as well as promoting the goofier and novelty bands while providing the venue for up and comers. I thought Ram would die from natural causes in the end since he had gone through a heart attack a couple years before and wouldn't stop smoking pot. A tragedy, but his spirit will live on in the memory of San Antonio.

Posted by: Andrew Perdiue at June 24, 2005 02:43 PM