The Ramones hit "Rockaway Beach" to be used in radio ads to lure visitors back to beach....

Radio ad campaign to use Ramones hit 'Rockaway Beach' to lure visitors back to the shorefront devastated by Hurricane Sandy

The storm took out large stretches of the boardwalk and as many as 400 businesses, many of which are only now returning. The beach, however, will be ready and waiting for warm-weather revelers.

By James Warren / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

The Ramones are back (sort of). And with their help, visitors to Rockaway Beach should be back this summer, too.

The Queens Economic Development Corporation is launching a radio ad campaign featuring the legendary punk rock band's hit "Rockaway Beach" to lure people back to a shorefront devastated by Hurricane Sandy.

The area lost large stretches of its boardwalk and as many as 400 businesses, with many only now returning, said Rob MacKay, who runs the Queens Tourism Council.

"I don't surf, but I love the Ramones and the Rockaways," said Seth Bornstein, executive director of the development corporation, which is also known as the QEDC.

"When I hear these ads, I get excited for the sand and look forward to spending time with family and friends at the seaside restaurants."

The development corporation secured licensing rights for the song through Sept. 1 with help from Katten Muchin Rosenmann, a Chicago-based law firm whose partners include former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.

Jennifer Carmen, an associate in the New York office, was delighted to assist.

"Like so many New Yorkers I have been eager to lend a hand in rebuilding our community after Sandy," she said. "The Queens Economic Development Corporation is doing fantastic work to help Rockaway Beach's recovery efforts."

The radio ads will run Fridays and Saturdays on WFAN, WINS and WCBS.

A large cadre of workers, including carpenters, stone masons and electricians, have labored mightily for months to get the beach ready.

The boardwalk will take far longer. But at least now there are the strains and lyrics of the band's fitting words from 1977:

Chewin' at a rhythm on my bubble gum

The sun is out, I want some

It's not hard, not far to reach

We can hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach