Posted on 10/09/2006 1:58:33 PM PDT by LurkedLongEnough
CBGB owner Hilly Kristal sits at his club during an interview Sept. 26, 2006, in New York. After Oct. 15, the legendary club that has hosted acts such as Patti Smith, the Talking Heads, the Ramones, and Blondie will close its doors for good, ending a 33-year run as punk rocks seminal music venue. CBGB owner Hilly Kristal sits at his club during an interview Sept. 26, 2006, in New York. After Oct. 15, the legendary club that has hosted acts such as Patti Smith, the Talking Heads, the Ramones, and Blondie will close its doors for good, ending a 33-year run as punk rocks seminal music venue.
NEW YORK --Legs McNeil remembers the night back in 1975 when he walked into the dingy storefront club perched in the even dingier Bowery neighborhood. The band onstage, four guys in leather jackets and torn jeans, was the Ramones. McNeil sat at a nearby table, watching their set with Lou Reed.
"Every night was memorable, except I don't remember 'em," said a laughing McNeil, co-author of the punk rock history "Please Kill Me."
After Sunday, memories are all that will remain when the cramped club with its capacity of barely 300 people goes out of business after 33 years. Although its boom years are long gone, CBGB's remained a Manhattan music scene fixture: part museum, part barroom, home to more than a few rock and roll ghosts.
The club didn't exit without a fight. An assortment of high-profile backers, including E Street Band guitarist Little Steven Van Zandt, battled to keep the legendary club open. But in the end, it was a simple landlord-tenant dispute -- and owner Hilly Kristal saw the handwriting on the club's dank walls.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
That's nothing, I've been to a bar that had free standing cinderblocks so you could walk to the urinals in the men's room.
Sure there is. It's right there
Take away the cinder blocks and you have the bathrooms at the Empire.
Mudd Club can be seen (in color) in "Downtown 81".
You really are behind, aren't you.
This is a family town now.
Rat Pack - gone.
Mob - gone.
Lounge music acts (and lizards) - gone.
Lady's of the evening - gone.
Just ask Oscar, he'll tell ya.
:-)
Probably too profane to repeat
By the group: Fenceposts In Heaven, I presume...
I saw them at the Armadillo World HQ in 79. A really, really big shew! They rocked for a bunch of art school pansies.
NYC ping...
I try not to live a life with regrets.... but I regret not seeing them live.
Did you ever see the "Entourage" episodes that involved a Ramones screenplay?
"Remain in Light" came out in 1980. Best album by them.
They've all moved to Nashville.
I saw the Ramones several years back at a local club near me. A great show... knowing now some of the members fate I'm glad I took the opportunity.
At first I hated Talking Heads because they were the band all the artsy-fartsy types listened to when I was in college.
Once I graduated, and got away from those people, I learned to like them.
Gabba-Gabba-Hey!
Most of my gig are up in New england these days. There are still some good rock venues up there. The City is hip hop , Duane Reeds and condos . Oh yea , a starbucks every otrher building YUCK !
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