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 ...
Bite your tongue!
"Did you ever see the "Entourage" episodes that involved a Ramones screenplay?"
No, but I'll ask hubby about it. He watches that show pretty regularly.
"Cue Adrian Belew."
Adrian Belew BUMP!
Nope, nope... some of us sure didn't! ;-)
Used to live in Boston - mid-80's thru 2000; remember the Rat well! Also Jack's in Cambridge, which burned mysteriously, and the Channel...
Great local bands including the Neighborhoods, Nervous Eaters, the Lyres, Condo Pygmies, Christmas...
Alas, I failed to visit this piece of Americana. (I did stay at a Holiday Inn once tho.)
Back then anything that wasn't Disco or MOR stuff or Classic Rock was considered "punk."
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