CBGB explained

CBGB
Owner:Hilly Kristal
Opened:December 10, 1973
Closed:October 15, 2006
Pushpin Map:Manhattan#New York City#New York
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of CBGB in Manhattan, New York City
Location:Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Capacity:350[1]
Embedded:
Nocat:1
Embed:yes
CBGB
Nrhp Type:cp
Partof:The Bowery Historic District
Partof Refnum:13000027
Location:315 Bowery
Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Built:1878
Added:February 20, 2013

CBGB was a New York City music club opened in 1973 by Hilly Kristal in the East Village in Manhattan, New York City. The club was previously a biker bar and before that was a dive bar.[2] The letters CBGB were for Country, Bluegrass, Blues, Kristal's original vision for the club. But CBGB soon emerged as a famed and iconic venue for punk rock and new wave bands, including the Ramones, Dead Boys, Television, Patti Smith Group, Blondie, Madonna and Talking Heads.

Other bands affiliated with CBGB included Agnostic Front, Murphy's Law, U.S. Chaos, Cro-Mags, Warzone, Gorilla Biscuits, Sick of It All, and Youth of Today.

One storefront beside CBGB became the "CBGB Record Canteen", a record shop and café. In the late 1980s, "CBGB Record Canteen" was converted into an art gallery and second performance space, "CB's 313 Gallery". CB's Gallery was played by music artists of milder sounds, such as acoustic rock, folk, jazz, or experimental music, such as Dadadah, Kristeen Young, Medeski Martin & Wood and Toshi Reagon, while CBGB continued to showcase mainly hardcore punk, post punk, metal, and alternative rock.

313 Gallery was also the host location for Alchemy, a weekly Goth night showcasing goth, industrial, dark rock, and darkwave bands.[3] [4] On the other side, CBGB was operating a small cafe and bar in the mid-1990s, which served classic New York pizza, among other items.[5] [6]

Around 2000, CBGB entered a protracted dispute over allegedly unpaid rent amounts until the landlord, Bowery Residents' Committee, sued in 2005 and lost the case. Kristal and the BRC reached an agreement whereby CBGB would leave by October 31, 2006.

On October 15, 2006, the club closed with a performance by Patti Smith, who took the stage at 9:30 p.m. and played for 3 1/2 hours until slightly after 1 a.m. on October 16, 2006, closing with her song "Elegie" followed by reading a list of punk rock musicians and advocates who had died in recent years.[7]

CBGB Radio launched on the iHeartRadio platform in 2010, and CBGB music festivals began in 2012.[8] In 2013, CBGB's onetime building, 315 Bowery, was added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of The Bowery Historic District (not a New York City Historic District).

History

20th century

CBGB was founded on December 10, 1973,[9] on the site of Kristal's earlier bar, Hilly's on the Bowery, which he ran from 1969 to 1972. Initially, Kristal focused on his more profitable East Village nightspot, Hilly's, which Kristal closed amid complaints from the bar's neighbors. After Hilly's closure, Kristal focused on the Bowery club. Its full name of CBGB & OMFUG stands for "Country, Bluegrass, Blues, and Other Music For Uplifting Gourmandizers". Although a gourmandizer is usually a ravenous eater of food, what Kristal meant was "a voracious eater of (…) music".[10] Kristal's intended theme of country, bluegrass, and blues music along with poetry readings yielded to the American movement in punk rock. A pioneer in the genre, Ramones played their first shows at CBGB.[11]

In 1973, while the future CBGB was still Hilly's, two locals, Bill Page and Rusty McKenna, convinced Kristal to let them book concerts. In February 1974, Hilly booked local band Squeeze to a residency, playing Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the club's change from country and bluegrass to original rock bands. Squeeze was led by guitarist Mark Suall, later with CBGB's quasi house band the Revelons, which included Fred Smith of Television and JD Daugherty of the Patti Smith Group. Although these bands did not play punk rock, they helped lay its foundation.[12] The August 1973 collapse of the Mercer Arts Center left unsigned bands little option in New York City to play original music. Mercer refugees—including Suicide, The Fast,[13] Ruby and the Rednecks, Jayne County, and the Magic Tramps—soon played at CBGB.

On April 14, 1974, the audience of Television's third gig were Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye, whose Patti Smith Group debuted at CBGB on February 14, 1975. Other early performers included the Dina Regine Band. Dennis Lepri was lead guitarist as well as the Stillettoes which included Deborah Harry on vocals. The newly formed band Angel and the Snake, later renamed Blondie, as well as Ramones arrived in August 1974. Mink DeVille, Talking Heads, The Shirts, The Heartbreakers, The Fleshtones, and other bands soon followed.

In April 1977, The Damned played the club, marking the first time a British punk band had ever played in America.[14]

During 1975 and 1976, Metropolis Video recorded some shows on film. Beginning in 1977, Metropolis Video filmmaker Pat Ivers and partner Emily Armstrong continued to record shows in a project called Advanced TV, later renamed GoNightclubbing. Ivers' and Armstrong's films are available at the New York University Fales Library.[15]

CBGB's two rules were that a band must move its own equipment and play mostly original songs, although regular bands often played one or two covers in set.[16] CBGB's growing reputation drew more and more acts from outside New York City.

In 1978, new wave songwriter Elvis Costello would open shows for The Voidoids, while The Police played at CBGB for their first American gigs. Meanwhile, CBGB became famed for Misfits, Television, Patti Smith Group, Mink DeVille, Dead Boys, the Dictators, the Fleshtones, the Voidoids, the Cramps, the B-52's, Blondie, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, the Shirts, and Talking Heads. Yet in the 1980s, hardcore punk's New York underground was CBGB's mainstay. Named "thrash day" in a documentary on hardcore, Sunday at CBGB was matinée day, which became an institution, played from afternoon until evening by hardcore bands such as Reagan Youth, Bad Brains, Beastie Boys, Agnostic Front, Murphy's Law, Cro-Mags, Leeway, Warzone, Gorilla Biscuits, Sick of It All, Misfits, Sheer Terror, Stillborn and Youth of Today.

In 1990, violence inside and outside of the venue prompted Kristal to suspend hardcore bookings, although CBGB brought hardcore back at times. CBGB's last several years had no formal bans by genre.

21st century

In 2005, atop its normally-paid monthly rent of $19,000, CBGB was sued for some $90,000 in rent allegedly owed to its landlord, Bowery Residents' Committee (BRC).[17] Refusing to pay until a judge ruled the debt legitimate, Kristal claimed that he had never been notified of scaled rent increases, accruing over a number of years, asserted by BRC's executive director Muzzy Rosenblatt.[17] Ruling the debt false and that BRC had never properly billed the rent increases,[17] the judge indicated that CBGB ought to be declared a landmark, but noted that Rosenblatt did not need to renew the lease, soon expiring. Rosenblatt vowed to appeal.

Expecting Rosenblatt's resistance to lease negotiation,[17] Kristal agreed that the rent ought to rise, but not to the $55,000 monthly that Kristal believed the BRC to want.[18]

A nonprofit corporation housing homeless above CBGB mostly through donations and government funding,[17] the BRC had only one commercial tenant and raised its monthly rent to $35,000. Kristal and the BRC reached an agreement whereby CBGB would leave by September 30, 2006.[19] Planning to move CBGB to Las Vegas, Kristal explained, "We're going to take the urinals. I'll take whatever I can. The movers said, 'You ought to take everything, and auction off what you don't want on eBay.' Why not? Somebody will".[20]

Closure

Many punk rock bands played at CBGB when they found it was going to close in hopes that their support could keep it from closing. Rocks off, a promoter in New York, organized CBGB's final weeks of shows to book "many of the artists who made CB's famous". Avail, the Bouncing Souls, and such newer acts opened during the last week, which included multi-night stands by Bad Brains and the Dictators and an acoustic set by Blondie. The final show, broadcast live on Sirius Satellite Radio on October 15, was played by Patti Smith, helped on some songs by Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Television's Richard Lloyd, too, played in a few, including "Marquee Moon". Nearly-finished, Smith and band playing "Gloria" alternated the chorus with echoes of "Blitzkrieg Bop" by the Ramones—Hey! Ho! Let's go!. During "Elegie", her final encore, Smith named musicians and other music figures who had died since playing at CBGB.[21] On October 15, 2006, upon Patti Smith's last show at CBGB, the storied bar and club closed.[22]

Aftermath

After closing, the old CBGB venue remained open as CBGB Fashions—retail store, wholesale department, and an online store—until October 31, 2006. CBGB Fashions moved to 19–23 St. Mark's Place on November 1, and closed nearly two years later in summer 2008.[23]

Hilly Kristal died from complications of lung cancer on August 28, 2007. In early October, Kristal's family and friends hosted a private memorial service in the nearby YMCA. Soon, there was a public memorial, contributed to by CBGB onetime staff and by others.

Kristal's ex-wife Karen Kristal and his daughter, Lisa Kristal Burgman, battled legally over the purported $3 million CBGB estate, and settled in June 2009 with Burgman receiving most of the money left after payment of creditors and estate taxes.[24] In 2011, a group of unknown investors bought the remaining CBGB assets, including the associated intellectual property and original interior. The location is now occupied by John Varvatos fashions.

In December 2015, various news outlets reported on a rebranded CBGB "reopening" at Newark International Airport as CBGB L.A.B. (Lounge and Bar)[25] [26] by New York chef Harold Moore, which had opened as of the end of December 2015.

Venue

By late 2007, fashion designer John Varvatos planned to open a store in CBGB's former space, 315 Bowery,[27] but to tastefully trail CBGB's legacy[28] rock and roll stickers on the walls, and much of the graffiti at the toilets was preserved, as were some playbills, found behind a wall, from shows at the club's 10th anniversary in 1983.[29] The store opened in April 2008.[30]

In 2008, a SoHo art gallery dedicated to music photography, the Morrison Hotel, opened a second location in the onetime CBGB Gallery at 313 Bowery, but the Morrison Hotel gallery closed in 2011.[31] The space was then occupied by a surf-oriented Patagonia store until late 2021.[32] [33]

Called the "Extra Place", the alley behind the building became a pedestrian mall. Dead Boys' Cheetah Chrome rued, "All of Manhattan has lost its soul to money lords", yet reflected, "If that alley could talk, it's seen it all".[34] CBGB's nomination as a landmark drew an explanation:

Legacy

CBGB's second awning, the one in place when the club closed in 2006, was moved into the lobby of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.[35]

The CBGB Festival produced large free concerts in Times Square and Central Park on July 7, 2012. They also showcased hundreds of bands in venues across the city.[36] [37] The festival premiered dozens of rock-n-roll movies in theaters around Manhattan.[38]

Directed by Randall Miller and starring Alan Rickman as Hilly Kristal, the film CBGB, about Kristal and the origins of the club, was released in October 2013[39] [40] to harsh reviews.[41] [42] Iconic in American popular culture, CBGB's image remained storied:

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: CBGB sounds its final note. Kokenes. Chris. CNN. May 18, 2016. October 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161005141643/http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/16/cbgb.closing/. live.
  2. Book: Television's Marquee Moon . Bryan Waterman . 2011 . The Continuum International Publishing Group . US . 978-1-44114-5-291 . 66–67 .
  3. Web site: Alchemy. www.nycgoth.com. July 20, 2018. July 20, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180720225344/http://www.nycgoth.com/clubs/alchemy/. live.
  4. Web site: Alchemy Gothic Mondays. D. J.. Jason. September 9, 1996. February 6, 2023. January 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230128042210/http://absolution.nyc/1996/09/09/alchemy-gothic-mondays/. live.
  5. News: Playing in the neighborhood . The New York Times . December 19, 1993 . April 1, 2010 . April 29, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130429130135/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/19/nyregion/playing-in-the-neighborhood-133093.html . live .
  6. News: Pop And jazz guide . The New York Times . January 24, 2003 . April 1, 2010 . April 29, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130429141626/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/24/movies/pop-and-jazz-guide-993069.html . live .
  7. http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/36481396 Yahoo Music coverage of concert
  8. Web site: CBGB now a festival, could reopen in new location . . May 8, 2012 . May 8, 2012 . Marcus Gilmer . May 9, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120509231338/http://www.avclub.com/articles/cbgb-now-a-festival-could-reopen-in-new-location,73686/ . live .
  9. Q magazine, 2002
  10. http://cbgb.com Official CBGB website
  11. Crotty & Lane, "Interview with Hilly",The mad Monks guide to NYC, 1999, p 190.
  12. http://www.tinymixtapes.com/Debunking-CBGB-Myths-An-Interview "Debunking CBGB myths: An interview with Dana, Hilly Kristal's son
  13. Book: Suicide: No Compromise . David Nobakht . 2005 . SAF Publishing . UK . 0-946719-71-3 . 222 .
  14. Web site: The Damned at CBGB: The Night Punk Was Officially Born in the USA. Binky Philips Music. aficionado. HuffPost. November 2, 2010. December 3, 2016. October 15, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161015023047/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/binky-philips/the-damned-at-cbgb-the-ni_b_777706.html. live.
  15. Web site: NIGHTCLUBBING Archive by Pat Ivers and Emily Armstrong. MSS 305.. dlib.nyu.edu. March 8, 2016. March 8, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160308231213/http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/fales/nightclub/bioghist.html. live.
  16. Kristal's son claims the policy meant to avert owing royalties to ASCAP. "Debunking CBGB myths: An interview with Dana, Hilly Kristal's Son, Tiny Mix Tapes, September 11, 2007.
  17. Chris Harris, "CBGB doesn't have to pay $90,000 in back rent, judge rules", MTV News, August 10, 2005.
  18. NY1 News, "Judge rules punk landmark CBGB doesn't owe back rent", Time Warner Cable News: NY1, August 11, 2005.
  19. http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/57912/cbgb-to-shut-down-on-sept-30 "CBGB to shut down on Sept. 30"
  20. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6045796.stm "Stars return in CBGB's last shows"
  21. Web site: How far would you go to see a show. NPR. September 30, 2010. Sarah Ventre. December 22, 2012. February 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130217230109/http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2010/09/30/130250221/how-far-would-you-go-to-see-a-show. live.
  22. News: CBGB Brings Down the Curtain With Nostalgia and One Last Night of Rock. Sisario. Ben. October 16, 2006. The New York Times. September 29, 2019. en-US. 0362-4331. July 12, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190712124701/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/16/arts/music/16cbgb.html. live.
  23. Web site: CBGB St. Mark's shop closing at the end of June. Village Voice. Camille. Dodero. March 25, 2008. March 9, 2013. April 30, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130430075945/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2008/03/cbgb_st_marks_s.php. dead.
  24. http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/archives/2009/06/the_final_cbgb.php The final CBGB settlement: Hilly Kristal's estate takes its last legal bow
  25. CBGB to Reopen as Restaurant in Newark Airport. Rolling Stone. December 21, 2015. December 3, 2016. November 18, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161118061028/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/cbgb-to-reopen-as-restaurant-in-newark-airport-20151221. live.
  26. Web site: CBGB Is Reopening At Newark Airport, As A Restaurant. December 3, 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161229120328/http://gothamist.com/2015/12/21/cbgb_newark_restaurant.php. December 29, 2016.
  27. News: A punk temple reborn: Would you like to see the $200 safety pins?. The Washington Post. November 2, 2007. David. Segal. April 1, 2010. November 9, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121109091331/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/01/AR2007110102492.html. live.
  28. News: Now Opening Saturday Special . Racked.com . January 14, 2008 . Jan 16, 2008 . We don't want anyone to walk into the space and say, 'Oh, they screwed it up.' We want them to walk in and say, 'It's not CBGB, but they did the right thing.' . October 26, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111026201037/http://ny.racked.com/archives/2008/04/05/now_open_saturday_special_john.php . live .
  29. News: NY gallery keeps punk alive in old CBGB space. Mar 27, 2008. Reuters. Jun 30, 2009. Karen Brettell. November 7, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201107102546/https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKN2737445120080327. live.
  30. News: At the former CBGB, the punks once played but the rich now pomp. The New York Times. May 7, 2008. Apr 19, 2008. Ben Sisario. August 29, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110829042452/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/19/arts/music/19varv.html. live.
  31. News: Steve . Cuozzo . WilmerHale eyes 7 WTC . March 8, 2011 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20130216034104/http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/realestate/commercial/wilmerhale_eyes_wtc_cz9ph2GGmyDtVCyxsYlJcP/1 . February 16, 2013.
  32. Web site: Patagonia New York Bowery Store - 313 Bowery NY, NY 10003. December 3, 2014. January 2, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150102095744/http://www.patagonia.com/us/store/patagonia-nyc-bowery-313-bowery-new-york-city-ny-10003. live.
  33. Web site: Perler . Elie . Wipe Out: Patagonia Closes its Bowery Surf Shop . Bowery Boogie . 29 July 2022 . 16 November 2021 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20220323090042/https://boweryboogie.com/2021/11/wipe-out-patagonia-closes-its-bowery-surf-shop/ . March 23, 2022.
  34. News: Hobo Goes haute. New York Post. Mar 28, 2008. Mar 25, 2008. Jennifer Fermino. April 3, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080403090456/http://www.nypost.com/seven/03252008/news/regionalnews/hobo_goes_haute_103428.htm. live.
  35. CBGB Awning Sells at Auction for $30,000 . Rolling Stone . Job . Blistein . December 14, 2016 . May 16, 2021 . May 16, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210516082941/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/cbgb-awning-sells-at-auction-for-30000-107164/ . live .
  36. CBGB Festival Brings Veteran Bands Back to the Stage . Patrick . Flanary . July 5, 2012 . Rolling Stone . May 16, 2021 . April 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210414130855/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/cbgb-festival-brings-veteran-bands-back-to-the-stage-243849/ . live .
  37. News: A Raucous Weekend for a Rock Club That's Long Gone . July 8, 2012 . Jon . Pareles . Jon Pareles . Critic’s Notebook . The New York Times.
  38. Web site: About Us . CBGB . May 16, 2021 . May 19, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210519025332/https://www.cbgb.com/about . live .
  39. Web site: CBGB, new film tells the history of New York City's legendary club . laughingsquid.com . April 10, 2013 . May 7, 2013 . April 24, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130424130020/http://laughingsquid.com/cbgb-film-tells-the-history-of-new-york-citys-legendary-club/ . live .
  40. Web site: CBGB (2013). imdb.com. December 1, 2013. August 12, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130812052428/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1786751/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1. live.
  41. Web site: Linda Sickler. 'Punk rock' inventor Legs McNeil coming to Savannah post 'CBGB'. December 1, 2013. December 3, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131203220630/http://savannahnow.com/do/2013-01-22/punk-rock-inventor-legs-mcneil-coming-savannah-post-cbgb#.UpuKsGRDtPE. live.
  42. Web site: Marc Campbell. If you thought CBGB's bathrooms were full of shit, check out the movie. October 2013. December 1, 2013. December 3, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131203053408/http://dangerousminds.net/comments/if_you_thought_cbgbs_bathrooms_were_full_of_shit_check_out_the_movie. live.
  43. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=194vqe3DZQI NYC 2012 Olympics Promo Video
  44. Web site: A Los Angeles Social Diary. December 3, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20130729020855/http://www.thedailytruffle.com/2010/09/guitar-hero-launch-party/. July 29, 2013. dead.
  45. Web site: Old School Punk Star, by The Shapers. December 3, 2016. April 15, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150415140219/http://theshapers.bandcamp.com/track/old-school-punk-star. live.
  46. Web site: When checked against the CBGB women's room graffiti. January 28, 2019. February 6, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230206003823/https://api.intentiq.com/profiles_engine/ProfilesEngineServlet?at=39&mi=10&dpi=793790479&pt=17&dpn=1&jsver=5.09&iiqidtype=2&iiqpcid=bfc59f08-faef-4060-a5b8-5487ce0c117a&iiqpciddate=1675643903787&iiqcallcount=0&iiqfailcount=0&iiqnodata=false&iiqlocalstorageenabled=true&tsrnd=183_1675643903788&fbp=3488735648&cttl=43200000&rrtt=0&dud=0&abtg=A&iiqppcc=0&ref=genius.com. live.
  47. Web site: This ain't no Mudd Club, or C.B.G.B.. November 1, 2022. February 6, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230206003823/https://api.intentiq.com/profiles_engine/ProfilesEngineServlet?at=39&mi=10&dpi=793790479&pt=17&dpn=1&jsver=5.09&iiqidtype=2&iiqpcid=f021b302-2752-4ef9-9dbb-91ffb8e63e72&iiqpciddate=1675643903814&iiqcallcount=0&iiqfailcount=0&iiqnodata=false&iiqlocalstorageenabled=true&tsrnd=417_1675643903815&fbp=3488735714&cttl=43200000&rrtt=0&dud=0&abtg=A&iiqppcc=0&ref=genius.com. live.

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