Deadline Looms for Famous New York Club (CBGB's)

[Placebo]

Hilly Kristal opened CBGB's in December 1973, envisioning a home on the Bowery for country music. And then the punks took over. The Ramones. Blondie. Talking Heads. Television.

They all launched their careers on the cramped stage at Kristal's low-maintenance club, which became the mid-1970s epicenter for a musical revolution and still rocks on three decades later.

But it may be time for the last (slam) dance at the storefront bar with its familiar white awning. The club's lease expires on Aug. 31; a longstanding rent dispute could persuade the landlord, the Bowery Residents' Committee, to shut down the venerable birthplace of punk and find a new tenant.

More...

[autorank]

1. Oh, thanks, now I feel dated.

I went there...

And here too..


It's stil open. Maybe they'll have a reunion (presuming enough people can get a day pass...oh Lard!)

[Old Vet]

2. Maxs was alot fun,From what I remember...

I do remember some ass-kicking rocknroll.

[autorank]

8. Yeah, the music was great and you could eat the food.

The best night I had there was when some bikers came in and had a big fight. Everybody loved it (you know what I'm talking about). Good bar too!

[Adelante]

4. I waited tables in Max's for a while

God, I'm old.

[autorank]

9. Well, you don't look old from your picture.

Remember, "50 is the new 30" according to Lauren Hutton. You must have met some really strange people doing that, not that I didn't, but lord, hazzard pay!

[bunkerbuster1]

16. You were there in 1970 to hear the velvets?

Did you know Brigid Polk?

[GregW]

3. This ain't no Mudd Club, or CBGB, I ain't got time for that now ..."

:(

[Renew Deal]

5. I have tickets for Sept. 9th for the Circle Jerks.

I hope the show happens.

[tinrobot]

7. I remember the last time I saw the Circle Jerks

...was when I was young.

Damn, I'm old.

[bunkerbuster1]

15. "I used to like these guys"

[Renew Deal]

18. I saw them about 3 years ago at Irving Plaza.

They were pretty good. That voice is so distinct that it was great to get to see them.

[jonnyblitz]

19. I saw them in the 80's.

:thumbsup:

[blue neen]

6. Sigh.

All good things come to an end. It would have been nice to brighten the door there just once...

[shadowknows69]

10. If you have the means and care anything about

our history of music and culture please support saving CBGBs.

[Catchawave]

11. Save CBGBs !

Here ya go: http://www.savecbgb.org/

"CBGB is a symbol of raw American energy – for 31 years CBGB has provided a space for new creativity in music and art, a spotlight for young talent, and a unique safe-space to pursue art and free expression. CBs has always kept its prices affordable for all music lovers, evolved to fill the needs of the music and cultural communities of New York City, and jump started the careers of thousands of performers."

===========
My daughter played there with her all girl punk band. It was definitely a life block check for her to have such an experience :)

[LeftHander]

12. It is all about money...

Some rich rocker just dump a million on the ass that holds the strings and make them go away.

Or is it political...?

[sidpleasant]

13. CBGB was practically my second home in '78

I was frequently there 4 or 5 nights a week then. There'd be 3 or 4 bands on the bill, most them unknown to me, and every night at least one would be amazing. The single greatest live show I ever saw, by a band of borderline mental defectives from Harrisburg who called themselves the Punk Rock Janitors, occured at CBGBs. I even met Sid Vicious there.

I suspect that what's really going on here is that CBGB's landlord wants to get rid of the club and the flophouse above it so they can sell the building (and more importantly, the land it's on) to developers or NYU. The Bowery isn't the seedy neighborhood it was in mid '70s.

[Mizmoon]

14. Close the effing place already

so we can be freed from yet another "save CBGBs" campaign

:hide:

[Placebo]

20. No!

:P

[CGrantt57]

17. In case you're afraid to ask...

CBGB - OMFUG

Country Blue Grass Blues - Other Music For Uplifting Gourmandizers.

[Book Lover]

21. Now I know!

I never had the boobs to ask anyone what OMFUG meant... thanks, man.