CBGB Closing For Good On September 30
CBGB TO CLOSE ON SEPTEMBER 30TH
After over 30 years, the legendary rock club CBGB will be closing for good on
September 30th, 2006.
CB's, as it is universally and fondly known, opened its doors in 1973, making it
NYC's oldest continuously-operating rock venue. Owner Hilly Kristal originally
intended the club to showcase country, bluegrass and blues (hence the acronym),
but the lack of places for unsigned bands to perform in New York at the time
made CB's a magnet for the punk and art-rock scenes that were emerging downtown.
Throughout the 70's, such seminal artists as The Ramones, Talking Heads,
Blondie, The Patti Smith Group, Television and Suicide performed at CB's
regularly, and the club served as an incubator for what would become the most
influential music of the era.
When punk metamorphosed into hardcore in the 80's, CB's remained on the city's
cutting edge, offering a home for The Gorilla Biscuits, Agnostic Front, The
Cro-Mags, Sick Of It All, H20, Murphy's Law, Leeway and the other pillars of the
NYHC movement.
As the New York nightlife industry grew bigger and more cutthroat in the 90's,
CB's remained an endearingly stubborn throwback, sticking firm to the open-door
booking policy that first welcomed its inaugural class of rebels - whoever you
are, whatever you do, your band can play at CBGB. In a downtown scene
increasingly governed by fashion and status, CB's has zealously adhered to the
formula that made it meaningful, by refusing to apply stylistic filters to its
bookings, welcoming all comers to sink or swim on their own merits.
A much-publicized altercation with their landlord in mid-2005 led to an a
star-studded benefit concert in Washington Square Park, and even Mayor Bloomberg
vocally led his support to the little club that had developed, over the decades,
into a globally-recognized cultural institution.
However, despite the universal outpouring of love, and numerous attempts to
resolve the matter legally, Krystal has been unable to arrive at terms with the
building's owner, and a three-decade musical legacy will come to an end in just
a few short months.
Fittingly, steadfastly independent New York concert promoters Rocks Off have
signed on to book CBGB's closing festival, set to take place throughout August
and September. They are in touch with many of the artists who made CB's famous,
and are hard at work putting together a final schedule that will do justice to
the club's enduring impact in the many varieties of rock and roll it has helped
to cultivate throughout the years.
Until the final schedule is announced, all press inquiries can be directed to
Bill Stites, at (212) 571-3304, or bill@rocksoff.com.
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