Here Today... Gone To Hell!

After over 30 years, the legendary rock club CBGB will be closing for good on September 30, 2006.

CBs, as it is universally and fondly known, opened its doors in 1973, making it New York City'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 CBs a magnet for the punk and art-rock scenes that were emerging downtown. Throughout the '70s, such seminal artists as THE RAMONES, TALKING HEADS, BLONDIE, THE PATTI SMITH GROUP, TELEVISION and SUICIDE performed at CBs 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 '80s, CBs remained on the city's cutting edge, offering a home for THE GORILLA BISCUITS, AGNOSTIC FRONT, 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 '90s, CBs 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, CBs 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, Kristal 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 CBGBs closing festival, set to take place throughout August and September. They are in touch with many of the artists who made CBs 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.

source: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=54673

This is such a shame, I'm spent a few very happy evenings at this club.  Closing it's doors for eva, a sad day. :crying:

Was never there,  or even in NYC for that matter, but a huge part of rock history is closing it's doors and that is not cool.

i cant believe its closing, ive been there quite a few times, im gonna miss it. :(

I sp[ent all of the 90's there... I would have though why couldn't all the famous artists who made it there pay the rent

i'm glad i went there at least once in my life before it closed


ok it was in 2003 but still, i did go :)

edit: mike you got a point !

Mike,

It actually came down to being more than about money.? From what I've heard, the BRC just wanted them gone.

Hilly was paying the rent. Or, at least he was paying what he was TOLD was his rent. When his 12 year lease came up for renewal, the BRC (a homeless shelter/organization who houses people in the same building as CBGB) chose not to renew and served eviction papers.? They claim the club hadn't paid their full rent in 3 years (something they never, ever claimed during the lease, or notified Hilly of during the term of the lease...at least they were never able to provide documentation, in court, of notification and Hilly claims he never recieved any).? Hilly said they weren't properly billed for the rent, and that they were not properly notified of rental increases that the BRC said were put in place.? In addition, Hilly says they were without heat and plumbing for long periods of time because the BRC wasn't taking good care of the building.? The BRC turned around and claimed the club was "unsafe" (largely because of the problems the BRC should have addressed, ironicly).

 Hilly fought them through the courts and had the rent go up from 19k a month to 35k a month (which is what the benefit was for) during the battle.? He paid every dime. They came up with an amount that he was supposedly behind (using a court mediator, and, FYI, it was MUCH less than the BRC claimed initially), and he paid that too.? He, out of pocket, addressed some of the safety concerns at the club (the ones not the responsibility of the BRC).? He did just about everything asked but was unable to get the courts to order the BRC to re-up the lease.? And, after all that, the BRC, who he had acted in good faith with during "negotiations", decided not to re-up his lease, either.? So he was stuck.

He's looking for new locations in Manhatten, I think.?

I've been a dozen or so times and it was a great place.? "Divey", to be sure, but that was part of it's charm.? And the music ALWAYS rocked.

Geez - how do you know all that?  :o

It is really sad - a real rockin place.  Dive yes, but rockin!  : ok: