| Last night Patti Smith headlined
the final night of CBGB. Though not it's original mission, it
gave birth to the NY punk scene and became the very center of
the punk universe. Originally it was to be a country, bluegrass
and blues club (hence the name) until the punks invaded. Many
familiar faces came by to pay tribute including Flea of the
Red Hot Chili Peppers and Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth of
the Talking Heads. Sadly I was not able to attend.
My feelings for this place are mixed. Just as they are for
most of us who've played here. It's a dump. It's hard to get
people thru the door because there are always a half dozen
shitty bands on the bill to wait thru until the band they
came to see plays. The hey-day of it being the center of the
punk rock universe is long gone long. But aside from all of
that, there is no denying its place in rock history and the
energy you feel seething from the sticker and graffiti filled
walls.
As for the question of it relocating to Las Vegas, that was
gonna happen anyway. No matter the outcome of the lease battle
with the Bowery Residency Committee, owner Hilly Kristal had
been talking about a CBGB 'West' for a while.
It was not ever intended to be a replacement of our dingy
little shrine. Rather it was always meant to be an annex.
And, if it's set up as a Punk museum and store, it really
won't be all that different than what the Bowery location
had become.
CBGB has been a brand name and way more than just a club
for a long time. The bulk of the clubs money over the years
has come from T-Shirt sales and tourists who would pay the
cover charge just to go and take pictures in the bathroom.
They wanted nothing to do with whatever struggling band was
sweating on stage. They just wanted to say that they were
there and take home a souvenir.
Although I'm completely pissed that NYC and the BRC
let this happen and I was a big supporter of trying to keep
the club at its famous address, I'm not overly keen
on CBGB finding a new New York home. It was that original
Bowery shit-hole that made it Mecca and that time is gone.
Anything else, in my humble opinion, would be a lame attempt
to recreate those glory days of The Ramones, Talking Heads,
Television and whatnot.
I hate to say it, but we need to let this one go. NYC has
made it nearly impossible for another true underground musical
revolution to happen. With its shiny veneer and pristine attitude,
the grit is nearly gone having been swept into tiny corners
here and there. Yes, we should let the next generation of
clubs come in and give it a shot. However, unlike the CBGB
phenomenon, it is unlikely that any of them will have the
same historical impact.
For those of you who can't bear a NYC without CBGB,
there will still be a store (CBGB Fashions) here to buy all
sorts of merchandise and keep the memory of this place alive.
Currently located at 315 Bowery in CB's Gallery, it
will move to a new spot on Broadway & Bond Street after
November 1, 2006.
See Also:
Hoboken
Shines for CBGB
New
Year's Eve 2005 @ CBGB
CBGB Website
CBGB
MySpace
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