CBGB: Difference between revisions

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| name = CBGB
| name = CBGB
| image = CBGB club facade.jpg
| image = CBGB club facade.jpg
| image_caption   = The entrance to CBGB, 2005
| image_caption = The entrance to CBGB, 2005
| owner = [[Hilly Kristal]]
| owner = [[Hilly Kristal]]
| opened           = December 10, 1973
| opened = December 10, 1973
| closed = October 15, 2006
| closed = October 15, 2006
| location= Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
| location= Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Line 11: Line 11:
}}
}}


'''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. 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]].
'''CBGB''' was a New York City music club opened in 1973 by Hilly Kristal in the East Village in Manhattan, New York City. From 1975 to 1978, CBGB was one of the main locations played by [[Talking Heads]], leading to a legendary reputation among fans. The club was previously a biker bar and before that was a dive bar. 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|Patti Smith Group]], [[Blondie]], and [[Madonna]].
 
== Evolution and Creation of a Music Scene ==
The club itself became increasingly involved in the creation of a music scene in Manhattan. Although many acts of many genre's performed there, CBGB's is most well remembered for giving rise to punk and post-punk acts such as Ramones, Talking Heads, Blondie, and Television amongst many others. Core to this growth from founder Hilly Kristal's policy of allowing the members of bands who performed at the club free admission, even when they weren't performing.<ref>Frantz, Chris. ''Remain in Love''. White Rabbit, 8 July 2021, pp. 100–101.</ref>
 
The early success of groups like Talking Heads and Television lead to increased notoriety, eventually elevating the club to its now legendary status.
 
"''The Talking Heads showed up and played at CB's and brought a lot of media attention with them. Then shortly after that I think it was Television's manager, [[Terry Ork]], who helped initiate this monthlong unsigned -bands summer festival, and the floodgates opened. The scene began getting full on media attention.''"<ref>Stein, Chris. ''Under a Rock''. St. Martin’s Press, 11 June 2024, p. 112.</ref>
 
== Talking Heads' Performances ==
Talking Heads first began performing at CBGB's in 1975. The members initially looked a bit out of place next to many of the scene's punk regulars. Description from audience members describe the group as "looking like art-school nerds" with "unsmiling blank stares."<ref>Moore, Thurston. ''Sonic Life''. Doubleday, 24 Oct. 2023, p. 39.</ref>


== Connections ==
== Connections ==


* [[Talking Heads]] played their first gig as a trio (members [[David Byrne]], [[Tina Weymouth]] and [[Chris Frantz]]), opening for the [[Ramones]] at CBGB on June 5, 1975.
* [[Talking Heads]] played their first gig as a trio (members [[David Byrne]], [[Tina Weymouth]], and [[Chris Frantz]]), opening for the [[Ramones]] at CBGB on June 5, 1975. The band continued to play there regularly for several years, as well as the members appearing for various non-Talking Heads events in later years.
* [[Sire Records]] founder [[Seymour Stein]] was standing outside CBGB waiting for the Ramones to play when he hard Talking Heads opening for one of their shows inside. He talked to them after the show about signing onto Sire, which they did on November 1, 1976.
* [[Sire Records]] founder [[Seymour Stein]] was standing outside CBGB waiting for the Ramones to play when he heard Talking Heads opening for one of their shows inside. After the show, he talked to them about signing onto Sire, which they did on November 1, 1976.
* Talking Heads paid tribute to the venue in the lyrics to their 1979 song [[Life During Wartime]].
* Founder [[Hilly Kristal]] was thanked at their 2002 [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] induction ceremony.
 
[[Category:Venues]]

Latest revision as of 16:43, 31 July 2024

CBGB
The entrance to CBGB, 2005
Lua error in Module:Infobox_mapframe at line 185: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
LocationManhattan, New York City, U.S.
OwnerHilly Kristal
Capacity350
OpenedDecember 10, 1973
ClosedOctober 15, 2006
Website
www.CBGB.com

CBGB was a New York City music club opened in 1973 by Hilly Kristal in the East Village in Manhattan, New York City. From 1975 to 1978, CBGB was one of the main locations played by Talking Heads, leading to a legendary reputation among fans. The club was previously a biker bar and before that was a dive bar. 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, and Madonna.

Evolution and Creation of a Music Scene

The club itself became increasingly involved in the creation of a music scene in Manhattan. Although many acts of many genre's performed there, CBGB's is most well remembered for giving rise to punk and post-punk acts such as Ramones, Talking Heads, Blondie, and Television amongst many others. Core to this growth from founder Hilly Kristal's policy of allowing the members of bands who performed at the club free admission, even when they weren't performing.[1]

The early success of groups like Talking Heads and Television lead to increased notoriety, eventually elevating the club to its now legendary status.

"The Talking Heads showed up and played at CB's and brought a lot of media attention with them. Then shortly after that I think it was Television's manager, Terry Ork, who helped initiate this monthlong unsigned -bands summer festival, and the floodgates opened. The scene began getting full on media attention."[2]

Talking Heads' Performances

Talking Heads first began performing at CBGB's in 1975. The members initially looked a bit out of place next to many of the scene's punk regulars. Description from audience members describe the group as "looking like art-school nerds" with "unsmiling blank stares."[3]

Connections

  • Talking Heads played their first gig as a trio (members David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, and Chris Frantz), opening for the Ramones at CBGB on June 5, 1975. The band continued to play there regularly for several years, as well as the members appearing for various non-Talking Heads events in later years.
  • Sire Records founder Seymour Stein was standing outside CBGB waiting for the Ramones to play when he heard Talking Heads opening for one of their shows inside. After the show, he talked to them about signing onto Sire, which they did on November 1, 1976.
  • Talking Heads paid tribute to the venue in the lyrics to their 1979 song Life During Wartime.
  • Founder Hilly Kristal was thanked at their 2002 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
  1. Frantz, Chris. Remain in Love. White Rabbit, 8 July 2021, pp. 100–101.
  2. Stein, Chris. Under a Rock. St. Martin’s Press, 11 June 2024, p. 112.
  3. Moore, Thurston. Sonic Life. Doubleday, 24 Oct. 2023, p. 39.