CBGB
 The entrance to CBGB, 2005 | |
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| Location | Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Owner | Hilly Kristal |
| Capacity | 350 |
| Opened | December 10, 1973 |
| Closed | October 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.
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 hard 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.