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.
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.