Goodbye CBGB?

rkbsound · Post by **rkbsound** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 3:28 pm

I was at House of Guitars in Rochester, NY yesterday buying a Blake Babies cd (irrelevant background) and the freaky lookin' guy at the register in drag (really nice guy) was talking about how he had just played the last song to ever be played at CBGBs as they counted down the closing seconds. He said Blondie was there as well as a few people I haven't heard of.

I knew that there has been an ongoing financial/rent dispute that has put the club in jeopardy for some time, but it's sad to see what I consider to be a national, if not world wide landmark for music. Especially for today's bands that owe so much to what came out of that club.

I visited it a number of times in the late '80s as a teenager and college student, and it really is a dump. I guess it hasn't gotten any better with age, which is really a good thing.

So next, I'm sure we'll see a chain of CBGB restaurants around the world like the Hard Rock Cafe. Let's all pray that doesn't happen!

shinynewtoy · Post by **shinynewtoy** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 3:49 pm

According to their official site, they're continuing to fight to stay open. I've been there more recently (late '90's) and you'll be pleased to know it's still a smelly pit of awfulness, but you're right; it's history and importance to the entire world of music cannot be denied.

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 4:33 pm

CBGB's is important. Pretty much every important band from the late 70's through whenever played there at least once.My memory was they gave any band that wanted at least a showcase shot of earning a regular gig there. I must have played there with over 1/2 dozen different bands. With one of the groups we had a single that was in their jukebox for over 10 years. I was proud of that.

I think it was either 78 or 79 my friend tells me that the Police were going to be playing. We run down there and we find out we are two weeks too early. We end up seeing this bowlegged(to me anyway) skinny British dude with glasses sing. I was throwing stuff at him, but my friend thought he was cool. That singer later became one of my favorites. Elvis Costello. We did go back two weeks later and watched the Police, walk on stage with their equipment and no soundcheck, play a devestating set.

Saturday nights in those days you were pretty much going to see one of these bands perform - Blondie, Television, The Talking Heads or the Ramones.

That is one legendary dump.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 5:21 pm

I also had the privilage of playing there about two years ago. "Legendary dump" is a perfect description, Marc.

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 7:50 pm

It's as important as the Cavern Club. They certainly wouldn't close that...would they?

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 12:58 am

I need to be educated here, and I'm not putting down the Cavern but, besides being the stomping grounds for the Beatles, what else are they known for?

Many a patron has picked up the crabs from the toilet seats at CB's. Those crabs could have been from band members who later became celebritys.

Besides the wonderful atmosphere, the thing that was always key about the club(In the 70's-80's anyway) was the sound system and the expertise of the soundman Charlie Martin. Not the warmest of humans(well, maybe not to snot nose young punks like me anyway) but, knowledgable and knew a good band when he saw them.

I believe Charlie handled some of the booking also, although I remember speaking to someone named Carol as well.

From the juke box:

Not from CB's but, what folks(well folks like me) looked like back then. When I get a chance I'll try to scan some ads from the Village Voice to post here. I got'em somewhere.

joeyr · Post by **joeyr** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 10:11 am

If being the stomping grounds for the Beatles had been the only credit of the Cavern, it would need no other, but... There is more, much more.

Artists who got their start at the Cavern:

Gerry and the Pacemakers
Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas
The Swingin' Blujeans
Rory Storm and the Hurricanes
The Escorts (featuring Terry Sylvester of the Hollies)
The Shadows
Lonnie Donegan (1957)
The Merseybeats
Cilla Black(who started as the cloakroom girl)
That's all I remember.

Bands who played "The Original" Cavern:

The Who (1965)
The Kinks (1965)
The Yardbirds (1966 or so)
Manfred Mann (1965)
The Rolling Stones (1963 or so)
R&B Singer Doris Troy (backed on piano by an unknown Reg Dwight).
Petula Clark
John Lee Hooker
Sonny Boy Williamson
Albert Lee
Gene Vincent

After The Cavern was "reopened" in the Eighties more groups played there including Oasis, Pete Best(back again with the Pete Best Band) and most recently Will Lee's Fab Faux.

I'm sure there are more; other members may remember more, but that's it for me.

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 12:47 pm

Don't forget the fabulous Paul McCartney solo act in 1999.

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 12:52 pm

All great reasons to keep a dive alive...but no listing of performers who've played CBGB's (or any other U.S. club) will be enough to keep the wrecking ball away...

Europeans have a better sense of history than Americans do, and there are lots of reasons for this. I never made it to Mardi Gras in 'old' New Orleans, which I'm very sad about. I hope like hell they can keep some of it intact, but I'm afraid it's gonna end up looking as "Epcot" as the new Baghdad they've got planned...

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 2:18 pm

Dane, you're in luck. The Fench Quarter was basically spared by Katrina. There are already bars re-opening there.

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 2:25 pm

Right on! Let's meet there for drinks...Are Tuesdays in February good for you?

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 1:21 am

Thanks Joe for the education. I needed that.

joeyr · Post by **joeyr** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 4:19 am

Any time, Marc.

Old guys gotta be good for somethin'

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 2:05 pm

As a non-native NY-er, I made my first and only trip to CBGBs about four months ago. I was surprised to see that two of the three bands were quite talented and pop (as opposed to punk) oriented. One was 60s influenced (or should I say New Wave?) and mod with at least one Rickenbacker in tow. When I was there, I wondered what these bands were thinking, why they'd even bother in a time when talent isn't rewarded by the music business. After I left, I wondered if it been easier had I seen three lame bands. That would have made it easier to accept the closing. I agree it's sad to see history wiped aside as it is in the U.S. Of course, no club other than the Cavern had a band associated with it that had the magnitude of the fabs. But it's sad nonetheless.