Doors Close at CBGB

Last night was the final one at CBGB, the (now even more) legendary venue shut it's doors for good sometime after 1am. For a ton of coverage on the last couple of nights there, check out Brooklyn Vegan. Bad Brains was one of the last bands to take the stage, a short video of that is below, and we expect a lot more video (of the last nights with Patti Smith, Debbie Harry, et al) will be showing up as the day goes on.

Richard Hell (ex-Television) told the NY Times that “CBGB’s is going to be dismantled and reconstructed as an exhibit in Las Vegas, like Elvis. I like that. A lot. I really hope it happens as intended.” Television's performances at CBGB helped start punk and inspired artists like Patti Smith (who actually wrote the first press review of the band for the Soho Weekly News in 1974).

Love the club or hate it, it's a part of the history of this city, and it's sort of a shame they aren't going to reconstruct the stage in another location here.

Update: Here's a clip of Debbie Harry singing "Heart of Glass" at CBGB. And they have already taken the awning down!

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By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on October 16, 2006 2:02 PM

Comments [rss]

natasha

I had a punk clothing store on St.Marks Pl.NYC in the late 70’s & 80’s. I did clothing for Blondie made Joey Ramones leather jacket, among others, I was a regular at CBGB's. I have just resurrected my look with a new website, www.natashanyc.com and I want to link up with as many punk sites that I can.

Natasha

otherobject

Jerky-you and I are totally on the same page. The worst shows I've ever seen were all at CBGBs and I'm not sorry in the least to see that place go. I think it is very telling to read that the next location for CBGBs is going to be in Las Vegas.

Jerky

Am I the only New Yorker who thought CBGB's has sucked a** for at least the last 15 years?? Really, could anyone devise a worse place 1) to play 2) to see a band or 3) to drink. It always seemed like they were more interested in selling t-shirts than actually being a music venue.

CBGB goes to Hell

Thank you commenters for mentioning Richard Hell. I'm sick to death of the Ramones, Blondie and the Talking Heads getting all the credit for starting the CBGB's legend. Verlaine and Hell should be getting the notoriety for starting it all.

Bubba

or Tom Verlaine as ex-Neon Boys.

a

agreed.

b

Footnoting Richard Hell as "ex-Television" is like referring to Bill Clinton as merely the former governor of Arkansas.

Perhaps (self) promotion is more of your forte.