NY Punk Venue CBGB Faces Closure Over Unpaid Rent

Reuters via yahoo ^ | Mon Mar 7, 4:20 PM ET

[itsamelman]

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[angkor]

Oh, the memories of schlepping across the Bowery at 2:00AM after a night at CBGB.

What were we thinking?

[dirtboy]

Club owner Hilly Kristal said the dispute dated from 2001,

Funny, that also is the last time they cleaned the men's room.

[lightingguy]

Having taken bands into CB's I can say that while it may be an institution, it is a real hole. They were good times though.

[ChadGore]

Re: What were we thinking?

The same thing we were thinking at 3 A.M. . . "Duuuuude"

Ahhh youth is waisted on the young :)

[t_skoz]

sweet post. thanks!

[Dad yer funny]

Follow the money,...smell those dollar$$zzz,...The Bowery is vanishing

[itsamelman]

Never been there myself, having lived in the the L.A. area all my life, but I've seen pics and video. I think I'd let my bladder burst before I ventured into that bathroom. And I've heard of couples getting it on in there, including, I think, Debbie Harry and Chris Stein.

I think the closest we may have had in L.A. was Al's Bar downtown.

[Gabz]

What were we thinking?

Indeed.

This sure brings back memories.........those that I can remember, anyway......LOL

[RepoGirl]

Sigh...

Being a Florida girl who was just a little too young for the original scene up there, I could only dream of CBGBs as if it were some far off Holy land... but, we did have the Cameo Theater in South Miami Beach in the mid-80s.

Before the SoBe craze in the 90s, it was a pretty wonderful and ratty place.

Any freepers who want to share their memories, feel free to freepmail me... I must live vicariously...

[PRND21]

Paying rent is soooo un-punk.

[jmc813]

What a shame. The Wetlands closing a few years ago and now this. NY is losing the great clubs fast.

[dennisw]

CBGB's heyday was long ago. I've driven past it and they sit on primo NYC real estate. Meaning it needs to be converted into some narcissistic boutique or cell phone store. (/sarcasm)

[dennisw]

I went to the Café Au Go Go which was much better and earlier. So was Max's which I never got to.

1966: Bruce Springsteen
Plays at Café Au Go Go

[GSWarrior]

I've only been to one rock club in NYC--the Lakeside Lounge.

[agrace]

It certainly was a hole, no doubt still is - I doubt Kristal spent that rent money on renovations. A fun hole, for us young irresponsible idiots who stayed out half the night partying, bringing home a full meal from Arby's or White Castle afterward (my stomach hurts just thinking about it), but a hole nonetheless, a small, long, narrow one at that. I remember walking into it for the first time and saying "THIS is the legendary CBGB's???"

[The Toll]

That's funny. I have played CB's and Al's several times. Comparing the two is fun. The truth is CBGB's is the best sounding dive I have ever seen. The acoustics are great and the since of history makes you feel like every gig could be something special. The great thing is that it actually could be the start of something. The contacts we made there helped me for years to come.
Al's on the other hand is a great place to get that Bukowski LA vibe going. The blocks around it are not as scarry as the Bowery can get but you are actually in more real danger. Playing Al's will do nothing for your career but it is a must do for anyone that thinks they're hard.

[JerseyHighlander]

CBGB's was the first club I got booted from, at age 17. Broke a finger that night too, but don't remember how. Do remember Jesus Lizard.

[wtc911]

OMFUG!