Lena Torres
CBGB, founded in 1973, was a legendary music venue that fostered new genres of American music, including punk and art rock, that defined the culture of downtown Manhattan in the 1970s. While CBGB became known for hardcore punk, post-punk, metal, and alternative rock, it also showcased other genres such as acoustic rock, folk, jazz, and experimental music. The venue served as a cultural incubator, hosting bands such as The Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, and Green Day, and influencing the birth of US punk. CBGB's unique location, history, and dedication to showcasing original music and unknown bands contributed to its iconic status in the music industry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 1973 |
| Founder | Hilly Kristal |
| Original music genres | Country, Bluegrass, Blues and Other Music For Uplifting Gourmandizers (OMFUG) |
| Location | 315 Bowery, Manhattan's East Village, New York City |
| Music genres | Punk, hardcore punk, post-punk, metal, alternative rock, art rock, new wave |
| Notable bands | The Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, Misfits, Television, Patti Smith Group, The Dead Boys, The Dictators, The Cramps, Joan Jett, Agnostic Front, Murphy's Law, Cro-Mags, Gorilla Biscuits, Sick of It All, Youth of Today, Sum 41, Korn, Green Day, Guns n Roses |
| Other notable mentions | Good sound system, cinder block walls, large bar, infamous toilets |
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What You'll Learn
CBGB's early days
CBGB was founded in 1973 by Hilly Kristal in the East Village in Manhattan, New York City. The club was previously a biker bar and a dive bar. Its full name, CBGB & OMFUG, stands for "Country, Bluegrass, Blues, and Other Music For Uplifting Gourmandizers". Kristal's original vision was for the club to host country, bluegrass, and blues music along with poetry readings.
However, the club's focus shifted when two locals, Bill Page and Rusty McKenna, convinced Kristal to let them book concerts in 1973 while the venue was still known as Hilly's. The collapse of the Mercer Arts Center in August 1973 also left many unsigned bands without a place to play original music, and several of these bands, including Suicide, The Fast, Jayne County, and the Magic Tramps, soon played at CBGB.
In its early days, CBGB became known as a forum for American punk and new wave bands like the Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, Misfits, Television, Patti Smith Group, The Dead Boys, and Joan Jett. The club was also closely associated with the birth of punk rock, with bands playing a style that was described as "street rock" and "come as you are and do your own thing" rock and roll.
The year 1975 was a particularly notable one for CBGB, with the Patti Smith Group making their debut at the club on February 14, 1975, and other bands such as Blondie and Ramones also arriving that year. During this time, CBGB was described as a place where people didn't mind "staggering drunks and stepping over a few bodies", and the focus was on discovering new artists, finding new bands, and spreading the word about them.
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CBGB's punk scene
CBGB, founded on the Bowery in New York City by Hilly Kristal in 1973, was a cultural incubator for new genres of American music, including punk and art rock. The venue was originally intended to feature its namesake genres of country, bluegrass, and blues but became a forum for punk and new wave bands.
The height of the Disco era brought an increasing dissatisfaction among rock musicians and their fans, with the formulaic nature of disco and the complexities of rock music at the time leading many rock enthusiasts to seek the refreshing rhythms and sounds of high-energy rock and roll, which took shape at CBGB. This music was initially called "street rock" before being renamed "punk".
CBGB hosted influential artists such as Patti Smith, Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, Misfits, and Television, who epitomized the punk sound and attitude. The Dead Boys, another band that played at CBGB, were loud, raw, crass, and had super high energy. They were outrageous and obscene, with excellent lyrics and music, and their bassist, Jeff Magnum, was noted for his disciplined musicianship.
The venue also featured bands that didn't play punk rock but helped lay its foundation, such as Squeeze and the Revelons, which included members who would go on to join punk bands. CBGB showcased a range of musical styles, from hardcore punk to alternative rock, and its influence extended beyond the East Village, with bands like Sum 41, Korn, Green Day, and Guns N' Roses becoming associated with the CBGB attitude.
The punk scene at CBGB was a community that exposed people to music that wasn't mainstream, fostering a "do your own thing" attitude that challenged the establishment. The venue's infamy spread, and it became a pilgrimage site for music fans, with its T-shirts becoming badges of honour.
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CBGB's rock scene
CBGB, founded on the Bowery in New York City by Hilly Kristal in 1973, was a cultural incubator that fostered new genres of American music, including punk and art rock, that defined the counterculture of downtown Manhattan in the 1970s. CBGB was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles—country, bluegrass, and blues—but it became a forum for American punk and new wave bands.
The Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, Misfits, Television, Patti Smith Group, The Dead Boys, The Dictators, The Cramps, and Joan Jett were among the bands that got their start in this tiny, graffiti-scarred, ground-floor sweatbox. Its stage was minuscule, its toilets hellish, but its bar was huge, and its clientele included legends-in-waiting.
The height of the Disco era brought an increasing dissatisfaction among rock musicians and their fans. The formulaic nature of disco music and the long drawn-out solos and other complexities in much of the rock of the late sixties and early seventies encouraged many disgruntled rock enthusiasts to seek the refreshing rhythms and sounds of simple, high-energy rock and roll, which seemed to take shape at CBGB. This music was called "street rock" and later "punk"—a "come as you are and do your own thing" style of rock and roll.
From the early 1980s until its later years, CBGB became mainly known for hardcore punk, with bands such as Agnostic Front, Murphy's Law, Cro-Mags, Gorilla Biscuits, Sick of It All, and Youth of Today becoming synonymous with the club. In the 1990s, CBGB became closely associated with bands like Sum 41, Korn, Green Day, and Guns N' Roses.
CBGB hosted some of rock's most crucial shows and served as a cultural incubator, fostering new genres of American music that still resonate today.
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CBGB's art rock scene
CBGB was a New York City music club founded in 1973 by Hilly Kristal in the East Village in Manhattan, New York City. The club was originally a biker bar and, before that, a dive bar. The name CBGB stands for Country, Bluegrass, and Blues, reflecting Kristal's original vision for the club. However, CBGB soon became a famed venue for punk rock and new wave bands, including the Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, and Patti Smith Group.
The art rock scene at CBGB was integral to the club's character and cultural significance. CBGB served as a cultural incubator, fostering new genres of American music that defined downtown Manhattan in the 1970s. The club provided a platform for bands that played art rock, a style that combined traditional and revolutionary elements, offering an escape from the mainstream rock of the time.
One of the pivotal bands in the CBGB art rock scene was Television. They were a New York band that embodied both the traditional and the revolutionary, with a unique sound and performance style. Their music was described as "chopped-down, hard-edged, no-bullshit rock and roll," devoid of the preening Mickey-Mouse decadence that characterised some other new wave bands. Tom Verlaine, the band's leader, was noted for his youth and imaginative approach to music.
Patti Smith, the "uncrowned Queen of CBGB," was another key figure in the art rock scene. She blended poetry with modern rock, creating an intense and captivating stage presence. Smith was introduced to CBGB by Richard Hell, who was the bassist for Television before leaving to form his own band, Richard Hell and the Voidoids.
In addition to Television and Patti Smith Group, other notable art rock acts associated with CBGB included Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Blondie, Talking Heads, Heartbreakers, and Suicide. These bands helped lay the foundation for the punk rock movement that CBGB became known for.
In the late 1980s, CBGB expanded by converting the adjacent storefront into an art gallery and a second performance space called "CB's 313 Gallery." This new space hosted music artists with milder sounds, such as acoustic rock, folk, jazz, and experimental music.
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CBGB's legacy
CBGB, founded on the Bowery in New York City by Hilly Kristal in 1973, was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles of country, bluegrass and blues. However, it became a forum for American punk and new wave bands like the Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, Misfits, Television, Patti Smith Group, The Dead Boys, The Dictators, The Cramps, and Joan Jett.
The club was instrumental in fostering new genres of American music, including punk and art rock, that defined the culture of downtown Manhattan in the 1970s and still resonate today. CBGB served as a cultural incubator, much like the theatres and concert halls of the Bowery's past. It provided a platform for unsigned bands to play original music, with acts like Suicide, The Fast, Ruby and the Rednecks, Jayne County, and the Magic Tramps taking the stage after the collapse of the Mercer Arts Center in 1973.
From the early 1980s, CBGB became predominantly associated with hardcore punk, with bands such as Agnostic Front, Murphy's Law, Cro-Mags, Gorilla Biscuits, Sick of It All, and Youth of Today. In the 1990s, the club continued to showcase hardcore punk, post-punk, metal, and alternative rock, while the adjacent "CB's 313 Gallery" hosted music artists of milder sounds, including acoustic rock, folk, jazz, and experimental music.
Despite closing its doors in 2006 due to rent disputes and lease expiration, CBGB remains a revered site for music fans, with its awning now residing in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. The club's impact on music and culture in downtown Manhattan is undeniable, and it continues to be remembered and celebrated through its musical legacy and cultural influence.
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Frequently asked questions
CBGB was a cultural incubator that fostered new genres of American music, including punk and art rock. In the 1980s, it became known for hardcore punk, with bands such as Agnostic Front, Murphy's Law, and Gorilla Biscuits. In the 1990s, it was closely associated with bands like Korn, Green Day, and Guns n Roses.
No, CBGB started as a country and bluegrass venue. The club's founder, Hilly, wanted to book musicians who played their own music instead of copying others. He also wanted to play "all kinds" of music, including country, blues, bluegrass, folk, and street rock.
CBGB hosted some of rock's most crucial shows. The Ramones made their first public appearance at CBGB, and other famous performances include those by Patti Smith, Blondie, Talking Heads, and The Police.
