CBGBs Goes Down in Musical History
A fond farewell to the CBGBs in the 80s, the 70s and beyond
While the letters for CBGB stood for Country, Bluegrass and Blues, during the 80s, it was bands like Bad Brains that kept the venue on a direct path to punk and rock.
This week, New York City’s pantheon of live rock n’ roll, CBGB’s closed its hallowed doors for good. With a who’s who of rock music legends, the venue had become as famous as the musical artists who graced its tiny stage, the closure truly marking the end of an era which had ushered in the 33 years of amps, sound checks, musical history and other stories untold.
Located in the heart of New York City’s seedy Bowery district, it was hardcore punk bands like Bad Brains that followed the legacy of The Talking Heads, The Ramones, Blondie and Patti Smith in the 70’s to keep the venue alive and edgy during the ultra- mod 80s.The Brains have gone down in CBGB history for their now infamous performance on Christmas 1982, where they rocked out and landed a regular spot on the CBGB schedule, a defining moment for black punk rock and an affirmation of the venue’s spot in the collective heart of punk rock music. Bad Brains were regulars at the CBGB punk rock matinee series throughout the decade, which was eventually stopped due to continued acts of violence at and after the show.
The letters for CBGB stand for Country, Bluegrass and Blues; genres that were not particularly widespread for gritty New York City – a fact that still rings true for most of the East Coast music scene today. However, CBGB’s soon took on the moniker of Other Music for Uplifting Gormandizers(OMFUG), a nod to punk prowess as bands like They Might Be Giants, Crumbsuckers, and D.R.I. would go on to record their live CBGB sets in a series, marking the venue’s role in helping to take punk music to new heights. When it opened its doors in the shady location, it is not likely that Hilly Krystal, who plans on moving the club to Vegas in light of the New York closure, had the faintest idea that it would become the mecca of the punk-music era it is.
Despite the closure, CBGB’s and its musical ancestors created an unforgettable hot bed of hard rock, putting Gotham City smack dab in the middle of the international musical map.
