CBGB

CBGB was founded on the Bowery in New York City  in 1973 by  a man named Hilly Kristal. Originally, the space was meant for performances of Country Bluegrass Blues music, which explains the name CBGB. But later on, it became the home of street rock or Punk music. On with the name is OMFUG, which stands for Other Music For Uplifting Gourmandizers. Punk bands came out of CBGB, such as the Ramones, Blondie, Joan Jett and the Patti Smith Group.

The club was a very disgusting place. There were writings all over the wall, and the place just looked like a mess. Below are some photographs of the space.

CBGB closed in October 2006, with a final performance by Patti Smith. Today, CBGB produces free large concerts in Times Square and Central Park. The CBGB was added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Bowery Historic District.

Hilly Kristal only booked musicians that played their own music, and didn’t copy others. He felt that orginiality was number one, and technique was second.

There is  a CBGB movie, CBGB festival, and CBGB is looking to reopen soon as well.

CBGB is the place where Patti Smith first started to perform her music. She would go there all the time and it became a ritual. CBGB is where Patti unofficially created her band, the Patti Smith Group.

Sources:

CBGB & OMFUG Home of Underground Rock. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.cbgb.com