CBGB founder Hilly Kristal has passed away after a long battle with lung cancer. He gave an interesting and heartfelt interview recently, in which he is obviously aware that the final curtain is upon this part of his journey. Farewell.
The closing of CB’s was a sore spot for me for a lot of reasons- it’s an example of how NYC is dying to a cultural and artistic way of life chief among them- but, mostly because it was a great place to be. There is no place like it around today. It was an original.
Here’s a little sample of the energy that CB’s could generate. It’s terrible video, and not great sound, but the room was packed like this all the time. Straight Ahead (who some consider to be one of the greats from NYHC) performs “Knockdown” in 1986.
Anyone who can name the big bruiser in the background on the stage with the band (wearing a football jersey) gets special bonus points.
Related posts: