In memorium
An article in todays New York Times caught my eye, and had me instantly thinking about my youth. The article, about the family fallout caused by the closing of famed rock club CBGB’s can be found here. This article also touched on the new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex in NYC that opened on Tuesday night, where elements fro CB’s can bee seen, including the iconic awning from 315 Bowery and the stickered phone booth from the club.
CBGB’s was an epic place to see a show, and i spent my fair share of time there, even if it wasn’t until the mid 90′s. My first photo ever published was shot there (embarrassingly enough, it was a shot of the Get Up Kids on their first US tour back in 95 or 96, published in Thrasher). I got to see some great bands in that place – Texas is the Reason, Lifetime, 108, Earth Crisis, and Farside, just to name a few. Below are some photos stolen from the New York Times website. enjoy.
Tom Verlaine of Television, one of, if not the first, bands to place CBGBs. photo Richard E. Aaron/Retna
The Ramones in 1977. photo Godlis
Closing night crowd outside. 2007. photo Ozier Muhammad
As famous as the awning outside, the bathroom was amazing. Historic and horrific. photo Scott Gries
CBs interior. photo Ozier Muhammad
And the saddest part, this is what 315 Bowery looks like now:
December 5th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
It is a sad state of affairs here in nyc. This place is just an gigantic shopping mall. I’ve lived here for 12 years now and I am ready to move on. However, I caught some of the best shows of my life a cbgb’s. Most notably would have to be the Jesus Lizard. Unphuckingbelievable!