History Notes Special: CBGB Opens

On December 10, 1973, the CBGB Club (Country, BlueGrass, and Blues), opened in the lower eastside of New York City.

From the website – Founded on the Bowery in New York City by Hilly Kristal in 1973; CBGB was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles, but 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.

From the early 1980s until its later years, it would mainly become 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 with GnR’s Duff McKagan acting as an ambassador of the CBGB attitude all around the world.

The storefront and large space next door to the club served as the “CBGB Record Canteen” (record shop and café) for many years.

The club closed in October 2006.

The final concert was performed by Patti Smith on October 15. 

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