Saving CBGB's

CBGB's our beloved punk rock landmark will see its current lease expire on August 31st. While its reputation has been unrivaled for many years once again we are up against the evil real estate empire. I had the experience of living in NYC in the late 80's and happened to frequent the club often. I was working for a music video distribution company at the time that produced compilation reels comprised of several indie label and underground bands. I had just graduated from college and after 2 years in Portsmouth couldn't wait to get out again. I sold my Guild S100 that I had dragged with me on previous moves to Santa Barbara CA and London England, where I went to college and decided that if I hadn't "done" anything with it by now I never would. So I promptly decided to sell it the day before I left for NY for a lousy $180. Of course as soon as I got to the city the only job I could fathom had to be music related, and not some glorified secretary type thing at that. My job was amazing. The video boom was in full flight and the whole concept of superimposing logos onto the screen had just started to be utilized. Yeah, that annoying little icon thing that we all wish would go away when we watch TV. I had the great fortune of meeting tons of musicians, attending CD and video releases, club openings, premiers, music conventions and private parties. Of all the pretentious bullshit that exists, I can still say that CBGB's is true to its soul. You go there because you want to feel the real thing, the down and dirty raw feeling that the only the most gut level true music can bring. Yes its true about the bathroom, unfortunately I can speak from personal experience. Who would have thought that it would now after all these years and countless precious shows taken its place in true American music history be threatened to cease to exist. Yeah they have talked about moving it, yes the very landlord opposing in court met his wife there on his first date with her. The latest is that they will not be evicted. Lets just hope that all of the positive that the place has done remains at the forefront of the issue. It was still a nasty part of town when I lived there and now its all up and coming and in demand with posh this that and the other thing all around it. That was just a matter of time and the whole Lower East Side has become something very different than it was. New York isn't exactly a rock and roll town. So at least let there be a few clubs that are open to bands and musicians so that those that want to play there and the fans that want to listen have somewhere to go. I just wanted to add that I did meet Hilly then and now, and after reading the posts on the AOL message board some people really don't get it.
I saw him some twenty years later with his woman at an Iggy Pop show in Boston selling their merch. How many people do you know in their 70's that are touring around supporting their friends music and themselves by lugging their shit around if they've been so successful and made so much money? Really!