In truth you could just put a Port-O-Potty in any alley in NYC and invite anyone who could make noise on a music instrument to play and resurrect CBGB's "atmosphere." Spent many a night there from '75 to '81.
In January of 1989 I was in a band called White Trash Debutantes that was asked to play Joey Ramones Birthday bash at the Ritz. So we booked a gig a few days earlier at CBGB’s. We had gotten the Ritz gig because our singer had been a close friend of the Ramones since their first national tour in 1976. About 15 minutes before we went on the front doors opened. And in walked Joey Ramone, Stiv Bator and Cheetah Chrome from the Dead Boys, and Clem Burke from Blondie. Needless to say I was in CBGB heaven. I still have Stiv And Cheatah’s autographs on my guitar from that night. About 12 years later I became friends with Scott Kempner of the Dictators. And he would tell me stories of their early tours with AC/DC, Thin Lizzie, and Blue Oyster Cult. I remember him telling me of that CBGB’s AC/DC gig you listed here. At the time we played there I was working at a venue called the Chatterbox in San Francisco. And that night I traded my Chatterbox t-shirt to one of the bartenders in exchange for her CBGBs t-shirts. I still have that CBGB’s shirt. It’s one of my prized possessions.
I played in a band called the Psychofonics. We never put out any records but we played at CBGB four times in the years 1985 and 1986. I recall that one gig we warmed up for a band called "Life In A Blender." It was a blast and a thrill to perform on the same stage as Blondie, Talking Heads, and The Ramones. One thing that people may not know about CBGB is that it had an excellent sound system. For five dollars the sound man would make a cassette copy of your set. The quality of a CBGB live recording was better than most studio recordings.
Wow, make you wonder why any punk/Rockn’roll/garage band, would sign with a soul sucking record label that would take the multi-thousand dollar studio fees out of the band’s royalties, when for 5 bucks you could get a studio quality live recording and sell on your own record label? Cool info to know
I saw Wendy O. Williams and the Plasmatics. Wendy was wearing whipped cream or shaving foam for a top and the guitarist or bassist was wearing a nurse's dress. Many of my friends auditioned there as well.
I remember seeing Ritchie Shotts on a NYC bus once with his blue mohawk haircut, no dress. Saw them at the Pier in NYC when Wendy smashed up the Police car with a sledge hammer ⚒️. Also in a bar on Staten Island called The Factory.
Saw Wendy and the Plasmatics at "My Father's Place" in 1980. W.O.W wore 3 pieces of black electrical tape (strategically placed), and they cut a live guitar in half with a REAL chainsaw! Holy Shit!
Besides CBs and Max's NYC had a plethora of places to go see bands back then. Irving Plaza, the Ritz, A7, the World, the Pyramid, Danceteria, Rock Hotel, Studio 54, Wetlands, the Continental. The scene was an incubator of talent
Tommy was already in the Ramones when they first played CBGB. On January 28, 1974, Joey, Dee Dee, Johnny, and Tommy Ramone first got together at Performance Studios in NYC.
My father was a staple at this venue he recorded on cassette tape hundreds if not thousands of bands...I'm pretty sure he taped every Patty Smith show there as well as many many others..His name was Jim Brawley...some of his tapes are in the Rock n roll hall of fame...I went with him a few times it was crazy...johnny thunder and the heartbreakers .Chinese Rocks....lol
@@rocdocs No he did not like bootleggers...and all the bands knew that and that was why he was allowed to record....he usually gave copies to the bands....but I would not doubt that some of them released those recordings as live stuff....
@@sgtrock6213 : When I did live recordings, I did the exact same thing. I'm thanked in several bands CDs and every once in a while one of them will come back to me to ask if I still had copies because they had lost their copy, and in most cases bands have disbanded or changed members. But creating bootlegs kills me, the music never belonged to me but the bands and they could do whatever they wanted with my recordings.
@@James-wj8eq Yeah! Suicide had just come back to CBGB after being banned since 1972 for not drinking. It was their first proper show their. They opened for the Ramones and they played to..uh..loud boos and violent animosity from the crowd! In other words, they nailed it ;)
I started going to CB''s around '75. I saw Patti there when she recited her poetry with a music background, usually Lenny K on guitar, Richard Sohl on keyboards, and Jay Dee Daugherty on drums (he was at that time the regular drummer with Lance Loud's group The Mumps but left for Patti's band soon after). Patti's readings were PACKED and she was just amazing. I spent many a night at CB's between '75 & '80. Fun times.
Other notable 70s shows at CBGB include those from the revolutionary synth duo Suicide, but I hesitate to list them because even tho they would be very influential to all future punk/rock/electronic groups, they were extremely polarizing, and really, they were always more of a Max’s Kansas City act.
Loved, loved, loved CBGBs. Played and went there more times than I can count. Always a great time and saw some legends play there. There will never be another like it.
I played in a band which opened for some punk/new wave bands in 1980. The place was in a bad part of town (at the time) and was a dive. All I remember is one of the Ramones was there and did lines off my synth road case. And yeah... when we played there were like 15 people in the bar... maybe 25 by the time we finished. And getting back to where we stayed near NYU at midnight was an adventure.
My introduction to the 1974 'NY ' scene goes back to a lonely xerox poster pasted to a wall on the east side of 2nd Avenue somewhere between 1st and 3rd streets. It was April, 1974 and I'd been walking to an 'appointment' nearby and spotted the minimalist poster that said: "TELEVISION IS THE BEST BAND IN NYC" and 'signed' by DAVID BOWIE as it advertised their gig at CBGB. I guessed that the Bowie claim was all hype but I admired the hutzpah of the band and artist that made that poster so I kept my eyes open for the club and gigs! I was not disappointed and became a fan of Richard Hell's persona as a self-invented punk creation. I never expected everything that followed. I'd already been through the euphoria, depression and death of 1971-1973 NY glam scene that centered around the NY Dolls and the Mercer Arts Center and later Max's Kansas City. Why did punk succeed and the Dolls fail? The Dolls were "Too Much Too Soon" but when the new NY scene arrived it reflected the distrust, depression and anger that many had toward society and its institutions. It allowed people to vent that anger and mistrust. And, It did not follow the rock star mode that embodied the glam scene. It was real and approachable. Anyone could do it, anyone could play a guitar, write songs and sing them. And, that's exactly what happened. Tom Gargiulo
I worked there as a roadie for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in, I think the fall of 1976. Later that night Johnny Thunders gave Benmont Tench some smart remark at another club about his band being the “real” Heartbreakers. Benmont punched him out.
I was almost a permanent fixture there between 1974 & 1986. Played there 4 times it was awesome so Sereal. Had to leave town got into some trouble! oops When I heard they were shutting down I flew in for the last night from London. It was outstanding!!! to this day I still miss it and dream about CBGB.
I was at the last Joey Ramone Christmas show at CBGB's with special guests Ronnie Spector, Dick Manitoba, and The Independents. Great show. I took a lot of personal photos of that show. I was there with my late friend David Peel. I was also performing with David Peel and The Lower East Side at a John Lennon Birthday show at CBGB's. There's a You tube video of that event. Another favorite show for me at CBGB's was The Star Spangles. Great Band!
I went the first time at just before 14. Used a BMX racing ID to make myself 15. Went to the HC matinees every sunday deom 83 to 86. Nothing like it ever. Hilly -!: karen. The alligator. I have seen thousands of bands but nothing beats a show at CBs. Changed my life and made me what I am. Thank you Hilly.
My band Still Life on Mars played there on 8.9.98 along with 3 other bands. We played 9 songs as one of the rare female fronted industrial metal bands at the time. It was exhilarating and the other bands were from all over the country (we were from Philly) and we all exchanged CDs. It was exciting seeing the stickers on the walls of all the other bands and the legends that played there. Wonder if ours is still there?
Unfortunately the place has been renovated. There is a museum recreation of the space and I wonder if they brought in the actual walls. In which case maybe
I'm 45 years old. My CB's visitation started in 92 at a Sick Of It All show. Many other shows over the years. I wanna say the last show I saw there was Hatebreed, 25 Ta Life & Crown Of Thorns maybe? Saw Merauder at the Wetlands later that same day. This was maybe 1995?
I consider the two shows I played at CBGB, with Richmond, VA-based Mudd Helmutt, the highlight of my musical "career". The first time was, I think, on a Tuesday, and we didn't go on until around four in the morning and played to an almost empty room. However, the second time we got to play right before the headliners, the Lunachicks, and the room filled up during our set. It was fucking awesome! Sin and Gina let us use their silver Marshall stacks, and we went over quite well. Years later I played in the band of another CBGB alumnus: Sonny Vincent of Testors. That was when he lived in Minneapolis, though, and we didn't make it to New York. I don't remember a lot about the place, but I do remember that it smelled like piss.
After the first wave of bands got signed 76-78 CBGB’s was less relevant and everyone went to the new dance clubs Hurrah, Ritz, Peppermint Lounge, Mudd Club etc. In fact from 1980 onwards CBGB was the place not to be seen in. Then came the wave of kids from the suburbs and the hardcore scene. The early crowd no longer went and it became a nostalgia touchstone as indicated by the guy discussing the Beastie Boys.
"Pioneering UK punk missionaries The Damned.played a weekend residency at CBGB in 1977...some say this was the proper birth of punk rock in America." And still playing today. This is how it's done.
Correction--still playing live AND releasing new studio albums! "Darkadelic", Damned studio album #12 (April 28, 2023), featuring the new single "The Invisible Man" (February 3, 2023).
How are The Damned "pioneers" when Patti Smith, Television & The Ramones had em beat by 2, 3 years? When The Ramones played London in the Summer of '76, future members of The Clash & The Damned were in the audience & were galvanized. NYC didn't need lessons on pioneering punk from sleepy London town... in fact it's the other way around... 🦃🤔🦃
@@mightyturkeyneck3498 1st UK punk single, 1st UK punk album, 1st UK punk band to play in the States. And they openly owed more to the Stooges and the MC5 than any of the NYC bands, although they liked the Ramones' speedy tempos. The Damned were loud, fun, funny, fast, and outrageous, and rocked like hell. Is there a problem?
@@JseviaF , is there a problem you ask? Well The Ramones formed in 74, toured the UK in 76, inspired hack bands like The Damned who by your own admission played the US in 77. So no, there isn't any problem. Just need to get your timetable right. Nice try though troll.
I went to one show I remember as a kid in the mid 1980s - I was maybe 8 years old and my mother's friends' band was playing that night. I remember they let a dog and a kid hang out in the bar and I thought that was the coolest shit ever! Now 46 - can't tell you a single band that performed that night, but I can tell you I had a blast and they fed me free coca-cola all night... :) also fun sidenote for the channel owner: if you've ever seen the Talking Giant video compilation on VHS by the Talking Heads - I'm the kid with the 'naked' dream in it...Daniel Byrne is cool af!
Spent a night partying with The Cramps in 97! Amazing crazy night!! Thanks Ken (KJ) for throwing an AMAZING party!! Was The Cramps, Supersuckers, and Amazing Royal Crowns. Tattoo Shop 1st Anniversary Bash!!
Not puck rock in anyway but I saw living color there between their gigs opening for the Stones at Shea stadium. They were playing under an assumed name and played a ton of their second album just before it was released. It was really cool.
Fred smith in angel and the snake/ blondie was Fred smith from the band television Not Fred sonic Smith from the MC5 like you had in the picture. Two different guy’s with the same name
Actually Patti Smith played that Sunday which was the actual main night they we're closing but my band exit 53 and a band called preamorte played that Monday and that was the last time that were they were open
I was with three bands from Syracuse, NY that played there on 4th of July in 1996. Each band had at least one member that was in each of the other bands: Dracula Jones/The Ghost Monkeys/The Electric Chick Magnets. I think 2 other local bands played as well. A lot of fun, and we managed to record it off the sound board. I even got to sing on one of the songs which to me is a memory I'll always have, as that was the first & only time I'd ever been there. I also remember all the graffiti in the bathroom.
Building just past ‘ Palace Hotel ‘ was stalwart immortal NY- NJ Cover-Band stop . Your managers of bands like The Ratts, sent you there ( for actual pay… )
I tried to get tix for that Patti Smith show to close CBs but they sold out in seconds. My last time there was for the final hardcore matinee just a few days earlier.
There's an insane pic of Iggy and Bon Scott together there and Iggy is covered head to toe in multi colours of spray paint. Like, off his head. It's hilarious! And I mean head to toe, all his face, everything! Worth a google.
Thats awesome. On a trip from Austraia we hunted down CBGBs in 2014. Think its a clothing store now, or was. The owners let us wander around and take photos.
Saw about 60 shows at CBGB through the 80s .... but my only claim to fame was taking a crap on the Throne while everyone else went about their business ... to give the uninitiated an idea, there was no door, just a supremely nasty toilet used more to throw spent needles down, but when ya gotta go, ya gotta go. Perhaps my favorite gig was the Meat Puppets, in between their first (super fast) album, and their second slower release .... the slam circle was full on during the first few fast songs ... and then without missing a beat, went into slow motion during the slow songs-literal slow motion-all the same steps and elbows, but slowed down to match the tempo. Surreal, and everyone was having fun.
@@rocdocs yeah my buddy was into them when I was in 7th grade I remember. Lol . Brain Dead Baby is actually a great tune. Scott, the lead singer, would come to the stage with a briefcase containing only a bottle of vodka. 🤣
Don't remember the dates or even the years but I played CB's with Cellmates and WW3 with Frank Infante who then joined Blondie. We were all from Jersey City.
@@rocdocs Unfortunately no. Now everyone carries a camera, back then hardly anyone had one. The Cellmates had one song on one of the Max's compilation albums.
Only trip to New York was in '86. Went to visit a gal. On the plane I read a Rolling Stone and they talked about the The Police shows at The CBGB. Although it was close at the time. I talked the dude into letting me go in and look around. I had to at least say I have been there.
So, I'm reading Legs McNeil's book Please Kill Me, and I'm literally in the middle section when CBGBs blew up with Television & the Ramones, and this video gets suggested by TH-cam ... how TF do they know ? weird
Went to aee the UK Subs... October 2001... A heavy and somber feeling in the air... A unique time to visit NY .. Show was fun, folks treated ua well, Your from California huh?... Yeah... Apparently I have a look... And "vocal style" that is identifiable as Southern California... Oi Oi Oi From Orange County
I saw many shows at CBGB's... always showed support for the Dead Boys. I was outside the Palace Hotel before one show when Cheetah got punched in the mouth. Ah, the good old days!
* Mofungo, Milk and Cookies, Wayne County..Lenny Kaye was so frigging rude to me in CBGBs. I was only 18, and I had summoned up the courage to introduce myself. To me, at that age, he was a REAL Rock Star, in my opinion.
I wish to heck that I was old enough to be there for that first Police show in the USA at the CBGB! Ugh. My sister used to live around the corner from the CBGB but I never went there, figuring it would still be around to this day, but... live and learn.
I thought a band called Testors, might have been mentioned in this? I joined a band called Sonny Vincent and the Extreme. Sonny was in the Testors. Met a female while on a tour with the Dead Boys. Moved here to be with her. I did play one show at CBGB’s. With Sonny Vincent and the Extreme on our only real tour. After my drums were set up, I was walking around back stage and noticed what looked like 2 lockers from a school. I was curious so I looked in one then the other, they were both full top to bottom with Crown Power Amps. I can confirm the monitor mix sounded great!
Proud to have went to CBGB in June of 2003. I have pictures of the inside if I really look for them and could not tell you the shitty band I saw (I think my ex stole my ticket stub when he moved out and stole my pants) but would love to share the pics when I find them.
First band I saw there was The Cramps. Hardcore matinee's were the best early 80's, Saw many many bands from 77 to 88. Blitz show with Corpes Grinders, Dead Boys ect. Kraut, Murphys Law, UK Subs, Heartbreakers to name a few. I miss that joint and that era.
I lived in DC during this time, and lived in a house where we hosted the Bad Brains in our living room when they couldn't find gigs elsewhere in town. Those were interesting days. I too was looking for a Bad Brains mention here...
I played in Temple of Greed out of New Orleans. In 1987 we showed up at CBGB and went in and setup our equipment, played 5 songs and left. We didn't have a scheduled gig and no one asked any questions. 5 people were there. It was a hoot. After our quick set we went to another bar that we had a gig at.
@@toothbrush5190 My ears rang worse than the Dead Boys show i saw at CB'S right after Elvis died-when Plasmatics played in a theater here in Scranton! I was in the Balcony back room too!
...the challenge would have been getting Wendy O's 8k timbre across to the crowd...fyi (I assisted an A-lister soundman in Canada, & had a band called Silent 80's)
I played CBGB's in the 1970's and '80's in two bands that I founded, Comateens and Dizzy and the Romilars. By day, I worked as a recording engineer with Talking Heads and Ramones. In fact, I am little Ramona, about whom the Ramones wrote their song, Ramona. I also worked extensively with Eno and played on Music for Films, Alternative-3. Never heard Max's referred to as Maxwell's Kansas City until I watched this video. Oh, and I played Max's, too.
Best sound system hands down. Crazy hardcore shows inside crazy shit going on outside on the block. The Bowery late 80’smid90’s. Great time in my life. CB’s RIP
I played both CBs and Max's from 1980-1981 with my old band, The Kelvins (our single, "Dance Dance Dance" b/w "Look but Don't Touch is on TH-cam). The second most exciting moment of my life was when my bass player called me and got me out of bed one night to tell me we were playing our first gig ever at CBs for the Sunday audition showcase. That was an even bigger deal for me because it was my first club gig ever; I was eighteen at the time.
LOOKING FOR BAD BRAINS? PLASMATICS? ETC? Part 2: th-cam.com/video/rpqzE1oi5WI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=GvbpO7ifuV8FkZTC
CBGB deserved the same respect as the whiskey a go go .. the fact it wasn't preserved is criminal
Even worse, the "reopend" it in Vegs.
New York aint very sentimental 🤣
@@eatassonthefirstdate very true
In truth you could just put a Port-O-Potty in any alley in NYC and invite anyone who could make noise on a music instrument to play and resurrect CBGB's "atmosphere." Spent many a night there from '75 to '81.
It was much easier to get a gig at CBs, than the Whiskey. Basically, any sort of functional band could get a slot at CBs.
In January of 1989 I was in a band called White Trash Debutantes that was asked to play Joey Ramones Birthday bash at the Ritz. So we booked a gig a few days earlier at CBGB’s. We had gotten the Ritz gig because our singer had been a close friend of the Ramones since their first national tour in 1976. About 15 minutes before we went on the front doors opened. And in walked Joey Ramone, Stiv Bator and Cheetah Chrome from the Dead Boys, and Clem Burke from Blondie. Needless to say I was in CBGB heaven. I still have Stiv And Cheatah’s autographs on my guitar from that night. About 12 years later I became friends with Scott Kempner of the Dictators. And he would tell me stories of their early tours with AC/DC, Thin Lizzie, and Blue Oyster Cult. I remember him telling me of that CBGB’s AC/DC gig you listed here. At the time we played there I was working at a venue called the Chatterbox in San Francisco. And that night I traded my Chatterbox t-shirt to one of the bartenders in exchange for her CBGBs t-shirts. I still have that CBGB’s shirt. It’s one of my prized possessions.
I remermber you song Ms jane from The unpunk album. Cool song. Cheers!!
I played in a band called the Psychofonics. We never put out any records but we played at CBGB four times in the years 1985 and 1986. I recall that one gig we warmed up for a band called "Life In A Blender." It was a blast and a thrill to perform on the same stage as Blondie, Talking Heads, and The Ramones. One thing that people may not know about CBGB is that it had an excellent sound system. For five dollars the sound man would make a cassette copy of your set. The quality of a CBGB live recording was better than most studio recordings.
Wow that’s cool, I didn’t know that
I wish I could say that man! Very cool!
I now your band and i never been at the CBGB hahaha big hug
Wow, make you wonder why any punk/Rockn’roll/garage band, would sign with a soul sucking record label that would take the multi-thousand dollar studio fees out of the band’s royalties, when for 5 bucks you could get a studio quality live recording and sell on your own record label? Cool info to know
Yeah the sound system was badass and the sound guy was brilliant, we all got tapes and I transfered them to digital years later and it's great quality
I saw Wendy O. Williams and the Plasmatics. Wendy was wearing whipped cream or shaving foam for a top and the guitarist or bassist was wearing a nurse's dress. Many of my friends auditioned there as well.
That would be Richie Stotts in the nurse's dress
Saw her New Year's Eve 1979 at Hurrah!
I remember seeing Ritchie Shotts on a NYC bus once with his blue mohawk haircut, no dress. Saw them at the Pier in NYC when Wendy smashed up the Police car with a sledge hammer ⚒️. Also in a bar on Staten Island called The Factory.
@@johnsain Hurrah was awesome
Saw Wendy and the Plasmatics at "My Father's Place" in 1980. W.O.W wore 3 pieces of black electrical tape (strategically placed), and they cut a live guitar in half with a REAL chainsaw! Holy Shit!
I played CBGBs with four different bands between 1977 to 1989. Hilly put my band Murphys Law on Halloween four years running
A legend has entered the chat. Thank you for commenting!!!!
Always wished I had seen Murphy's Law. We had our own little CBGS in Lawrence, KS. The Outhouse. Saw a ton of amazing shows there growing up.
Besides CBs and Max's NYC had a plethora of places to go see bands back then. Irving Plaza, the Ritz, A7, the World, the Pyramid, Danceteria, Rock Hotel, Studio 54, Wetlands, the Continental. The scene was an incubator of talent
I saw Murphy's Law open for 999 and once for the Beastie Boys
Murphys Law? Like THAT Murphys Law? Dude, that's awesome!
I went to CBGB's for New Year's Eve in 1979. Saw The The, Kinky Friedman and John Cale. An amazing show.
Yeah, John Cale was known for his outrageous shows arround that time, until he sobered up in the mid 80s.
Can't forget some of the great hardcore bands like Bad Brains, Agnostic Front, Cromags, and Murphys Law.
Watch for your comment in part 2
One of the Murphy’s Law guys left a comment on this video.
Tommy was already in the Ramones when they first played CBGB. On January 28, 1974, Joey, Dee Dee, Johnny, and Tommy Ramone first got together at Performance Studios in NYC.
My father was a staple at this venue he recorded on cassette tape hundreds if not thousands of bands...I'm pretty sure he taped every Patty Smith show there as well as many many others..His name was Jim Brawley...some of his tapes are in the Rock n roll hall of fame...I went with him a few times it was crazy...johnny thunder and the heartbreakers .Chinese Rocks....lol
Wow that’s incredible! Did he ever release any of the show recordings?
@@rocdocs No he did not like bootleggers...and all the bands knew that and that was why he was allowed to record....he usually gave copies to the bands....but I would not doubt that some of them released those recordings as live stuff....
@@sgtrock6213 : When I did live recordings, I did the exact same thing. I'm thanked in several bands CDs and every once in a while one of them will come back to me to ask if I still had copies because they had lost their copy, and in most cases bands have disbanded or changed members. But creating bootlegs kills me, the music never belonged to me but the bands and they could do whatever they wanted with my recordings.
@@waynebrissette9459 Its the honorable thing to do and I applaud you for that...did you record in NYC?
@@sgtrock6213 :No, Austin TX mostly.
Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Suicide both formidable live acts. To this day, my best live experiences ever!
Thanks James!
If I remember correctly, it was a long time ago, I saw Suicide and the Runaways open up for the Ramones at the Palladium.
@Matthew Giuliano Jeezo! That would've been a great gig man! I wish I'd had the chance to witness the Runaways, legendary!
@@James-wj8eq Yeah! Suicide had just come back to CBGB after being banned since 1972 for not drinking. It was their first proper show their. They opened for the Ramones and they played to..uh..loud boos and violent animosity from the crowd! In other words, they nailed it ;)
I started going to CB''s around '75. I saw Patti there when she recited her poetry with a music background, usually Lenny K on guitar, Richard Sohl on keyboards, and Jay Dee Daugherty on drums (he was at that time the regular drummer with Lance Loud's group The Mumps but left for Patti's band soon after). Patti's readings were PACKED and she was just amazing. I spent many a night at CB's between '75 & '80. Fun times.
Other notable 70s shows at CBGB include those from the revolutionary synth duo Suicide, but I hesitate to list them because even tho they would be very influential to all future punk/rock/electronic groups, they were extremely polarizing, and really, they were always more of a Max’s Kansas City act.
Loved, loved, loved CBGBs. Played and went there more times than I can count. Always a great time and saw some legends play there. There will never be another like it.
I played in a band which opened for some punk/new wave bands in 1980. The place was in a bad part of town (at the time) and was a dive. All I remember is one of the Ramones was there and did lines off my synth road case. And yeah... when we played there were like 15 people in the bar... maybe 25 by the time we finished. And getting back to where we stayed near NYU at midnight was an adventure.
Can we connect? I want to ask about this!
My introduction to the 1974 'NY ' scene goes back to a lonely xerox poster pasted to a wall on the east side of 2nd Avenue somewhere between 1st and 3rd streets. It was April, 1974 and I'd been walking to an 'appointment' nearby and spotted the minimalist poster that said: "TELEVISION IS THE BEST BAND IN NYC" and 'signed' by DAVID BOWIE as it advertised their gig at CBGB. I guessed that the Bowie claim was all hype but I admired the hutzpah of the band and artist that made that poster so I kept my eyes open for the club and gigs! I was not disappointed and became a fan of Richard Hell's persona as a self-invented punk creation. I never expected everything that followed. I'd already been through the euphoria, depression and death of 1971-1973 NY glam scene that centered around the NY Dolls and the Mercer Arts Center and later Max's Kansas City. Why did punk succeed and the Dolls fail? The Dolls were "Too Much Too Soon" but when the new NY scene arrived it reflected the distrust, depression and anger that many had toward society and its institutions. It allowed people to vent that anger and mistrust. And, It did not follow the rock star mode that embodied the glam scene. It was real and approachable. Anyone could do it, anyone could play a guitar, write songs and sing them. And, that's exactly what happened. Tom Gargiulo
Tom- what a great comment! Thanks so much for posting your experience. I appreciate you watching and taking the time to share so thoughtfully.
My band played there many times and went to many shows. Was sad when it closed but time goes on. This help relive many fond memories. Thanks!
THanks KC!
I worked there as a roadie for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in, I think the fall of 1976. Later that night Johnny Thunders gave Benmont Tench some smart remark at another club about his band being the “real” Heartbreakers. Benmont punched him out.
Jim, that is a phenomenal story Thank you..
I was almost a permanent fixture there between 1974 & 1986. Played there 4 times it was awesome so Sereal. Had to leave town got into some trouble! oops When I heard they were shutting down I flew in for the last night from London. It was outstanding!!! to this day I still miss it and dream about CBGB.
I was at the last Joey Ramone Christmas show at CBGB's with special guests Ronnie Spector, Dick Manitoba, and The Independents. Great show. I took a lot of personal photos of that show. I was there with my late friend David Peel.
I was also performing with David Peel and The Lower East Side at a John Lennon Birthday show at CBGB's. There's a You tube video of that event.
Another favorite show for me at CBGB's was The Star Spangles. Great Band!
Wow! You were at some incredible shows!
Not including bad brains or cro mags is wild
If you have a specific show in mind post it here and maybe we do part 2? Thanks for commenting. I didn’t get into the hardcore days too much.
Yeah the Bad Brains Christmas shows in 82 need to be on this list!
Remember how you don’t who the Stimulators are?
I regret not visiting CBGB when I lived in NJ 20 years ago. Thanks for this. Wish some of these shows were available on video.
A few are- check the description for links to a few of them! Thank you for watching and your comment.
I loved it there❤😂🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
I went the first time at just before 14. Used a BMX racing ID to make myself 15. Went to the HC matinees every sunday deom 83 to 86. Nothing like it ever. Hilly -!: karen. The alligator. I have seen thousands of bands but nothing beats a show at CBs. Changed my life and made me what I am. Thank you Hilly.
Great comment Ty Caryn
Saw Reagan Youth there in 87' when they had switched to half hardcore, half psychedelic rock. Excellent show.
My band Still Life on Mars played there on 8.9.98 along with 3 other bands. We played 9 songs as one of the rare female fronted industrial metal bands at the time. It was exhilarating and the other bands were from all over the country (we were from Philly) and we all exchanged CDs. It was exciting seeing the stickers on the walls of all the other bands and the legends that played there. Wonder if ours is still there?
Unfortunately the place has been renovated. There is a museum recreation of the space and I wonder if they brought in the actual walls. In which case maybe
I'm 45 years old. My CB's visitation started in 92 at a Sick Of It All show. Many other shows over the years. I wanna say the last show I saw there was Hatebreed, 25 Ta Life & Crown Of Thorns maybe? Saw Merauder at the Wetlands later that same day. This was maybe 1995?
In 87 I finally got in CBGB... went on to see alot of bands till the end of a iconic club forever NYHC
No doubt..seriously incomplete without the mention of the young rastas of hardcore fusion....innovators ahead of their time....
Thanks/ I’m working on part 2 now and I appreciate this feedback!
I consider the two shows I played at CBGB, with Richmond, VA-based Mudd Helmutt, the highlight of my musical "career". The first time was, I think, on a Tuesday, and we didn't go on until around four in the morning and played to an almost empty room. However, the second time we got to play right before the headliners, the Lunachicks, and the room filled up during our set. It was fucking awesome! Sin and Gina let us use their silver Marshall stacks, and we went over quite well. Years later I played in the band of another CBGB alumnus: Sonny Vincent of Testors. That was when he lived in Minneapolis, though, and we didn't make it to New York. I don't remember a lot about the place, but I do remember that it smelled like piss.
Great stories Sam, that’s so cool that you opened for lunachicks!
I haven’t heard the Lunachicks in a very long time
I was at The Police 1983 Shea Stadium NYC with Joan Jett and REM. That was my first concert.
Whoa- thats quite a first concert!
I so wish I could have been old enough to see and experience CBGB's from the very begining.
After the first wave of bands got signed 76-78 CBGB’s was less relevant and everyone went to the new dance clubs Hurrah, Ritz, Peppermint Lounge, Mudd Club etc. In fact from 1980 onwards CBGB was the place not to be seen in. Then came the wave of kids from the suburbs and the hardcore scene. The early crowd no longer went and it became a nostalgia touchstone as indicated by the guy discussing the Beastie Boys.
History is pretty cool.
🎶 well I don’t care about history 🎶
Even though most of this is factually incorrect.
"Pioneering UK punk missionaries The Damned.played a weekend residency at CBGB in 1977...some say this was the proper birth of punk rock in America." And still playing today. This is how it's done.
Damned right! ;) pun intended
Correction--still playing live AND releasing new studio albums! "Darkadelic", Damned studio album #12 (April 28, 2023), featuring the new single "The Invisible Man" (February 3, 2023).
How are The Damned "pioneers" when Patti Smith, Television & The Ramones had em beat by 2, 3 years? When The Ramones played London in the Summer of '76, future members of The Clash & The Damned were in the audience & were galvanized. NYC didn't need lessons on pioneering punk from sleepy London town... in fact it's the other way around... 🦃🤔🦃
@@mightyturkeyneck3498 1st UK punk single, 1st UK punk album, 1st UK punk band to play in the States. And they openly owed more to the Stooges and the MC5 than any of the NYC bands, although they liked the Ramones' speedy tempos. The Damned were loud, fun, funny, fast, and outrageous, and rocked like hell. Is there a problem?
@@JseviaF , is there a problem you ask? Well The Ramones formed in 74, toured the UK in 76, inspired hack bands like The Damned who by your own admission played the US in 77. So no, there isn't any problem. Just need to get your timetable right. Nice try though troll.
I went to one show I remember as a kid in the mid 1980s - I was maybe 8 years old and my mother's friends' band was playing that night. I remember they let a dog and a kid hang out in the bar and I thought that was the coolest shit ever! Now 46 - can't tell you a single band that performed that night, but I can tell you I had a blast and they fed me free coca-cola all night... :)
also fun sidenote for the channel owner: if you've ever seen the Talking Giant video compilation on VHS by the Talking Heads - I'm the kid with the 'naked' dream in it...Daniel Byrne is cool af!
Ok that’s amazing. Can we talk about your experience?
I love Meg White as a drummer, she's great! A bit like the woman drummer from The Gories, she's great too!
As an angry, young, punk rocker growing up in suburban NJ, this place was like Mecca to me.
i used to go there a lot when i lived in poughkeepsie. i have seen the ramones over 20 times but never actually at cbgbs.
Spent a night partying with The Cramps in 97! Amazing crazy night!! Thanks Ken (KJ) for throwing an AMAZING party!! Was The Cramps, Supersuckers, and Amazing Royal Crowns. Tattoo Shop 1st Anniversary Bash!!
Holy crap that must have been Amazing
Funland from Dallas played there. Look them up. They were awesome live!
Not puck rock in anyway but I saw living color there between their gigs opening for the Stones at Shea stadium. They were playing under an assumed name and played a ton of their second album just before it was released. It was really cool.
AWESOME!
Thanks for sharing. R.I.P. Tommy Verlaine
Fred smith in angel and the snake/ blondie was Fred smith from the band television Not Fred sonic Smith from the MC5 like you had in the picture. Two different guy’s with the same name
Thank you and my apologies to all for this error! Kicking myself
I caught that, too
Great video. Thanks.
Hey thanks to you for watching and commenting my friend!
Many times There!!! Had the best time with my Daddy RIP !!!☦️🇺🇲❤️ AMEN Philadelphia USA
Actually Patti Smith played that Sunday which was the actual main night they we're closing but my band exit 53 and a band called preamorte played that Monday and that was the last time that were they were open
No mention of The Jam in 1977. Britain's best band since The Beatles!
I played there many times and several different bands. CB was an iconic Landmark
saw many shows there, played there only once March 15th 1983
What was your band called?
I was with three bands from Syracuse, NY that played there on 4th of July in 1996. Each band had at least one member that was in each of the other bands: Dracula Jones/The Ghost Monkeys/The Electric Chick Magnets. I think 2 other local bands played as well. A lot of fun, and we managed to record it off the sound board. I even got to sing on one of the songs which to me is a memory I'll always have, as that was the first & only time I'd ever been there. I also remember all the graffiti in the bathroom.
Thanks for watching and for your story Karle!
Building just past ‘ Palace Hotel ‘ was stalwart immortal NY- NJ Cover-Band stop . Your managers of bands like The Ratts, sent you there ( for actual pay… )
Great video...and good comment interaction as well!
I am so impressed that you showed the original GNR album cover that was banned.
I actually saw GNR play acoustic next door one Sunday afternoon at the CBGB Gallery, funny enough.
I tried to get tix for that Patti Smith show to close CBs but they sold out in seconds. My last time there was for the final hardcore matinee just a few days earlier.
Aw man!! That’s rough
@@rocdocs Yeah, nut that final HCM was amazing! Plus I saw more shows at CBGB than I can count!
My band, Wolves of Azure, from Charlottesville,VA played there twice in the mid '90s doing showcases for music industry officials.
There's an insane pic of Iggy and Bon Scott together there and Iggy is covered head to toe in multi colours of spray paint. Like, off his head. It's hilarious! And I mean head to toe, all his face, everything! Worth a google.
Will do- thanks!
My old band played there in the later 90’s.
Lucky! Thanks for watching and commenting
Thats awesome. On a trip from Austraia we hunted down CBGBs in 2014. Think its a clothing store now, or was. The owners let us wander around and take photos.
Played there, it was big fun. I had nightmares for years about the bathroom.
Saw about 60 shows at CBGB through the 80s .... but my only claim to fame was taking a crap on the Throne while everyone else went about their business ... to give the uninitiated an idea, there was no door, just a supremely nasty toilet used more to throw spent needles down, but when ya gotta go, ya gotta go.
Perhaps my favorite gig was the Meat Puppets, in between their first (super fast) album, and their second slower release .... the slam circle was full on during the first few fast songs ... and then without missing a beat, went into slow motion during the slow songs-literal slow motion-all the same steps and elbows, but slowed down to match the tempo. Surreal, and everyone was having fun.
Ha thanks Greg
The photo displayed of Binky Philips is actually Jeff Beck. Photo taken when he was trying to buy Blinky's sunburst Les Paul..
Well done. Loved it.
Two pics you have of the Police include Henry Padovani who in August 1977 and was replaced by Andy Summers.
I played at CBs Gallery which was tha basement it was only avant jazz, had a pizza oven great pizza and quite clean and fresh smelling unlike upstairs
Great video. Cool bands. What program do you use to make the talking ball if you don't mind me asking?
Dennis is in adobe character animator. Designed in photoshop, and the show comes together in streamlabs. Thanks!
Ok great. Thanks for the reply.
Great history lesson. Thank you.
Sometimes the algorithm really knocks it out of the park 👌
Thanks sucker punch! I appreciate you stopping by and commenting.
Anytime! Great channel👍
Surprised you didn't mention Iggy pop, or the stooges
Stay tuned for part 2
For good reason: they never played there.
Living in fear of Part 2
Never been to a show at CBGB but I've listened to many live bootlegs. My favorites were always The Cramps, DEVO, and The B-52's
Anyone here remember “Ed Gein’s car”. They had some good shows at CBGB.
That brings back memories. I never saw them but a kid I went to high school with was into them
@@rocdocs yeah my buddy was into them when I was in 7th grade I remember. Lol . Brain Dead Baby is actually a great tune. Scott, the lead singer, would come to the stage with a briefcase containing only a bottle of vodka. 🤣
Old dude here. Never followed punk. Ramones were one of a kind. Blondy great Talking Heads loved their weirdness.
Usually only the jackets open up for the shirts
Nate I like your style.
Bathroom always flooded!!!!
Don't remember the dates or even the years but I played CB's with Cellmates and WW3 with Frank Infante who then joined Blondie. We were all from Jersey City.
Whoa!! Got any photos or details you can share?
@@rocdocs Unfortunately no. Now everyone carries a camera, back then hardly anyone had one. The Cellmates had one song on one of the Max's compilation albums.
Loved The Rsmones
me too Lauran!
Only trip to New York was in '86. Went to visit a gal. On the plane I read a Rolling Stone and they talked about the The Police shows at The CBGB.
Although it was close at the time. I talked the dude into letting me go in and look around. I had to at least say I have been there.
So, I'm reading Legs McNeil's book Please Kill Me, and I'm literally in the middle section when CBGBs blew up with Television & the Ramones, and this video gets suggested by TH-cam ... how TF do they know ? weird
Went to aee the UK Subs...
October 2001...
A heavy and somber feeling in the air...
A unique time to visit NY .. Show was fun, folks treated ua well, Your from California huh?...
Yeah...
Apparently I have a look... And "vocal style" that is identifiable as Southern California...
Oi Oi Oi
From Orange County
my friends would play their third eye butterfly
I saw many shows at CBGB's... always showed support for the Dead Boys. I was outside the Palace Hotel before one show when Cheetah got punched in the mouth. Ah, the good old days!
* Mofungo, Milk and Cookies, Wayne County..Lenny Kaye was so frigging rude to me in CBGBs. I was only 18, and I had summoned up the courage to introduce myself. To me, at that age, he was a REAL Rock Star, in my opinion.
I saw the Cro-Mags in the very late 80’s, like 88, 89, with a few other bands, that decade was basically a blur for me.
Im never going to the toilet again.
That’s a good policy. 😂
I wish to heck that I was old enough to be there for that first Police show in the USA at the CBGB! Ugh. My sister used to live around the corner from the CBGB but I never went there, figuring it would still be around to this day, but... live and learn.
I was the right age, but lived on the wrong continent!!! Fate can be such a cruel mistress!
Ok what did you see instead? The cure? The smiths? Y’all must have had come good shows
Stuff missing! Bad Brains, the Stimulators, Agnostic Front, Murphy’s Law, Cro-Mags, Sick of it All, Madball, etc.
Some of these will be in part 2, which is in process. Thank you
I thought a band called Testors, might have been mentioned in this? I joined a band called Sonny Vincent and the Extreme. Sonny was in the Testors. Met a female while on a tour with the Dead Boys. Moved here to be with her. I did play one show at CBGB’s. With Sonny Vincent and the Extreme on our only real tour. After my drums were set up, I was walking around back stage and noticed what looked like 2 lockers from a school. I was curious so I looked in one then the other, they were both full top to bottom with Crown Power Amps. I can confirm the monitor mix sounded great!
Plasmatics need a shout out!
Check out part 2! Thanks for watching and commenting my friend!
I saw pushed to far and crown of thorns there in the 90s.💪💪
Proud to have went to CBGB in June of 2003. I have pictures of the inside if I really look for them and could not tell you the shitty band I saw (I think my ex stole my ticket stub when he moved out and stole my pants) but would love to share the pics when I find them.
Thanks Ryan! Appreciate the comments - you should post them online and put a link!
First band I saw there was The Cramps. Hardcore matinee's were the best early 80's, Saw many many bands from 77 to 88. Blitz show with Corpes Grinders, Dead Boys ect. Kraut, Murphys Law, UK Subs, Heartbreakers to name a few. I miss that joint and that era.
You were there for the best shows! Wow!!!
Cramps in 78 were great yes
They really worked on their act before ever playing live
Niiiiiiiiiiice 👍🏻
Make sure you also watch part 2 DRI! yeah boy
No mention of Bad Brains?! This list is incomplete without them
Part 2: th-cam.com/video/rpqzE1oi5WI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=GvbpO7ifuV8FkZTC
yeah i was about to write that!!!
See my comment above !
I lived in DC during this time, and lived in a house where we hosted the Bad Brains in our living room when they couldn't find gigs elsewhere in town. Those were interesting days. I too was looking for a Bad Brains mention here...
Probably one of the better bands to play there.
I played in Temple of Greed out of New Orleans. In 1987 we showed up at CBGB and went in and setup our equipment, played 5 songs and left. We didn't have a scheduled gig and no one asked any questions. 5 people were there. It was a hoot. After our quick set we went to another bar that we had a gig at.
Ray that is a great story!
that's gangster 😎
If you enjoy the late Alan Rickman, checkout his movie: CBGB. Its great.
At least you can say you played CB's and good band name, btw.
What years were y'all active in new Orleans? and did y'all do any shows w/ Shellshock, Graveyard Rodeo or Red Rockers?
Also the Plasmatics' early CBGBs shows should be included on this list!
Noted for part 2!
I saw them there. It was too loud.
And I was outside
@@toothbrush5190 My ears rang worse than the Dead Boys show i saw at CB'S right after Elvis died-when Plasmatics played in a theater here in Scranton! I was in the Balcony back room too!
...the challenge would have been getting Wendy O's 8k timbre across to the crowd...fyi (I assisted an A-lister soundman in Canada, & had a band called Silent 80's)
Hell Yea !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I played CBGB's in the 1970's and '80's in two bands that I founded, Comateens and Dizzy and the Romilars. By day, I worked as a recording engineer with Talking Heads and Ramones. In fact, I am little Ramona, about whom the Ramones wrote their song, Ramona. I also worked extensively with Eno and played on Music for Films, Alternative-3. Never heard Max's referred to as Maxwell's Kansas City until I watched this video. Oh, and I played Max's, too.
So you never saw the sign out front Max’s Kansas City?!
Cap
Worked there too never heard anyone refer to it as maxwell’s
LICK!
Hi Ramona. I would love to hear more about your experiences with The Ramones and Talking Heads.
Bad Brains, and Living Colour need to be on this list.
Noted for part 2
Working on part 2. Keep an eye out for your comment.
I was so heartbroken when I heard they were closing the club. Still am to be honest.
Best sound system hands down. Crazy hardcore shows inside crazy shit going on outside on the block. The Bowery late 80’smid90’s. Great time in my life. CB’s RIP
I played both CBs and Max's from 1980-1981 with my old band, The Kelvins (our single, "Dance Dance Dance" b/w "Look but Don't Touch is on TH-cam). The second most exciting moment of my life was when my bass player called me and got me out of bed one night to tell me we were playing our first gig ever at CBs for the Sunday audition showcase. That was an even bigger deal for me because it was my first club gig ever; I was eighteen at the time.
Cool story, thanks Joe!!!