A truly black day...
CBGB's is closing....
there, I said it... let it sink in...
To many this means nothing- to me it is another reminder that my youth is slipping away.
I first went to CBGBs back in the early 80s. I convinced my parents that I wanted to go to NYC to see the museums and the library. To take in the culture that was NYC. The culture that I wanted to experience though was far from what my parents would have approved of at that time. I wanted to see the punk movement first hand- I wanted to see some bands in the birthplace of American punk. I wanted to sit in the very club where the Ramones and their brethren sat and drank and played. So, armed with my best fake ID and accompanied b a couple of friends we made the pilgrimage. Surprisingly it was not hard to get in. I don't remember who was playing that night because more important was WHO was there. Clem from Blondie was sitting at a table with a guy who was a producer for Chrysalis. At another table were Stiv Bators and his girl of the month. I felt like I had snuck into Mount Olympus. Another table was occupied by some guys who were not that popular at the time but would end up being Bad Brains. And the best part of it all was everyone was so nice and honest- we were all there to see music played in its rawest form and from the heart.
I went back in the late 80s and the place was different. A lot of "tourists" were there. Of course the memorabilia on the walls was more impressive and the place was a lot more crowded, if that were possible. But still there was the underlying feeling that we were all there to be part of something bigger than ourselves, something more in tune with some basic need we all had. The band that night was unremarkable and I realized that I had such high expectations of the place that I should just cherish my memories and let the place exist in my mind.
I had planned to try to make another trip to NYC next year to see some friends. I had decided that I would once again head down to the old place to see how things were going. There has been a resurgence in interest in the place. Well, the spectre of capitalism and the promise of increased revenues from rent have brought down the mighty place. It will be closing Sunday. The end to another chapter from my youth. What a year 2006 is shaping up to be.
there, I said it... let it sink in...
To many this means nothing- to me it is another reminder that my youth is slipping away.
I first went to CBGBs back in the early 80s. I convinced my parents that I wanted to go to NYC to see the museums and the library. To take in the culture that was NYC. The culture that I wanted to experience though was far from what my parents would have approved of at that time. I wanted to see the punk movement first hand- I wanted to see some bands in the birthplace of American punk. I wanted to sit in the very club where the Ramones and their brethren sat and drank and played. So, armed with my best fake ID and accompanied b a couple of friends we made the pilgrimage. Surprisingly it was not hard to get in. I don't remember who was playing that night because more important was WHO was there. Clem from Blondie was sitting at a table with a guy who was a producer for Chrysalis. At another table were Stiv Bators and his girl of the month. I felt like I had snuck into Mount Olympus. Another table was occupied by some guys who were not that popular at the time but would end up being Bad Brains. And the best part of it all was everyone was so nice and honest- we were all there to see music played in its rawest form and from the heart.
I went back in the late 80s and the place was different. A lot of "tourists" were there. Of course the memorabilia on the walls was more impressive and the place was a lot more crowded, if that were possible. But still there was the underlying feeling that we were all there to be part of something bigger than ourselves, something more in tune with some basic need we all had. The band that night was unremarkable and I realized that I had such high expectations of the place that I should just cherish my memories and let the place exist in my mind.
I had planned to try to make another trip to NYC next year to see some friends. I had decided that I would once again head down to the old place to see how things were going. There has been a resurgence in interest in the place. Well, the spectre of capitalism and the promise of increased revenues from rent have brought down the mighty place. It will be closing Sunday. The end to another chapter from my youth. What a year 2006 is shaping up to be.