CBGB's

The Story

Concert venue where punk and new wave were born. Founded in 1973 by Hilly Kristal with the original intention of only playing country, bluegrass, and blues, hence the name CBGB, the club became the home of punk almost by accident when bands like Television and Ramones started playing original music there. The Ramones played here for the first time on August 16, 1974. Blondie, Patti Smith, Television, Talking Heads, and The Dead Boys emerged from the CBGB stage. It closed in 2006, after 33 years, with a historic farewell concert by Patti Smith. Since 2008, the space has been a John Varvatos store, with some of the original graffiti preserved.

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