Beautiful, isn’t it? This is the interior of CBGB, photographed before it closed. After a rent dispute, much speculation, and attempts to save the rock club, they finally closed their doors on Halloween. A final concert with Patti Smith was given on October 15. My request to take photos was welcomed – the employee at the door said that the owner has always encouraged photography, so I was free to wander throughout the club.
The club owner, Hilly Kristal, is looking to move the club to Vegas, as I mentioned in a previous post (in which I included a photo of the bathrooms). They are aggressively marketing their brand, online store, and a retail shop, which will be opening in prime East Village at 19-23 St. Marks Place on November 24th. Click here for their website. They have a Myspace site, and on November 15th, there will be an ebay auction of their club fixtures and furniture. I think in an era of imaging and branding, nostalgia can generate more business than the original product…
This looks like “a wild and crazy place.”!! Did you go there often?
I’ve only been there a couple of times. However, there’s nothing like daytime with the lights on to fully appreciate the sleazy decor.
Brian
VEGAS???????? I can’t marry the teo images in my mind!
wowo…really cool and beautiful!!!
and the colours in it looks like the dreamlike colours.
and i like to read the information in your comments very much.
jing
http://www.shanghaidailyphoto.com
Oh rats, I wish my daughter could have seen this place before it closed. Just her style! Maybe the shop in the East Village will also be fun. I hate to see this go, even though I never knew of it.
I’m from Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) and this summer I went to New York for 12 days. It was a great experience (I think the best in my life as I’m only 19 years old) and I get very nostalgic every time I visit your blog.
Many pictures give me memories of the NY that seduced me, but now I’m posting a comment in the present one because CBGB was very near to me.
In fact, I slept in the Bowery Whitehouse Hotel, in front of the CBGB (in the 340). However, I didn’t know what it was CBGB until I returned to Barcelona, so you can imagine what I felt when I realized it. Every day, leaving the hotel, my friend and me looked the door of the club asking ourselves what kind of place could it be. We always saw punk people in the door making a queue, so we though that it wasn’t a place for us. What a pity… But at least we have the memory of seeing the CBGB still with alive…
P.D. Can I request you something? If you have any picture of the Whitehouse Hotel, could you please post it? If not, if you never go to the Bowery St., enter inside. I learn that it was a very special place and with very authentic NY people (with tourist and homeless). You’ll make me very happy…
Clara from Barcelona.
OOOOOOOOHH my fucking god how gorgeous is that 😀
I’m Clara from france 😉 and I love CBGB’s, even if i’ve never been there. And I never will. If only I was born EARLIER. (yes, i’m 14, and so what)
All these music(punk) – legends …
( Ramones <3 )
The picture is absolutely wonderful, congrats. I didn’t know this part of the club. I love it. Really. You can’t imagine.
Fascinating place, thanks for taking us there !
MAn, CB’s was the joint! I practically lived there from the 80’s – 90’s! Used to crawl around on the ceilings, while the mosh pit stormed below me to FISHBONE!!! OMG! 17 stage dives in one night!!! Never had a let down at CBGB”s, the home that never leaves your heart…
The photo is taken from the end of the bar looking towards the door. On the rear right you see a platform where ther once was a pool table. When you turn arond from that position you would stumble right into the front dancefloor/ stage area. Then you would see the stage. Now just imagine about 300 uniquely dressed individuals all ordering a beer, while a mosh pit raged at your back to BAd Brains and ya got it!!!
basically if you turnder around in the phot you would see this…
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