CBGB opened its doors December 1973. Originally just another dive bar among the Bowery’s many dives, owner Hilly Kristal’s initial intention to showcase its namesake genres - country, bluegrass and blues (and Other Music For Uplifting Gormandizers) - fell by the wayside as the founders of NYC punk established reputations within its grubby interior – The Ramones, Television, Patti Smith, Richard Hell & The Voidoids, Blondie, and the Talking Heads. After the Mercer Arts Center, site of a series of groundbreaking shows by the influential New York Dolls, collapsed in August 1973, there were few locations in New York where unsigned bands could play original music. A few Mercer refugees, Suicide and Wayne County, played one-off gigs in the very early days of CBGB. On March 31, 1974, Television began a long-term Sunday night residency at the club, a key step towards CBGB’s ultimate place in music history. At the third Television gig on April 14, 1974, Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye were in the audience. They made their own CBGB debut as the Patti Smith Group on February 14, 1975. Other early performers, circa 1974-75, included The Stillettoes (featuring Debbie Harry on back-up vocals) and The Ramones. Mink DeVille, Talking Heads, The Heartbreakers, and The Dictators followed in quick succession. CBGB’s had only one rule for booking bands: they had to write original music. After decades as a spot for touring alternative bands as well as a scene-making venue for hardcore acts, CBGB closed the weekend of October 13, 2006. The Dictators headlined the final Friday and Saturday lineups and were joined onstage Saturday by Debbie Harry and Chris Stein. The final Sunday performer was Patti Smith. The end of CBGB began as a dispute over $91,000 in back rent. Kristal planned to reopen the club in Las Vegas, but this never came to be as he sadly passed away in August. CBGB still has the go ahead to move in 2008. However, it is rumored that the relaunch will be called off.

The Ramones - “Judy Is a Punk” at CBGB, 1975
The Ramones - “Blitzkrieg Bop” at CBGB, 1977
Richard Hell & the Voidoids - “Blank Generation”
Blondie - “X-Offender”, CBGB, 1977
Dead Boys - “Sonic Reducer”, 1977 at CBGB

Official CBGB Website
Village Voice CBGB tribute written by Lenny Kaye of the Patti Smith Group
New York Times piece by Richard Hell
Website for The Heebie Jeebies at CBGB’s: The Secret History of Jewish Punk
Debunking of CBGB Myths: An Interview with Dana Kristal, Hilly Kristal’s son
List of notable acts that played CBGB