Final Concert Held at CBGB.
Legendary New York City Punk club hosted a final show before its October 31st closing.
Decades of punk, garage and indie rock fans come out to say farewell to New York City's famous underground venue,CBGB, on Sunday. Patti Smith headlined the club's last show, while Deborah Harry of Blondie performed on Saturday as part of a week-long send-off for the 33-year-old club.
CBGB, which is owned by The Bowery Residents Committee,has been engaged in over a year long battle to stay in NYC, as its lease expired in August 2005.When the committee, an advocacy group that houses 250 homeless people above the club, refused to renew CBGB's lease, protests, vigils, and tributes were held nationwide. Hilly Kristal, the club's owner, eventually decided to give up his legal fight.
Originally opened in December 1973, CBGB became known as the birthplace of punk and a landmark of New York City. Despite the club's name standing for Country, Blue Grass, and Blues, the venue has helped launch the careers of the Ramones, Blondie, the Talking Heads and Television, to name a few.
Kristal plans to move the club to Las Vegas, while its store, CBGB Fashions, will move on Nov. 1 to a nearby location at Broadway and Bond Street CBGB will officially close on October 31, 2006.
