This Ain't No Disco: CBGB's founder Hilly Kristal Dies

Bah, you won by a minute. I'll delete the other one.

 

RIP.

From the first Talking Heads show at CBGB:

 

Here's one of my favorite rock photos ever, The Ramones at CBGB, 1976, by Roberta Bayley (who shot the first Ramones album cover). This hangs in my basement den, which thankfully smells much better than the basement at CB's did.




R.I.P., Hilly.

 

Here's the street sign at the corner of Bowery closest to CBGB:

 

The exit door:

 

Of course, the infamous bathroom:

 

Ha! Great shot, and chances are great that the chair in that shot was from Hilly's tiny office which was just inside those doors, looking to the left of that photo.

That shot reminds me of the last time I was there on a quiet night, I went downstairs to use the disgusting men's room, and a couple asked me if I would take their photo in the john for an "anniversary photo". Seems they had met at CB's ten years prior, and had travelled from Ohio to take the shot before the place closed.

And it was a very cool photo.

 

Obie, you mind reader...

 

RIP.

As if I needed more proof that I'm getting older. Which is, I guess, better than the alternative.

 

Just got this press release from Megaforce, Bad Brains' label:


For Immediate Release:


BAD BRAINS COMMENT ON THE LOSS OF CBGB's HILLY KRISTAL



August 30, 2007 – New York/London – Bad Brains want to express sincere condolences to the family of Hilly Kristal at this time. Hilly and CBGB's have been instrumental in the band's life and Bad Brains' Darryl Jenifer issued the following statement on behalf of the band:



"The Brains didn't go to college... CBGB's was our university. Hilly was our head master. And although the music died back in the 50's with Holly and Richie...the punk lives with Hilly, Joey, Stiv and CB's. Forever is the spirit of Hilly and his punk rock. Thanks Hilly, we will all ways remember you as the don of punk and the king of the bowery...that
serious looking nice guy....Jah lives... the Bad Brains."



Bad Brains' legacy is best defined by their frenetic and legendary live shows immortalized at CBGB's. Along with The Ramones and many other American punk groups, the band cut their chops and were allowed the freedom to explore at this club. For more information, please contact Megaforce Records.



Bad Brains' performances at CBGB's:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPCFSJwpsKw



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-7tryyJ0Ro&mode=related&search



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