Legendary New York rock venue CBGB has called last drinks for the last time, with Patti Smith becoming the final artist to grace its famous, cramped stage.
Founded in 1973 by Hilly Kristal, the club has been forced to close down due to spiralling rent costs at its Bowery, East Village location. It was the venue that succeeded more than any other in cultivating the romanticism of rock-as-rebellion, launching the careers of seminal New York acts such as The Ramones, Television, Talking Heads and Sonic Youth.Smith spoke briefly to the media contingent assembled in and outside the venue, taking a picture of the famously dilapidated façade with an old Polaroid camera. "It's sentimental", she simply said.
Performing a brief soundcheck for the media, Smith said on-stage, "CBGB is a state of mind", adding, "There's new kids with new ideas all over the world. They'll make their own places , it doesn't matter whether it's here or wherever it is." Smith's media performance featured a short Ramones medley.
Debbie Harry performed the night before, telling the nostalgic crowd, "This is a little weird ... but anything for old CBs. What are we going to do now?" Well, she could go to Las Vegas, one of the cities touted as a possible relocation site.
Sonic Youth's Steve Shelley was more philosophical on the closure. Speaking recently to Undercover, the drummer said, "Everyone in New York thinks it's a really important establishment, but no one goes there. So maybe people will go to see CBs Vegas!"
