This is the downstairs bathroom at CBGB. And, yes, it appears to be official - after 32 years, CBGB has gotta go - they are closing and moving to Las Vegas. Opened in 1973, they are the oldest rock club in continuous operation in NYC. The punk mecca has showcased the Ramones, Talking Heads, Blondie, The Patti Smith Group, Iggy Pop, etc. In a city of rising rents, closings of clubs is becoming standard fare - Wetlands, Fez, Luna Lounge, and Chicago Blues have all closed. Numerous efforts to save the NYC landmark have been made, including a festival in 2005, attended by the Mayor. But economics rule - with a reported doubling of rent from $20,000 per month to $40,000 (and $80K per year liability insurance), it is just not economically feasible to stay open. For many, the closing is a disappointment more because it is emblematic of recent trends of displacement and gentrification than a real loss. According to owner Hilly Kristal, they are taking everything with them to Vegas: "I intend to take everything out of there that represents CBGB. We're going to take the bars, the toilets, the urinals, even the doors. We want to re-create the essence of the club." But for me, looking at that bathroom, I'm not so sure I gotta go :)
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Gotta Go?
This is the downstairs bathroom at CBGB. And, yes, it appears to be official - after 32 years, CBGB has gotta go - they are closing and moving to Las Vegas. Opened in 1973, they are the oldest rock club in continuous operation in NYC. The punk mecca has showcased the Ramones, Talking Heads, Blondie, The Patti Smith Group, Iggy Pop, etc. In a city of rising rents, closings of clubs is becoming standard fare - Wetlands, Fez, Luna Lounge, and Chicago Blues have all closed. Numerous efforts to save the NYC landmark have been made, including a festival in 2005, attended by the Mayor. But economics rule - with a reported doubling of rent from $20,000 per month to $40,000 (and $80K per year liability insurance), it is just not economically feasible to stay open. For many, the closing is a disappointment more because it is emblematic of recent trends of displacement and gentrification than a real loss. According to owner Hilly Kristal, they are taking everything with them to Vegas: "I intend to take everything out of there that represents CBGB. We're going to take the bars, the toilets, the urinals, even the doors. We want to re-create the essence of the club." But for me, looking at that bathroom, I'm not so sure I gotta go :)
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15 comments:
la fermeture du 'Chicago Blues' a ete une vraie conn....
je voulais juste rajouter de meme pour le celebre club de blues "Manny's Car Wash"
que j'ais malheureusement jamais connu
I was going to mention Manny's Car Wash as closed, but I didn't know how well it was known. And I never did get to go there - sad for a blues lover.
Brian
Tribeca Blues, Crossroads, The Bottom Line, Rothko.. all gone too.. I miss the Wetlands the most.
il y a quelques bon disques de blues enregistrer au Manny's Car Wash : Le live du super bluesman new yorkais Bill Perry, le groupe Rod Piazza and the Mighty Fly.
New york a accouché de pas mal de bon bluesman comme Popa Choppy, Arthur Neilson, Steve Johnson, Big Ed Sullivan
Heureusement ils tournent souvent en France.
This is a really sad day for Rock Music and New York City. I never visited the place personally, but I visited it through photos and through all the great punk bands. Ramones, Talking Head, Black Flag. Uufff! I have to go get my CDs and play some of the music as a tribute to great venue.
Wow... all the dives I spent my 20's in -- my best friend was in a band that played The Bottom Line, CBGB's, Wetlands, so many others on Bleecker - I can't believe they're all gone!
I forgot about the Bottom Line - it's right in my neighborhood.
Brian
i loved climbing the stairs to the toilet. taking a piss up there meant you were the king of the toilets. i hated the floors at cb's, after a few beers you would trip over everything.
Pour les amateurs de blues, a EVITER au Terra Blues (dans Greenwich Village) le show de 19h, un vrai piege a touriste, parcontre le show de 22h est souvent pas mal. On m'a parle aussi d'un club tendance blues "The Red Lion" (151 Bleecker Street Greenwich Village) mais je ne connais pas, est ce que cela vaut le detour ?
Great shot Brian! And to the 14 others that i've missed. Wonderful shots all!
Fantastic photo! Closest I will ever get to a true - errr - shithole of a place !
Very scary facility!
ok you understand when i speak french, i think.
Anyway, je sais pas si c'est vraiment une bonne idée de déplacer le club à Las Vegas, ils auront beau déplacer les toilettes (en concurrence avec celles de Trainspotting), les portes et même les murs, la légende est et restera à New York ...
ps: merci pour la photo, j'avais jamais vu leurs toilettes. Je comprends maintenant.
I've been lucky enough to play there with one of my bands, and have personally used the urinals pictured here!
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