CBGB's

"Country BlueGrass Blues and Other Music For Uplifting Gormandizers" known as CBGB's for short was the legendary club on Bleecker Street in New York City and has become famous as the home of underground rock. The Ramones, Television, Patti Smith and The Velvet Underground all contributed to the cult status the bar earned over the years and which helped attract so many artists, musicians and poets to the Lower West Side. Anything was accepted. Drugs were freely available, bars were open into the early hours and people could express their souls however they felt the need. Founded in 1973 it was inspired from the bohemian alt lifestyle that New York provoked at the time, it was the place in Greenwich Village in the 70's and 80's which helped spawn East Coast cult alternative rock. This was a unique time in New York's history. As well as these alt-lifestyle tortured souls such as Bob Dylan and John Lennon moving to Manhatten, hip -hop was emerging in black neighborhoods such as Harlem and Alphabet City. Disco was becoming the scene to be seen at in Mid-town and providing the city with a Mo-town vibe. New York in the 70's and 80's is still an overwhelming influence on today's American music. However, this did bring sociopolitical problems for the city. There were high crime rates, a huge sex trade and neighbourhoods were often perceived as lawless. Cab drivers wouldn't venture into some areas for fear of racial or xenophobic attacks. This is the side of the city which Martin Scorsese portrays in his film "Taxi Driver". The city wasn't in the best condition, but it still managed to produce some musical legacies which will always will remembered. Unfortunately CBGB's was abandoned by the owners a few years ago, and is now a fashion boutique. The spirit lives on at www.CBGB.com where you access a virtual tour of the club in its heyday. And I want this t shirt.