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CBGB Founder Hilly Kristal Dies

Hilly Kristal, the founder of New York's punk-rock mecca CBGB, succumbed to lung cancer on August 28, at age 75. Kristol's world-famous rock club, located in what was then Manhattan's seedy Bowery neighborhood, hosted a who's who of punk and New Wave legends in the late 1970's, including the Ramones, Patti Smith, Blondie and Talking Heads, as well as thousands of bands who never went on to any kind of fame but could at least claim that they played the ramshackle nightclub that became as famous for its all-night multi-act musical bills as its filthy, doorless bathroom.

"I am very sorry that Hilly is gone," Blondie frontwoman Deborah Harry said in a statement. "He was a big help to Blondie and to the New York music scene for many years. His club CBGB's has become a part of New York lore and rock 'n' roll history."

Kristal started CBGB -- whose acronym stood for Country, Bluegrass and Blues, music that would ironically end up unrepresented at CBGB during the heyday of punk -- in 1973. In the 1980's, the venue kept the loud-fast flame burning with its hardcore matinees, which hosted paragons of the genre such as Bad Brains. In recent years, Kristal had struggled to keep the club open, waging a protracted fight with his landlords in the ever-gentrifying and increasingly expensive East Village. Admitting defeat, and weakened by the disease that would eventually take his life, Kristal closed CBGB last year after 33 years in business -- its only current presence being a retail location vending CBGB-related merchandise. Kristal was planning to reopen the club in several locations, including Las Vegas, at the time of his death.

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Rest in peace Hilly Kristal. I heard they were going to open up a CBGBs in Las Vegas?

www.myspace.com/viaaudio

August 30 2007 at 3:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John

IMO, all really good music has its roots in seedy,ramshackle places like CBGBs. That place was sacred ground. I'm very sad that both it and its founder are gone.
Hilly, when you get to Rock n Roll Heaven be prepared for The God Of Rock to give you your own cloud so you can open another CBGBs.

August 29 2007 at 5:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
J.Z.

The end of modern music is now complete. And all we are left is some good recordings and Brittany Spears.... who would have thunk it.
Rest in Peace Hilly.... say howdy to Sid Vicious for me.

August 29 2007 at 4:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
zipper

Thanks for the memories dude. Rock on in heaven!

August 29 2007 at 4:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
asshole !

wow!!! it's the end of an era . CBGBs was and remains an institution in rock and roll history and hilly will be remembered as 1 of the pioneers that helped usher in the punk rock era! he will be saddly missed

August 29 2007 at 3:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply