12 CBGB Shows That Made Punk and Rock History

[@rocdocs]

LOOKING FOR BAD BRAINS? PLASMATICS? ETC? Part 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKHUq3hnpM5ojassi=GvbpO7ifuV8FkZTC

[@epicmeade]

In January of 1989 I was in a band called White Trash Debutantes that was asked to play Joey Ramones Birthday bash at the Ritz. So we booked a gig a few days earlier at CBGB’s. We had gotten the Ritz gig because our singer had been a close friend of the Ramones since their first national tour in 1976. About 15 minutes before we went on the front doors opened. And in walked Joey Ramone, Stiv Bator and Cheetah Chrome from the Dead Boys, and Clem Burke from Blondie. Needless to say I was in CBGB heaven. I still have Stiv And Cheatah’s autographs on my guitar from that night. About 12 years later I became friends with Scott Kempner of the Dictators. And he would tell me stories of their early tours with AC/DC, Thin Lizzie, and Blue Oyster Cult. I remember him telling me of that CBGB’s AC/DC gig you listed here. At the time we played there I was working at a venue called the Chatterbox in San Francisco. And that night I traded my Chatterbox t-shirt to one of the bartenders in exchange for her CBGBs t-shirts. I still have that CBGB’s shirt. It’s one of my prized possessions.

[@hernanSXD.3880]

I remermber you song Ms jane from The unpunk album. Cool song. Cheers!!

[@titaniumpecker]

I played in a band called the Psychofonics. We never put out any records but we played at CBGB four times in the years 1985 and 1986. I recall that one gig we warmed up for a band called "Life In A Blender." It was a blast and a thrill to perform on the same stage as Blondie, Talking Heads, and The Ramones. One thing that people may not know about CBGB is that it had an excellent sound system. For five dollars the sound man would make a cassette copy of your set. The quality of a CBGB live recording was better than most studio recordings.

[@rocdocs]

Wow that’s cool, I didn’t know that

[@seanmccabe4758]

I wish I could say that man! Very cool!

[@Billy-ds5sl]

I now your band and i never been at the CBGB hahaha big hug

[@downallyourstreets]

Wow, make you wonder why any punk/Rockn’roll/garage band, would sign with a soul sucking record label that would take the multi-thousand dollar studio fees out of the band’s royalties, when for 5 bucks you could get a studio quality live recording and sell on your own record label? Cool info to know

[@LijaMoore]

Yeah the sound system was badass and the sound guy was brilliant, we all got tapes and I transfered them to digital years later and it's great quality

[@markcrume]

I saw Wendy O. Williams and the Plasmatics. Wendy was wearing whipped cream or shaving foam for a top and the guitarist or bassist was wearing a nurse's dress. Many of my friends auditioned there as well.

[@tracistrange224]

That would be Richie Stotts in the nurse's dress

[@johnsain]

Saw her New Year's Eve 1979 at Hurrah!

[@edward2448]

I remember seeing Ritchie Shotts on a NYC bus once with his blue mohawk haircut, no dress. Saw them at the Pier in NYC when Wendy smashed up the Police car with a sledge hammer ⚒️. Also in a bar on Staten Island called The Factory.

[@edward2448]

@@johnsain Hurrah was awesome

[@OakleyMoodie]

Saw Wendy and the Plasmatics at "My Father's Place" in 1980. W.O.W wore 3 pieces of black electrical tape (strategically placed), and they cut a live guitar in half with a REAL chainsaw! Holy Shit!

[@ibethebandu.a.morrison653]

I played CBGBs with four different bands between 1977 to 1989. Hilly put my band Murphys Law on Halloween four years running

[@rocdocs]

A legend has entered the chat. Thank you for commenting!!!!

[@mg-ThisHandleIsSoStupid]

Always wished I had seen Murphy's Law. We had our own little CBGS in Lawrence, KS. The Outhouse. Saw a ton of amazing shows there growing up.

[@ibethebandu.a.morrison653]

Besides CBs and Max's NYC had a plethora of places to go see bands back then. Irving Plaza, the Ritz, A7, the World, the Pyramid, Danceteria, Rock Hotel, Studio 54, Wetlands, the Continental. The scene was an incubator of talent

[@edward2448]

I saw Murphy's Law open for 999 and once for the Beastie Boys

[@jaydeem1264]

Murphys Law? Like THAT Murphys Law? Dude, that's awesome!

[@davidmarchman3096]

I went to CBGB's for New Year's Eve in 1979. Saw The The, Kinky Friedman and John Cale. An amazing show.

[@ForARide]

Yeah, John Cale was known for his outrageous shows arround that time, until he sobered up in the mid 80s.

[@georgetaxi8179]

Can't forget some of the great hardcore bands like Bad Brains, Agnostic Front, Cromags, and Murphys Law.

[@rocdocs]

Watch for your comment in part 2

[@yankees29]

One of the Murphy’s Law guys left a comment on this video.

[@sgtrock6213]

My father was a staple at this venue he recorded on cassette tape hundreds if not thousands of bands...I'm pretty sure he taped every Patty Smith show there as well as many many others..His name was Jim Brawley...some of his tapes are in the Rock n roll hall of fame...I went with him a few times it was crazy...johnny thunder and the heartbreakers .Chinese Rocks....lol

[@rocdocs]

Wow that’s incredible! Did he ever release any of the show recordings?

[@sgtrock6213]

@@rocdocs No he did not like bootleggers...and all the bands knew that and that was why he was allowed to record....he usually gave copies to the bands....but I would not doubt that some of them released those recordings as live stuff....

[@waynebrissette9459]

@@sgtrock6213 : When I did live recordings, I did the exact same thing. I'm thanked in several bands CDs and every once in a while one of them will come back to me to ask if I still had copies because they had lost their copy, and in most cases bands have disbanded or changed members. But creating bootlegs kills me, the music never belonged to me but the bands and they could do whatever they wanted with my recordings.

[@sgtrock6213]

@@waynebrissette9459 Its the honorable thing to do and I applaud you for that...did you record in NYC?

[@waynebrissette9459]

@@sgtrock6213 :No, Austin TX mostly.

[@bookmanjb]

I started going to CB''s around '75. I saw Patti there when she recited her poetry with a music background, usually Lenny K on guitar, Richard Sohl on keyboards, and Jay Dee Daugherty on drums (he was at that time the regular drummer with Lance Loud's group The Mumps but left for Patti's band soon after). Patti's readings were PACKED and she was just amazing. I spent many a night at CB's between '75 & '80. Fun times.

[@curly_wyn]

Other notable 70s shows at CBGB include those from the revolutionary synth duo Suicide, but I hesitate to list them because even tho they would be very influential to all future punk/rock/electronic groups, they were extremely polarizing, and really, they were always more of a Max’s Kansas City act.

[@bobafettuccine666]

Loved, loved, loved CBGBs. Played and went there more times than I can count. Always a great time and saw some legends play there. There will never be another like it.

[@Irishroaddog]

I worked there as a roadie for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in, I think the fall of 1976. Later that night Johnny Thunders gave Benmont Tench some smart remark at another club about his band being the “real” Heartbreakers. Benmont punched him out.

[@rocdocs]

Jim, that is a phenomenal story Thank you..

[@kcphotographystudios8836]

My band played there many times and went to many shows. Was sad when it closed but time goes on. This help relive many fond memories. Thanks!

[@rocdocs]

THanks KC!

[@LaurieMarieValdezRNCCRN]

I loved it there❤😂🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@czmisfitsfan]

I regret not visiting CBGB when I lived in NJ 20 years ago. Thanks for this. Wish some of these shows were available on video.

[@rocdocs]

A few are- check the description for links to a few of them! Thank you for watching and your comment.

[@LijaMoore]

My band Still Life on Mars played there on 8.9.98 along with 3 other bands. We played 9 songs as one of the rare female fronted industrial metal bands at the time. It was exhilarating and the other bands were from all over the country (we were from Philly) and we all exchanged CDs. It was exciting seeing the stickers on the walls of all the other bands and the legends that played there. Wonder if ours is still there?

[@rocdocs]

Unfortunately the place has been renovated. There is a museum recreation of the space and I wonder if they brought in the actual walls. In which case maybe

[@Vampiracho]

Saw Reagan Youth there in 87' when they had switched to half hardcore, half psychedelic rock. Excellent show.

[@crakilldurmom]

I'm 45 years old. My CB's visitation started in 92 at a Sick Of It All show. Many other shows over the years. I wanna say the last show I saw there was Hatebreed, 25 Ta Life & Crown Of Thorns maybe? Saw Merauder at the Wetlands later that same day. This was maybe 1995?

[@Jerzee70]

In 87 I finally got in CBGB... went on to see alot of bands till the end of a iconic club forever NYHC

[@juancastro7803]

No doubt..seriously incomplete without the mention of the young rastas of hardcore fusion....innovators ahead of their time....

[@rocdocs]

Thanks/ I’m working on part 2 now and I appreciate this feedback!

[@sambolino44]

I consider the two shows I played at CBGB, with Richmond, VA-based Mudd Helmutt, the highlight of my musical "career". The first time was, I think, on a Tuesday, and we didn't go on until around four in the morning and played to an almost empty room. However, the second time we got to play right before the headliners, the Lunachicks, and the room filled up during our set. It was fucking awesome! Sin and Gina let us use their silver Marshall stacks, and we went over quite well. Years later I played in the band of another CBGB alumnus: Sonny Vincent of Testors. That was when he lived in Minneapolis, though, and we didn't make it to New York. I don't remember a lot about the place, but I do remember that it smelled like piss.

[@rocdocs]

Great stories Sam, that’s so cool that you opened for lunachicks!

[@danevertt3210]

I haven’t heard the Lunachicks in a very long time

[@corkpop8401]

After the first wave of bands got signed 76-78 CBGB’s was less relevant and everyone went to the new dance clubs Hurrah, Ritz, Peppermint Lounge, Mudd Club etc. In fact from 1980 onwards CBGB was the place not to be seen in. Then came the wave of kids from the suburbs and the hardcore scene. The early crowd no longer went and it became a nostalgia touchstone as indicated by the guy discussing the Beastie Boys.

[@Michael-Philip]

I was at The Police 1983 Shea Stadium NYC with Joan Jett and REM. That was my first concert.

[@rocdocs]

Whoa- thats quite a first concert!

[@DJILLY3000]

I went to one show I remember as a kid in the mid 1980s - I was maybe 8 years old and my mother's friends' band was playing that night. I remember they let a dog and a kid hang out in the bar and I thought that was the coolest shit ever! Now 46 - can't tell you a single band that performed that night, but I can tell you I had a blast and they fed me free coca-cola all night... :) also fun sidenote for the channel owner: if you've ever seen the Talking Giant video compilation on VHS by the Talking Heads - I'm the kid with the 'naked' dream in it...Daniel Byrne is cool af!

[@rocdocs]

Ok that’s amazing. Can we talk about your experience?

[@ExUSSailor]

As an angry, young, punk rocker growing up in suburban NJ, this place was like Mecca to me.

[@baronsaturday9560]

I love Meg White as a drummer, she's great! A bit like the woman drummer from The Gories, she's great too!

[@megaflux7144]

i used to go there a lot when i lived in poughkeepsie. i have seen the ramones over 20 times but never actually at cbgbs.

[@Glostahdude]

Spent a night partying with The Cramps in 97! Amazing crazy night!! Thanks Ken (KJ) for throwing an AMAZING party!! Was The Cramps, Supersuckers, and Amazing Royal Crowns. Tattoo Shop 1st Anniversary Bash!!

[@rocdocs]

Holy crap that must have been Amazing

[@daves2058]

Funland from Dallas played there. Look them up. They were awesome live!

[@travislostaglia8861]

Fred smith in angel and the snake/ blondie was Fred smith from the band television Not Fred sonic Smith from the MC5 like you had in the picture. Two different guy’s with the same name

[@rocdocs]

Thank you and my apologies to all for this error! Kicking myself

[@JackSlugman]

I caught that, too

[@rp1526]

Great video. Thanks.

[@rocdocs]

Hey thanks to you for watching and commenting my friend!

[@ladyhonor822]

Many times There!!! Had the best time with my Daddy RIP !!!☦️🇺🇲❤️ AMEN Philadelphia USA

[@MrJommins]

I played there many times and several different bands. CB was an iconic Landmark

[@stephenackerman2236]

No mention of The Jam in 1977. Britain's best band since The Beatles!

[@karlepaul6632]

I was with three bands from Syracuse, NY that played there on 4th of July in 1996. Each band had at least one member that was in each of the other bands: Dracula Jones/The Ghost Monkeys/The Electric Chick Magnets. I think 2 other local bands played as well. A lot of fun, and we managed to record it off the sound board. I even got to sing on one of the songs which to me is a memory I'll always have, as that was the first & only time I'd ever been there. I also remember all the graffiti in the bathroom.

[@rocdocs]

Thanks for watching and for your story Karle!

[@johnnyo8903]

Great video...and good comment interaction as well!

[@Zopf-international]

There's an insane pic of Iggy and Bon Scott together there and Iggy is covered head to toe in multi colours of spray paint. Like, off his head. It's hilarious! And I mean head to toe, all his face, everything! Worth a google.

[@rocdocs]

Will do- thanks!

[@mikeglick3886]

I am so impressed that you showed the original GNR album cover that was banned.

[@ronrimsite6948]

I actually saw GNR play acoustic next door one Sunday afternoon at the CBGB Gallery, funny enough.

[@FfukieBonga]

The photo displayed of Binky Philips is actually Jeff Beck. Photo taken when he was trying to buy Blinky's sunburst Les Paul..

[@erics5846]

I tried to get tix for that Patti Smith show to close CBs but they sold out in seconds. My last time there was for the final hardcore matinee just a few days earlier.

[@rocdocs]

Aw man!! That’s rough

[@erics5846]

@@rocdocs Yeah, nut that final HCM was amazing! Plus I saw more shows at CBGB than I can count!

[@gregmg999]

Saw about 60 shows at CBGB through the 80s .... but my only claim to fame was taking a crap on the Throne while everyone else went about their business ... to give the uninitiated an idea, there was no door, just a supremely nasty toilet used more to throw spent needles down, but when ya gotta go, ya gotta go. Perhaps my favorite gig was the Meat Puppets, in between their first (super fast) album, and their second slower release .... the slam circle was full on during the first few fast songs ... and then without missing a beat, went into slow motion during the slow songs-literal slow motion-all the same steps and elbows, but slowed down to match the tempo. Surreal, and everyone was having fun.

[@rocdocs]

Ha thanks Greg

[@craigreid7178]

My band, Wolves of Azure, from Charlottesville,VA played there twice in the mid '90s doing showcases for music industry officials.

[@anthonyferguson4678]

Thats awesome. On a trip from Austraia we hunted down CBGBs in 2014. Think its a clothing store now, or was. The owners let us wander around and take photos.

[@themayv6497]

My old band played there in the later 90’s.

[@rocdocs]

Lucky! Thanks for watching and commenting

[@betsyduane3461]

Two pics you have of the Police include Henry Padovani who in August 1977 and was replaced by Andy Summers.

[@halweilbrenner9926]

Old dude here. Never followed punk. Ramones were one of a kind. Blondy great Talking Heads loved their weirdness.

[@LuxuriousInterior]

Never been to a show at CBGB but I've listened to many live bootlegs. My favorites were always The Cramps, DEVO, and The B-52's

[@rodJtip]

Well done. Loved it.

[@Ilovemusic793]

I played at CBs Gallery which was tha basement it was only avant jazz, had a pizza oven great pizza and quite clean and fresh smelling unlike upstairs

[@canadiancryptokook909]

Great video. Cool bands. What program do you use to make the talking ball if you don't mind me asking?

[@rocdocs]

Dennis is in adobe character animator. Designed in photoshop, and the show comes together in streamlabs. Thanks!

[@canadiancryptokook909]

Ok great. Thanks for the reply.

[@Ruggedystim]

Usually only the jackets open up for the shirts

[@rocdocs]

Nate I like your style.

[@ConradHeiz]

Bathroom always flooded!!!!

[@michaelgatton907]

Don't remember the dates or even the years but I played CB's with Cellmates and WW3 with Frank Infante who then joined Blondie. We were all from Jersey City.

[@rocdocs]

Whoa!! Got any photos or details you can share?

[@michaelgatton907]

@@rocdocs Unfortunately no. Now everyone carries a camera, back then hardly anyone had one. The Cellmates had one song on one of the Max's compilation albums.

[@andrewfischer8564]

my friends would play their third eye butterfly

[@seanmccabe4758]

Only trip to New York was in '86. Went to visit a gal. On the plane I read a Rolling Stone and they talked about the The Police shows at The CBGB. Although it was close at the time. I talked the dude into letting me go in and look around. I had to at least say I have been there.

[@orangecounty2033]

So, I'm reading Legs McNeil's book Please Kill Me, and I'm literally in the middle section when CBGBs blew up with Television & the Ramones, and this video gets suggested by KZbin ... how TF do they know ? weird

[@AtZero138]

Went to aee the UK Subs... October 2001... A heavy and somber feeling in the air... A unique time to visit NY .. Show was fun, folks treated ua well, Your from California huh?... Yeah... Apparently I have a look... And "vocal style" that is identifiable as Southern California... Oi Oi Oi From Orange County

[@BrianHeimbuecher]

I saw many shows at CBGB's... always showed support for the Dead Boys. I was outside the Palace Hotel before one show when Cheetah got punched in the mouth. Ah, the good old days!

[@leonardmullin2699]

I saw the Cro-Mags in the very late 80’s, like 88, 89, with a few other bands, that decade was basically a blur for me.

[@Tubes12AX7k]

I wish to heck that I was old enough to be there for that first Police show in the USA at the CBGB! Ugh. My sister used to live around the corner from the CBGB but I never went there, figuring it would still be around to this day, but... live and learn.

[@LetsGoMetsGo33]

Stuff missing! Bad Brains, the Stimulators, Agnostic Front, Murphy’s Law, Cro-Mags, Sick of it All, Madball, etc.

[@rocdocs]

Some of these will be in part 2, which is in process. Thank you

[@Jeffbeat77]

I thought a band called Testors, might have been mentioned in this? I joined a band called Sonny Vincent and the Extreme. Sonny was in the Testors. Met a female while on a tour with the Dead Boys. Moved here to be with her. I did play one show at CBGB’s. With Sonny Vincent and the Extreme on our only real tour. After my drums were set up, I was walking around back stage and noticed what looked like 2 lockers from a school. I was curious so I looked in one then the other, they were both full top to bottom with Crown Power Amps. I can confirm the monitor mix sounded great!

[@davidcalhoun8378]

I saw pushed to far and crown of thorns there in the 90s.💪💪

[@RosieYogi40]

Proud to have went to CBGB in June of 2003. I have pictures of the inside if I really look for them and could not tell you the shitty band I saw (I think my ex stole my ticket stub when he moved out and stole my pants) but would love to share the pics when I find them.

[@rocdocs]

Thanks Ryan! Appreciate the comments - you should post them online and put a link!

[@killforpeae69]

First band I saw there was The Cramps. Hardcore matinee's were the best early 80's, Saw many many bands from 77 to 88. Blitz show with Corpes Grinders, Dead Boys ect. Kraut, Murphys Law, UK Subs, Heartbreakers to name a few. I miss that joint and that era.

[@rocdocs]

You were there for the best shows! Wow!!!

[@johnjones3714]

Cramps in 78 were great yes They really worked on their act before ever playing live

[@dougward1969]

No mention of Bad Brains?! This list is incomplete without them

[@rocdocs]

Part 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKHUq3hnpM5ojassi=GvbpO7ifuV8FkZTC

[@jorgesaopedro]

yeah i was about to write that!!!

[@JismIsm-en4kz]

See my comment above !

[@55tallanh]

I lived in DC during this time, and lived in a house where we hosted the Bad Brains in our living room when they couldn't find gigs elsewhere in town. Those were interesting days. I too was looking for a Bad Brains mention here...

[@rustygoldfanatic8830]

Probably one of the better bands to play there.

[@JB-hl1qx]

CBGB deserved the same respect as the whiskey a go go .. the fact it wasn't preserved is criminal

[@groovingranny5452]

Even worse, the "reopend" it in Vegs.

[@eatassonthefirstdate]

New York aint very sentimental 🤣

[@JB-hl1qx]

@@eatassonthefirstdate very true

[@The-Contractor]

In truth you could just put a Port-O-Potty in any alley in NYC and invite anyone who could make noise on a music instrument to play and resurrect CBGB's "atmosphere." Spent many a night there from '75 to '81.

[@karlgreenfeld6378]

It was much easier to get a gig at CBs, than the Whiskey. Basically, any sort of functional band could get a slot at CBs.

[@RayLabs]

I played in Temple of Greed out of New Orleans. In 1987 we showed up at CBGB and went in and setup our equipment, played 5 songs and left. We didn't have a scheduled gig and no one asked any questions. 5 people were there. It was a hoot. After our quick set we went to another bar that we had a gig at.

[@rocdocs]

Ray that is a great story!

[@TrekCompsport]

that's gangster 😎

[@johnpacella9519]

If you enjoy the late Alan Rickman, checkout his movie: CBGB. Its great.

[@RamonaJan]

At least you can say you played CB's and good band name, btw.

[@jorgecaicedo1982]

What years were y'all active in new Orleans? and did y'all do any shows w/ Shellshock, Graveyard Rodeo or Red Rockers?

[@l.salisbury1253]

Also the Plasmatics' early CBGBs shows should be included on this list!

[@rocdocs]

Noted for part 2!

[@toothbrush5190]

I saw them there. It was too loud. And I was outside

[@lamper2]

@@toothbrush5190 My ears rang worse than the Dead Boys show i saw at CB'S right after Elvis died-when Plasmatics played in a theater here in Scranton! I was in the Balcony back room too!

[@thereforeayam]

...the challenge would have been getting Wendy O's 8k timbre across to the crowd...fyi (I assisted an A-lister soundman in Canada, & had a band called Silent 80's)

[@JismIsm-en4kz]

Hell Yea !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@janotse]

Bad Brains, and Living Colour need to be on this list.

[@rocdocs]

Noted for part 2

[@rocdocs]

Working on part 2. Keep an eye out for your comment.

[@RamonaJan]

I played CBGB's in the 1970's and '80's in two bands that I founded, Comateens and Dizzy and the Romilars. By day, I worked as a recording engineer with Talking Heads and Ramones. In fact, I am little Ramona, about whom the Ramones wrote their song, Ramona. I also worked extensively with Eno and played on Music for Films, Alternative-3. Never heard Max's referred to as Maxwell's Kansas City until I watched this video. Oh, and I played Max's, too.

[@downallyourstreets]

So you never saw the sign out front Max’s Kansas City?!

[@Astro.slugs1]

Cap

[@brainseagle]

Worked there too never heard anyone refer to it as maxwell’s

[@Proudmule1]

LICK!

[@titaniumpecker]

Hi Ramona. I would love to hear more about your experiences with The Ramones and Talking Heads.

[@Void7.4.14]

I was so heartbroken when I heard they were closing the club. Still am to be honest.

[@michaelroach1577]

Best sound system hands down. Crazy hardcore shows inside crazy shit going on outside on the block. The Bowery late 80’smid90’s. Great time in my life. CB’s RIP

[@joeschlapik913]

I played both CBs and Max's from 1980-1981 with my old band, The Kelvins (our single, "Dance Dance Dance" b/w "Look but Don't Touch is on KZbin). The second most exciting moment of my life was when my bass player called me and got me out of bed one night to tell me we were playing our first gig ever at CBs for the Sunday audition showcase. That was an even bigger deal for me because it was my first club gig ever; I was eighteen at the time.

[@rocdocs]

Cool story, thanks Joe!!!

[@Paul-um1zw]

I played there in a band that opened for the Pixies in Jan 1988. (The Wooden Soldiers)They were good, but I would not have guessed the would make it big. Got to meet Joey and Frank who stood out in a good way as grounded and down to earth.

[@rocdocs]

Kick ass!

[@stpeteaustin]

Yeah, you missed the Bad Brains show in 1982. The Bad Brains were one of the most influential bands when it came to hardcore. The first Breakdown show in I think 1987 also changed the course of NYHC.

[@davidmurray5399]

I saw Bad Brains at First Avenue in Minneapolis. I bought one of their cassette tapes, still have it!

[@marktait2371]

yeh believe was same year went to show much more rva we bought cassettes also then again later on mid 80s few weeks ago saw new vinly from 81 9.30 club indie label was pretty expensive 30 dollars but worth having should have paid for next time i go to indie store probably gone i had 2 or 3 cassetes bur long gone

[@GhostRanger5060]

The Dead boys deserve their own segment. Their recorded live album still holds up well after 45 years. Did any band come closer to the James Williamson era Iggy and the Stooges sound than the Dead Boys? I know of none. #blessings

[@skunk69x29]

Pure Hell

[@5783greg]

Me and my group of friends from the Buckeye Road area of Cleveland made many trips to CBGB's to see our neighborhood friend Johnny "Blitz" play drums with the Dead Boys.

[@robertcook2680]

You say, "Their recorded live album still holds up well after 45 years." What live album? Do you mean their debut album, "Young, Loud, and Snotty?" That IS a great album, one of the very best from that time and place, but it was not recorded live in concert. It was recorded in the studio and produced by Genya Ravan.

[@GhostRanger5060]

@@robertcook2680 "Night of the Living Dead Boys" is their live album, kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpjZdnumidubgpY

[@GhostRanger5060]

Night of the Living Dead Boys was recorded live at CBGBs in 1979 and came out in 1981. It's a great but controversial live recording that Stiv Bators tried to sabotage, requiring him to do a voiceover so it could be releasable. Google it. I had the original LP once... decades ago.

[@ETBrenner]

Psycho Killer was already getting a lot of airplay on the punkier college FM stations up in Boston where I was going to school, so when I was back in the NY metro area for 1976 summer break, I dragged a date to CBGB's to see Talking Heads perform. I remember clearly that grimy room with all those ancient neon beer signs with seemingly inches of accumulated dirt on them - actually, not all that different from the decor and level of cleanliness in Boston's then-premier punk rock bar, the Rat. 😀 Between New York and Boston, wow did I get to see a whole bunch of legendary acts in the 1970s!

[@rawgab4439]

Yo Broo ....The Ratskeller ...Legend

[@ronrimsite6948]

Boston had some amazing bands then. DMZ, the Real Kids, La Peste, the Neighborhoods and a bunch more deserving renewed attention.

[@JoelGalvan-w6y]

There was a dead wino on the alley entrance., Riga Oris had set in.

[@TeachinTV]

Tom Verlaine--rest in peace.

[@betsyduane3461]

Tommy was already in the Ramones when they first played CBGB. On January 28, 1974, Joey, Dee Dee, Johnny, and Tommy Ramone first got together at Performance Studios in NYC.

[@robertdefilippo547]

SUMMER '77--The Runaways--Blondie 4 nites in a row--that's the summer!!

[@rocdocs]

SICK Robert! Wow!

[@James-wj8eq]

Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Suicide both formidable live acts. To this day, my best live experiences ever!

[@rocdocs]

Thanks James!

[@matthewgiuliano7498]

If I remember correctly, it was a long time ago, I saw Suicide and the Runaways open up for the Ramones at the Palladium.

[@James-wj8eq]

@Matthew Giuliano Jeezo! That would've been a great gig man! I wish I'd had the chance to witness the Runaways, legendary!

[@curly_wyn]

@@James-wj8eq Yeah! Suicide had just come back to CBGB after being banned since 1972 for not drinking. It was their first proper show their. They opened for the Ramones and they played to..uh..loud boos and violent animosity from the crowd! In other words, they nailed it ;)

[@sandyhanson6082]

I played CBs three times. Twice with The Adolescents. Once with 22Jacks. Great memories.

[@r.p.9780]

SANDY!!!!! And you rocked em all!

[@ikemachamer7904]

I played at CBGBS many times with three different bands over years and often attended the Sunday hardcore shows.

[@WillN2Go1]

Good video. Saw Richard Hell and the Voidoids there 1979. By then it was almost the nostalgia tour. Being from Detroit, Punk never seemed new, just New York City theatricalized. I went to CBGBs another night, James White and the Blacks. This I remember as really good. Back in Detroit long before I got to New York: Mitch Ryder, of course Iggy and the Stooges, Destroy All Monsters (an Ann Arbor art/punk band with (later notable gallery artists) Mike Kelley, Jim Shaw, Niagara. Niagara often wore an longline bra on stage. I think she's where Madonna got a lot of her early ideas. And when you think of Detroit's MC5 as THE protopunk band, you have to note similarities with what The Who were doing (more tamely and a couple years earlier.) I think this about sums up the beginnings of Punk Rock. CBGBs is like the first Mexican restaurant in South Carolina, those of us who live in the southwest (and just visiting) were amused by all the hullabaloo, but it's a good place. And for the record - I'm an authority on not much of this. Read Legs McNeil's Please Kill Me, which I also think is one the best history books period. (This I am an authority on.) It really captures the whole punk scene as it developed. At CBGBs I might've paid $5 at the door, but I was never ever able to buy a beer.

[@rocdocs]

Thanks much for this/ really interesting

[@RoughRaiders13]

I grew up in northeast NJ and went to a bunch of shows there but my favorite was the Dave Brockie Experience, which was 3/5 of GWAR with no costumes for those who don't know. Before they went on someone behind me asked if I had a lighter. When I turned around it was Dave Brockie himself with a bowl of weed in his hand. I said yeah and pulled a bic out of my pocket and he said "wanna smoke this bowl with me?" I had been a GWAR fan since I was 12 so hell yeah I smoked a bowl with Dave. Haha..... That guy, and that whole band in general were all always so cool to their fans. Definitely a memory I will think about forever. RIP Dave

[@rocdocs]

Great story RR!!!

[@cinpa2968]

I only went there once… smelled like stale beer and a urinal. It was an off night and not much happening. I was a regular at The Ritz in the late 70s through early 80s and saw some amazing shows and was usually belly up to the stage. Thin Lizzy, Hot Tuna, Public Image Ltd, Men at Work, Chuck Berry (shoulder to shoulder with Keith Richards-super down to earth guy), Four Out of Five Doctors, John Cafferty, Gang of Four, The Alarm, The Shirts, The Buzzcocks, Adam and the Ants, Billy Idol, Echo and the Bunnymen, Stray Cats… soooo many more…

[@gavinore1507]

Not including bad brains or cro mags is wild

[@rocdocs]

If you have a specific show in mind post it here and maybe we do part 2? Thanks for commenting. I didn’t get into the hardcore days too much.

[@Marginwalker1972]

Yeah the Bad Brains Christmas shows in 82 need to be on this list!

[@mildred714]

Remember how you don’t who the Stimulators are?

[@Microtonal_Cats]

My band Bomb played CBGBs 3 times. One time was opening for Richie Stotts' (Plasmatics) solo band. This was 1989. Joey Ramone was in the audience at that one but he was surrounded by people trying to talk to him.

[@rocdocs]

Wow

[@Microtonal_Cats]

@@rocdocs Fun fact: the first time we played there, we had to play free. It was an "audition", even though we were on tour from San Francisco and had an album out.

[@karaamundson3964]

I still don't get how Patti Smith isn't in the R&R Hall of Fame

[@austinwarren2286]

She is but for some reason her band members are not

[@johnminarik3442]

No mention of the late great Willy DeVille/Mink DeVille?

[@scottgajewski3925]

I'm glad you mentioned beastie boys and Reagan youth but agnostic front murphys law the cro mags and countless other NYHC bands kept cbgb open throughout the 80's and I saw other people mention the bad brains...their 3 show stint in dec 82 is legendary

[@rocdocs]

Scott- working on part 2. Keep an eye out for your comment.

[@baronoflivonia.3512]

You definetly have the Wrong Fred Smith picture, the picture is Fred "Sonic" Smith of MC5 and Sonic Rendezvous Band. Fred Smith bass player was in Television.

[@billhenderson511]

Thank you.

[@BlackMan614]

I played in a band which opened for some punk/new wave bands in 1980. The place was in a bad part of town (at the time) and was a dive. All I remember is one of the Ramones was there and did lines off my synth road case. And yeah... when we played there were like 15 people in the bar... maybe 25 by the time we finished. And getting back to where we stayed near NYU at midnight was an adventure.

[@rocdocs]

Can we connect? I want to ask about this!

[@paolodeep8459]

Played there about 20 years ago. Drove from Connecticut in a snow storm. I think there was about six people in the place. Still had a good time.

[@TheCousinEddie]

Thanks for making this video. It's cool to hear the background and stories from that era. What an amazing place NYC was in the mid-70's, especially for music. CBGB's was the Mecca for Punk and introduced the world to many great bands. Subscribed!

[@rocdocs]

Irish Nachos thank you! Your kind words mean the world. :)

[@karaamundson3964]

💯

[@brianrowan3584]

The band I was in played there in May of 2002. Getting to perform on the same stage where so many legends started out was an experience that I'll never forget.

[@rocdocs]

I bet!

[@DailyBrusher]

One of these bands is not like the others... what is G'n'R doing in there with all the cool stuff?!!!

[@rocdocs]

Lol I just thought it was interesting. Thanks for commenting and watching

[@lazoolazoo3771]

You are correct about the restrooms being horrific. When my band auditioned there in 1980 I had to use the restroom, and went down there, and gagged. It was ridiculously awful. I ended up looking for another restroom and found one in a gas station nearby. But man, the restrooms at CBGB was the total dive of the universe 🤢

[@rocdocs]

Like even the poops were grossed out.

[@RIFFRAFF104]

Yup. Absolutely disgusting. BYOTP

[@keithstern1593]

When I first started going, in early 1974, the toilet was unenclosed and visible from much of the venue.

[@ewmlloyd]

I was too young to watch Richard play with Television at CBGB, but I did get to see him headline solo there in 1998. OMF (no U) G, the place was sensationally dilapidated! The archaeological sediment of layer upon layer of never-removed handbills, the ever-decrepit bathrooms, the stage that I'm surprised supported the weight of the band and their gear... it was _glorious_ ! I only got to go there that once, but it was unforgettable. On a somber note, I'm assuming you locked the script for this before the news came out, so let me say it here: RIP Tom Verlaine.

[@adelamoon]

My friend and I used to go in the early 80's. I saw the Beastie Boys play there, could have been that show. We used to see five bands for about five dollars. We saw a lot of punk bands at other places, I saw the Dead Kennedys three times. Many, many others throughout the city.