Hilly Kristal, CBGB Founder, Dies at 75

[gldstwmn]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/29/ar...in&oref=slogin

Hilly Kristal, who founded CBGB, the Bowery bar that became the cradle of punk and art-rock in New York in the 1970s and served as the inspiration for musician-friendly rock dives throughout the world, died in Manhattan on Tuesday. He was 75.

His son, Mark Dana Kristal, told The Associated Press that the cause was complications from lung cancer.

From its opening in late 1973, when Mr. Kristal, a lover of acoustic music, gave the club its name, an abbreviation of the kinds of music he originally intended to feature there — country, bluegrass and blues — until a dispute with its landlord forced the club to close last October, CBGB presented thousands of bands within its eternally crumbling, flyer-encrusted walls.

Most famously, it served as the incubator for the diverse underground scene of New York in the 1970s and early ’80s, with acts like the Ramones, Patti Smith, Blondie, Television, Talking Heads and Sonic Youth playing some of their earliest and most important concerts there, at a time when there were few outlets in the city for innovative rock music.

“There was no real venue in 1973 for people like us,” Ms. Smith said today. “We didn’t fit into the cabarets or the folk clubs. Hilly wanted the people that nobody else wanted. He wanted us.”

Besides his son, Mr. Kristal is survived by a daughter, Lisa Kristal Burgman, and two grandchildren.

[xdreamsunwindx]

I'm still in shock. I can't believe this.. so sad

[Sarah]

There there. There's no crying in punk, Kate. Everybody dies sometime, and he had a good run!

I wonder what the funeral arrangements will be like... can't help but think it will be a who's-who list of those who survived it all. I'm sure the stories they'll have to share with each other during the services, etc. will be amazing... to be a fly on the wall, huh?

[Livia]

Aaaw, that's sad. RIP, Mr. Kristal.

[GODDESS6]

so so sad~ i remember going to CBGB's back in the day, what a historical place in music, he will be sadly missed~

[shackin'up]

she founded one of the biggest cultural places in the US. The legacy lives on.

[michaelD]

RIP...
You will be missed...

Thanks for the music!