Aside from playing there with my own band several times in the past, I was happy to host an open mic on the Gallery/Lounge side last winter and spring.(2006)

 My favorite part of that experience was when musicians from other countries signed up to play, and I would inform them that they will be live on the internet and if they call home, thier friends and family can see them. I remember how thier faces would light up and immediately get thier phones out to call home. Often waking family and friends up in the wee hours because of the time differenece.I get off on making people smile, I wish everyone did.

Here's a small piece of a blog on my page about last week's final hardcore matinee...

Hardcore matinees were successful because of everybody.  The kids, the bands, the 'zines, the little record stores, EVERYBODY.  Every Sunday it came together: hanging out, playing, listening to others play, buying stuff, selling stuff, promoting stuff, supporting each other.  (Generally speaking, that's true, although the scene really wasn't quite as tight as our memories now lead us to believe.  More on that another time.)  Of course, CBGB was the perfect place to make it all happen.  Cheap doors, anyone could play, people from the scene booked the shows and worked there, no bouncers keeping people off the sidewalks, etc.  It was more than a place to see good bands.  It was a place to hang out and have fun.  I have more memories of being out on the sidewalk than I do of being inside.  This last matinee was no different. 

Click here'>http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=65359013&blogID=180556094&MyToken=504b0738-4a87-48f5-9a16-ed8adcd3af6d">here the whole blog. 

when i was a tot
my sister took me there
cause she had to babysit me
and the DK's were playing and she couldn't miss it

i remember it was loud, moist and smelling like body oder.

i went there to see lots of my friends bands and famous bands...i live on the west coast today...so...it's alright to close down now...plus...give the kids a cleanish place to show off their goods

I spent an arm and a leg to fly 3,000 miles across the country to NYC to see the place before it closed. I just HAD TO. I got to go inside and see a show. As I touched the layers of flyers and stickers, I knew the future generations were going to miss out on something. I'm a huge fan of the Ramones. And part of me feels like changing the location is like changing the past. You'd never see Joey Ramone walk down the streets of Las Vegas. But you would see him walk down Bowery and Bleeker. I just can't see Joey Ramone singing "Viva Las Vegas."Anyways, here is my tribute to Cb Gb's and punk rock...

As you guys know I am a huge Ramones fan (especially Joey) and seeing this place (along with going to his annual bash) was something I had to do. As I went inside CbGb's... it was a lot like going tinto a stinky cave with no ventilation that reaked of beer. It was creepy...I could feel the Ramones there. The age, all the bands who performed there was something you could literally sense. The place is haunted with history. The moment I stepped in there it was like I was tracing the exact same steps so many of my heroes had walked before me. I liken the expierience to sitting in a cemetary with a bunch of punks, cramped and anxious. The tombstones so old, they reaked from staleness. Who knows what went down there; I have no doubt a fair share of BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS were shed there.

I could SO see the Ramones up there...Joey TOWERING literally over everyone. The place was like the very music it harbored: hard and dirty. Music is my life, and punk rock is an important thing to me. The appearance of the place didn't make a damn difference to me. I wasn just happy I got to be one of the lucky ones to walk through an open door there. "Hilly had to work 20 hours a day, driving a cab to help him afford the Opening of CBGB back in November 1973. He paid his dues, He DID NOT Take The Easy out, and a few years later, The Ramones, Patti Smith, Blondie, Talking Heads, Joan Jet and a whole lotta other Bands, ( Like AC/DC who played there in 1978 ) all benefited from Hilly's HARD WORK, Determination and faith in a dream." Hilly, thanks for giving my boys a chance, and thanks for being able to keep the place open as long as you did. Most of my favorite bands got there start there. Without CbGb's, we may not have gotten the bands we have today. It's all because you gave them the exposure they needed.

Thats how culturally important Cb Gb's is. Ever since hearing it was going to close...I felt like it closing would kind of cut off another outlet. We've already lost Joey, Dee Dee, and Johnny...closing it would be like fogetting them in a small way. To me it would be like shutting down Graceland or any other monument that landmarks a point in history. Maybe even closing CbGb's is like forgetting rock and roll a little bit more. But than I re-evaluated that thought a little bit more. Punk rock will never die as long as we continue to listen to it and celebrate it. As long as someone remembers, it can never die. And I can tell every single person who sees this page...I WILL -NEVER- FORGET. To people who say punk rock is dead: fuck you.

Becca Jones-Starr of bite-the-dust.com

Well the last hardcore show wednesday night rocked the house like the good old days.The Belmar Boys "Underdog", and the legendary "Bad Brains" sent CB's off with a bang. Since firt going there in the early 80's up untill the present. CBGB's has been a big part of my life. From Agnostic Front,Cro-Mags,Minor Threat to Murphy's Law. It has meant alot, to alot of young  kids looking for away to feel a part of something special, and CBGB's was that special place.While there wednesday night i couldn't help but looking around at the walls, and the ceiling, and all those stickers without feeling alittle sad.Knowing it was the last time i would be there, and thinking of all the great bands that have played there through the years.It was an awesome place that i will never forget.What a shame to see it go R.I.P. !! And thanks for the great memories. N.Y.H.C  for life !!

                                    Chris Behrman, "Belmar Boy"

Just sitting on that stage... Knowing what was there. No one can take that away from me. Good luck to you guys, Im gonna miss the mecca.

Wash.

The first time I finally made the trek to CBGB's was shortly after Johnny Ramone had died. There was a make-shift shrine out front for him...complete with some black Chucks. The Ramones have always been one of my favorite bands, so getting to CB's for the first time, and getting to see the shrine on the same day, was pretty surreal. An experience I won't forget, that is for certain. 

Ahh, the joy.

I have been lucky enough to visit CBGB's twice in my life. Both times in the same year, but with different friends.

The first time a friend and I caught a cab from the hotel we were staying in and turned up to find scaffolding all round the building. Night time and not the best camera didn't help too much for photo opportunities, but

I'm there somewhere!

Then of course, being from over the Atlantic, we hadn't got used to the 'carry your passport everywhere' idea, so we both ended up inside but unable to buy alcohol!

Crazy!

But we found a table and I left my mark (a sticker with my @ logo)

and we had a great time anyway.

Later that year I came back to NY and we visited again, this time in daylight and after the scaffold came down.

Damn I'm gonna miss the place.

Thanks for the memories CBGB's.

I went to cbgb's last spring, my friend from flashlight brown were playing with the slackers.

So I drove from Montréal, especially to have my picture taken in front of the cbgb's and the Joey Ramones place.  wich you can see on the left.

My first time in N.Y. what a blast I had, I even had the chance to met Mike McColgan from the street dogs who was hanging out drinking a beer, after his gig in new jersey.

I'll never forget this week end!

thank you! 

Me and my friend ditched school one day to go to NYC on March 18,2006,we live in Scranton PA,two hours away.We took the bus,had no idea what we were doing when we got there,we just wanted to go to the East side,so we walked for about an hour or so across town,and then went to St.Marks Place,and then we really wanted to go to CBGBs,thats one of the main reasons we went,so we walked over there,we werent sure if they were open,so I opened the door a little bit,and there were people at the desk,said "wow" and closed the door.After I got over my embaressment,I asked if we could look around,and we did,and wow,I was just amazed,I loved every minute of it,I loved how the walls,floor,stage,just everything was,even how the chairs were set up.Call me a dork,NYC is where Im ment to be,and am moving there soon.I have a lot of pictures,and the whole experience for me was amazing.

The second time I went there was recently,Sept.23rd,to see APPLE,Reagan Youth,The Freeze,and Agent Orange,sorry if I forgot a band.My sister drove me and my 2 friends and her friend,I paid her $100 dollars to take us.We got lost getting there,and in the city,but finally I realized something familiar,and it was the store Love Saves the Day,so me and my friends got out of the car,and ran to CBGBs,and when we got to Joey Ramone Place,I looked back and said a prayer to Joey.Then we waited in line for a while,and when we got to the door,I found out I needed my ID,but I didnt have it on me,so I couldnt get it,it sucked a lot,but its not the people at CBGBs fault,although,they didnt have to be such dickheads towards me and my friends.But either way,I still enjoyed just being there.

CBGBs is gone,and it really sux.There will never be a club like this ever again,so thanx Hilly,you should really get a lot of credit for being one of the first involved with Punk,you gave bands chances,and more than one,even though,you didnt like them.

R.I.P.CBGBs.

-Caitlin

Sorry if I post twice I tried to post this morning and myspace was having tech issues so I don't think my first post went through.

Over the last ten years I have had many happy memories of CB's, it's hard to pin point just one memory when there have been so many. CB's has meant more to me then anyother music venue/bar in this city, no matter if the bill for that night was all death metal or techno you always felt as if you belonged (unlike another rock club that has a certain night run by some trust fund hipster fucktards) and you were welcomed.

A dear friend of mine has promoted at CB's over the last  couple of years and I would always help her with her shows at CB's and through her I was able to befriend alot of the staff and I think what I'll miss the most is helping her prepare for her shows and hanging out and ordering dinner with the staff. And just dropping in to hang out in general and hearing some really good bands and some not so really good bands.

I'm just so sad that I can no longer do that, I feel like a part of my life has gone away!

the first and only time i ever went to CBGB's was like some kind of crazy fantasy. being an enormous fan of the Ramones and Joey since i was in fifth grade, i had dreamed of being there at this amazing club that i had only seen in movies and pored over in pictures. The idea of stepping into CBGB's was like the idea of meeting the ghost of Joey Ramone; it seemed completely inplausible to happen. Finally, when I entered high school, my mom told me that we would be going on a brief trip to NYC, and i begged to be able to stop by the famous club.

When we got to Times Square, I could hardly look at all the sights around me. All I could think about was seeing those bright red letters spelling out my only reason for being in this unfamiliar place. On broadway, in our hotel, looking at grafitti... all i could think about was CBGB's, which of course pissed my mom off to no end.
The last day we were in NYC was the day I was promised to stop briefly by CBGB's. But first, of course, the family had to eat, so we went by Little Italy for some food. As soon as lunch/dinner was over, I jumped up from the table and took off running up the street with a map in my hand. I ran what seemed like MILES of city, running and running and running through the streets like an insane person. I didn't stop running till I reached Bowery, and then I began sprinting, because the bright red letters were in view at last. I couldn't even think. My head was spinning and I wanted to laugh and cry and fall down onto the street all at the same time. When I cracked open the door, the woman standing there said it was closed but she would let me through to take a quick look around. It seemed fitting that the first thing I spotted was a poster of Joey Ramone with PUNK LIVES written over his head. I walked through the club, drowning myself in the sights of all the beautiful crud and names and grafitti EVERYWHERE... and I swear when I blinked the image of my favorite band of all eternity hovered for a millisecond in my vision, on the stage, and then disappeared. I couldn't stand it. I cried a little, touching the stage, and felt like kicking myself for not bringing a pen or paint or SOMETHING... to place my mark forever here. Instead, I found a pencil in my pocket and scratched my name and initials in two seperate places on the tape of the stage. I sat there for a while, feeling the wood under my fingers, crying, thinking of Joey Ramone having been in this same exact spot numerous times. It was too much for me, and I had to leave and enter CB's Gallery next door to do the typical tourist thing and buy a shirt, poster, pins, etc. (most of which i recently lost.) I struck up a conversation with the man working there, but I felt stupid and depressed standing in this dream of a place with nothing more than a shitty disposable camera and Joey Ramone's Baby I Love You running through my head over and over for no particular reason other than to torture me even more. After crying over Joey Ramone Place and touching the door of CBGB's again and again, feeling like some stupid fucking emo kid, I left and began to walk back down the street, turning around again and again so I would never forget the sight of it.

And I never have. (so far)
Rest In Peace CBGB's, just like the gods that graced your stage for so many years.

~Louisa Alice Ramone   

My seventh time in NYC and Ashley's first:

This was my first time at CBGB with Ashley.  And im just remembering how it was so empty because we wanted to gawk at it without the people, and walk on the piss stained, blood, beer, vomit, and sweat layered floors.  We touched the imfamous stage.  We even grabbed up a few (out of the thousands) of posters from the walls, as sort of a souviner. Even the bathrooms got a good 2 minute stare, lets face it, they deserve it.  After complete silence for a bout 20 minutes (so we wouldnt ruin the memory)  and a few teary eyed "I -cant-belive-were-standing-here" stares, we met a man named Ron who we had a conversation with but this is the one statement thatwill always stand out amongst the rest  "I would collect pop cans to go to shows, if it weren't for CB's...I PROBLY WOULDNT HAVE MADE IT."  shows were just as sentimental, but that first time there always comes to mind before the shows now.  But back to Ron, that one statement, makes it so hard to belive that CBGB actually closed down just yesturday. It has literally changed people lives and history.  And if glorifying CBGB and its existance is cliche' or niave, than they obviously have never felt the effects of something that powerful that could be a household name for punks...and fuck it music lovers in general, or music gormandizers, more appropriate.

RIP.

jumping from that tower to the left of the stage (if yr facin it) at my first show some five odd years ago and landing on the head of a person who later ended up becoming one of my closest friends

flipping off the tourist buses, my friend chasing it down and mooning it

being 16,17, 18, 19, and 20 and paying my of-age friends excessive amounts of money for pbr, and only being caught once, and let back in

puking on you enough times to be noted and you letting me in time and time again

there are probably more

and even though i can't remember every show i've attended every show has probably been memorable

We played CBGB in MAY!

We went form Japan, so We couldn't bring a drums.  Before the our show, I knew that there were not cymbals!!! but CBGB's staff borrowed it from other band.I don't remember his name and spelling surely....Mr.AL? I appreciate you guys!

My english is not enough.but staff took good care us!

CBGB is  the greatest place! I don't forget great memory at CBGB!

We want to play new location again!!

August 28 2005. Me and my friend Dan was heading to Vancouver, stopped over in New York for a couple of nights. He's more of a hip-hop guy, but I convinced him we had to go to CBGBs. When we got there it was sold out because it was the Save CBGBs benefit show, but the wonderful and great bartender Phoebe got us on the guestlist. This was the moment i had been dreaming about for so long. We got to the show, and was just amazed by the place, the atmosphere, the music. Everything was just even better than I've ever dreamed of. Even Dan was amazed. We just had the best time of our lives. Thank you so much for everything you've done. Everything that you made happen in the music scene. There is just no way to describe what you've accomplished.

Tonight. I invited a few friends over for one last CBGBs remembering party. Surprisingly, they actually turned up to my place on a sunday night. We just had a great time. Playing all the classics. Drinking a lot. Once again. Thanks so much, to Hilly, all the bands, all the staff, and everyone else that made CBGB into what it has been.

An era is over. But we will never forget. As long as there is music there is hope.

Thanks. And a special thank you to Phoebe. Love you.

/Henrik from Sweden.

My best memories are of seeing Annie Golden. I have made sure I was there when she was performing. She is my all time favorite. I love her and wish I would of gotten the chance to see her again, the last time was in 2003 or 2004, cant remember which, but she put on a fantastic show as always.

Truly sad to see CBGB's go.

I wrote this after going to CBs for the very first time this summer. So to me, this is my memory of the place:

The decaying legend still stands
Patched together with stickers,
Tiers of torn posters,
Beer, sweat, and blood
From punk rock gods.

Riffs scream from speakers
Til your eardrums keep the beat.
Gormandizers straggle in and out
Sucking back shots
Disguised as mixed drinks.

Once a flop house bar
Soon the street rock scene
Now forced out of NYC nightlife
Bowery's better these days
Punk kids stay away.

Inside, the skeleton remains
Dingy, dark and dusty
No smoke screen now
Secondhand can kill
No loitering, keep moving.

Only the legend lingers
They were all here once,
Young and undiscovered
Feeding the fire of rock
That would scorch our souls 

Rock gormandizers unite
Can't somebody save CB's?

Aside from the times I've played here over the years, I'd have to say New Year's Eve 2005 will stand out as my best memory. You can read about it here and/or see my pictures here.

Cheers to Hilly and the gang!

I remeber the first time I went to NYC..myu dad wanted  to show me times square, the statue of liberty,the empire state..but I just could think in one thing..I have to go to the lower east side ..go to the cbgb's ...to tompkins square park. To see where the people I admire used to hang out. I saw a t cbgb's the dead boys,moonraker,world inferno friendship society,rana,midnight creeps,sonic youth..man I will miss that place.It is a shame for NYC mayor and council to let this happen.Really a shame.

Andres

My fondest memory.........Spending time on the thrown whenever we were in town!   Im not affraid to take a shit on that!

Big B

The first time I saw CBGB was in the black and white photo insert from a book called FROM THE VELVETS TO THE VODOIDS when I was 16. As fate would have it, I wouldn't set foot into CBs until ten years later for a Dead Man Walking show and I got to meet one of my punk rock heroes, Captain Sensible! 

And I have to say that the last weekend was the most memorable moment for me.... meeting all the characters on line even if I didn't get in to see Patti Smith. Debbie Harry smiled at me and HD Manitoba assured us all that NY will always have Rock n' Roll as long as he's in town. Special thanks to Matt Pless for getting an acoustic punk set set going on the sidewalk. Long Live Rock n' Roll!

~Marty Radical

I saw the Dead Boys , Plasmatics , Joan Jett and Ramones here .. If it wasn't for CBGB and the bands god forbid I might have followed into most the crowd's footsteps and started liking spandex clad , long haired,  buttrocker music

Thank You CBGB for helping turn my musical taste into something that rocked !!!

Wendy O and her chainsaw !!!!! now that was a show!!!!