A chronicle of the rise of what is perhaps New York’s most infamous music club is scheduled to hit screens in October.
Originally founded as a venue for country, bluegrass and blues in 1973, CBGB became synonymous with New York’s alternative scene and migrated to American punk and new-wave performers. Although it was never even close to being a gay bar, many early performers still had large gay followings.
Musicians and bands that laid the foundation for CBGB’s place in music history included The B-52s, Talking Heads, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and Patti Smith, to name only a few of the many acts that played there. As a banner toward the end of the movie trailer proclaims, CBGB was home to “50,000 bands and 1 disgusting bathroom.”
It was only in the 1980s that CBGB morphed into the heartland for NYC’s hardcore punk scene.
Filmmaker Randall Miller will take us back inside CBGB with his chronicle of the rise (and fall) of “the world’s most famous rock bar.”
Alan Rickman will play club founder Hilly Kristal, alongside an all-star cast that includes Johnny Galecki, Ryan Hurst, Ashley Greene, Justin Bartha, Donal Logue and Bradley Whitford.
“Why would you save for your dreams?” Rickman, as Kristal, asks in the trailer. “Why not live your dreams?”
CBGB closed in October 2006 with a final performance by Patti Smith.
The film is scheduled for release in theatres on Oct 11.
Why you can trust Xtra
