Installment Vol. 2, Page 6

The Patti Smith Group with Television ended their stay sometime in May. As I remember it, the excitement and recognition they brought to CBGB started to subside even though we were finding more and more origonal bands. Some of my favorites were The Marbles, The Mumps with Lance Loud, Mink de Ville, Orhestra Luna, The Panets, and The Miamis. There were many others. Oh yes, Jonathan Richman did a great set here in the first year. Unfortunatly he never played here again. Jonathan, come back! PLEASE!! Except for Clive Davis, who came down to CBGB repeatedly and signed The Patti Smith Group, the record industry as a whole was not impressed by this new music. In fact, I have always felt they were particularly negative, and feared the influx of a new musical trend might distract from their established artists (making them a pile of money). SEYMOUR STEIN, owner of Sire Records, was an exception with his staff of one: Caig Leon. Similarily, Richard Gottehrer- who had been Seymour's partner- turned into a record producer. A couple of independent labels eventually showed up, but as I recall, there was not that much interest in the first two and a half years. I'm trying to remember a really wacky, campy, rock review that opened across the street at the Bouwerie (Dutch For Bowery) Lane Theatre. It was "The Palm Casino Revue." The cast included Gorilla Rose, Tomato du Plenty, Fayette Houser, and the infamous sisters TISH and SNOOKY (who years latter started "MANIC PANIC", a very successful rock accessories company specializing in weird make up, hair-dye, and hundereds of other items distributed around the world).

Tish and Snooky also started one of the most fun and cool rock bands called "The Sic F*cks," and shared top billing with their buddy Russel. At some point in 1975 Debbie Harry discovered Tish and Snooky in "The Palm Casino Revue" and asked them to join "Blondie" which they did as back up singers for a period of time. Later on "The Palm Casino Revue" came to CBGB on Halloween. They called themselves "The Savage Voodoo Nuns." Tomato, by the way, is now a successful fine artist living in New Orleans.

In June of 1975, it looked as if it was going to be a long hot summer. Street Rock was not as yet called "Punk." Many bands from Boston and Philadelphia started coming to New York to play CBGB. The number of origonal rock bands was growing, but there was still no recognition from record labels nor press and so there was still a relatively small number of paying customers. But we were having lots of fun and partying and everyone was doing what they do "their way," and -F*ck- everybody else! ! !

(Continue to Installment Vol 3 Here)

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