Hilly Kristal, owner and founder of CBGB, writes a brief history of the club that for the past twenty seven years has become synonymous with underground music. CBGB.com presents this history as it is written in sequential installments.

Installment Vol.6 Page 1

In the fall of 76’ rock bands were invading CBGB’s from all over the country. Boston was one of the more fertile cities for the developing of new rock bands. For many years Boston has had more college kids than any other city, and they’ve always had a great rock club scene. The Rathskeller, owned by Jimmy Harold, was one of the premier clubs in Boston that catered to new rock bands. I would book a group of Boston bands into CBGB that Jimmy recommended, and he would do the same for me at his club. I did the same with the “Hot Club” in Philla. Pa. From Boston, one weekend, we had D.M.Z, The Inflictors, Hot Rain, The Yarbles, Mickey Clean and the Mez, Real Kids, The Boiz, Bon Jour Aviator, and a special group from Cleaveland that Joey Ramone told me about. They were called ‘The Dead Boys’. The Dead Boys, on stage, epitomized what a punk band should be. They were loud, raw, crass, with super high energy. They were outrageous and obscene, with excellent lyrics and music. Somehow they were disciplined musicians. Stiv Bators, Cheetah Chrome, Jimmy Zero, and Johnny Blitz were their names. They were without a bass player at that time but it was soon to be Jeff Magnum. The lack or a bass player did not handicap them in the least. They were great!!

Dead Boys

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