The club on Bleeker street, known as CBGB’s was founded in 1973, by Hilly Kristal. The music intended to be featured was the namesake, that of country, blue grass, and blues. But in the way that things happen in Manhattan, for no explicable reason save for a sign of the times, this became a well-known venue for punk rock. The Dead Boys, The Ramones , Blondie, and Sick of It All are famous hard-core bands that played there over the years and ensured the reputation of the club. The club stood beside the well known record store and cafe of the same name for many years. In the 1980’s the record store closed its doors but the venue did re-open as a gallery and second performance space. This space, unlike the original, became a popular performance space for more acoustic rock. With experimental jazz and folk being hi-lighted.

Originally, the acronym OMFUG was part of the official title of the club. Standing for Other Music for Gormadizers. The word, ‘Gormandizer’ generally refers to one who ravenously eats food, but owner Kristal, determined it to stand for those who eat up music, and just can not get enough. And while the intention was for nights of poetry and folk/country music, this small bar became the birth-place of punk rock music in the United States. During the 1970’s there were not many clubs, New York hotel suites, or venues for unsigned bands to have a chance to perform. CBGB’s change all that nonsense. Although not labeled as punk rock yet, the bands that played during this decade set the tone for what was to become, and what was to become famous. Early, unknown at the time, the regular house band on Sunday nights was Television. Most insist that it was this group that brought punk rock to the city, however, Kristal’s son, a music fan and officiando claims that it happened prior, the moment that Tom Verlaine stepped on stage there for the first time. But no music historian can deny that Television started the wave of ’street music’, a term used to describe punk rock music at the time. Sadly, the club closed in 2006, with Patti Smith giving the final performance. A clothing store was put in place, but that closed as well, in 2008. A bit of history gone, but not forgotten. Many travel to the city to take photos of what is no longer there, either remembering past shows, or wishing they’d been lucky enough to see just one.

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