Just as Manny’s Music fades into the sunset, another New York icon has been reincarnated. The famed underground music club CBGB (launching pad for artists like The Ramones, Blondie, Television, and Patti Smith) has reopened its doors in the form of John Varvatos’ latest boutique. The menswear fashion designer has preserved much of CBGB's posters and graffiti-covered walls and recreated some of its gritty mood with dark wood, Victorian-style crystal chandeliers, velvet curtains, and a black ceiling.
The stage is long gone, as is its distinctive original door, but the space still has the same "feel", and the decor of guitars, drums, vintage hi-fi equipment, classic album covers, (and the same 70's pinball I have in my collection) help evoke its history. There’s talk of an in-house DJ and live performances – including a private album release party for famed glitter band New York Dolls.
"We're not trying to reinvent CBGB's," said Varvatos in a recent interview. "We're just trying to respect the past and let people have an opportunity to enjoy what was there.”
"The walls kind of talk in that place," he added.
Or maybe scream – huh?
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And there is indeed a fair bit of controversy about the demise of the club, how and why that went down, and the new occupant – but lamenting the loss of another cool live venue was a battle fought some time ago when things got so effed up with the landlord. What we have now, instead of another God-forsaken Starbucks, is a guy who understands, appreciates, and wants to preserve the storied past. I, too, wish to God it was still a club – but given where we’re at, I couldn’t be happier the new tenant ‘gets it’…
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