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episode date - October 17, 2006
On Sunday, October 15, 2006, CBGB shut its doors after one last gasp of a live performance. The show featured resident hero Patti Smith playing for a wall-to-wall crowd, with no room to move between the graffiti-riddled walls and barely enough oxygen to share. I’d like to imagine that it was just like old times, although I wasn’t there to see it fizzle out.
Considering the history of the venue, and the volatile nature of the bands who made their reputation there, I half expected a huge fireball to rise into the sky as the last notes emerged from a blown-out guitar amp. Not that I condone violence, but some mayhem would have been fitting and appropriate for a place that hosted punk rock before the Sex Pistols even existed. Somehow, it just doesn’t seem right that CBGB would go out with a whimper instead of a bang, but it’s behind us now. I understand that a newer, cleaner (how could it NOT be?) CBGB will open in Las Vegas, probably near the faux pyramids and the faux Eiffel Tower, and the faux…oh whatever.
Las Vegas and CBGB go together like Jerry Falwell and Wayne County (remember drag queen Wayne County & the Electric Chairs?). Lost in a sea of plastic, future generations will have no idea what they missed, but this radio show will stand as one tiny little testament to my own memories. I saw the Ramones there around 1978, and the Dead Boys, and the Plasmatics, and Suicide, and probably a few others that I can’t remember due to damaged brain cells. We played there, too. We were called the Headlickers (as borderline ridiculous a name as I’ve ever heard), so I will indulge my own selfish memories as well. I still don’t fully understand the politics that failed the club at its demise, but it doesn’t matter. It’s over, and the next generation will probably pay $25.00 to take in the CBGB experience on the way to the roulette table…
God, we need another punk era.
Here’s music from today’s show;
1) Gloria/ In Excelsis Deo – Patti Smith
2) I Wanna Be Sedated – The Ramones
3) See No Evil – Televisio
4) Cadillac Moon – Mink DeVille
5) Blank Generation – Richard Hell & the Voidoids
6) Hey Little Girl – The Dead Boys
7) Rip Her to Shreds - Blondi
8) Life During Wartime – The Talking Heads
9) Black Section – The Headlickers
10) Suburbs – The Headlickers
11) Hey Mom – The Headlickers
Further Suggested Listening;
Patti Smith – “Horses”
The Ramones – “The Ramones”
Blondie – “Plastic Letters”
The Talking Heads – “’77”
Television – “Marquee Moon” (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)
The Dead Boys – “Young, Loud and Snotty”
Mink DeVille – “Cabretta” (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)
For further information on the Headlickers and song availability, write us directly at the American Hit Network.
CLICK HERE to listen to the full show!
 
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