Final Breath

Within the month, CBGB will no longer be on the Bowery. Almost fitting, as its canopies no longer match the glass boxes thrown up in its midst. In the current issue of the Village Voice, Lenny Kaye of the Patti Smith Group (and mastermind behind the legendary Nuggets record) wrote an outstanding farewell piece to the swank pit he once called home.

Do yourself a favor and read it...

It's always the same ritual unfolding, load-in to load-out, sound check to sonic overload, visiting the stations of the rock-and-roll cross. Hauling the equipment in past the pinball machine. Positioning the amplifier on the splintered stage. Tuning the guitar, hearing the first chord seep into walls that have been tempered to the sound of electric noise. Shouting into the microphone, knowing it's never going to approximate the rebound of the audience throwing it back at you, after you've waited backstage for hours in that cramped lean-to of a dressing room with no door—somehow fitting in a club of such an egalitarian nature—and illegible layers of band stickers and graffiti letting you know who else has done their time here, a grand continuum. Straining to hear your-self over the treble pierce of the monitors, the drummer's snare cracking at your own eardrums. The lights burning into you, the crowd—and it could well be you out there—daring you to top yourself. Suicide or transcendence, take your pick, guitar or ax. (CONTINUE)