Pitchfork: CBGB: The End Is Nigh

For countless punk rock fans, August 31, 2005 might go down in history as the Day the Music Died, as the landlord for the legendary New York City club CBGB announced yesterday that the venue�s lease, which expired at midnight, would not be renewed. The announcement followed months of heated struggle over rent issues between the club and the Bowery Residents� Committee, the non-profit organization that owns the lease on the building at 315 Bowery. According to the Associated Press, Muzzy Rosenblatt, executive director of the BRC, issued a statement claiming that the BRC "believes it is in the best interest of our clients -- the homeless and neediest New Yorkers -- to sever this relationship,� and asked that CBGB "vacate the premises both voluntarily and expeditiously."

The announcement was made during a �Save CBGB� rally in Washington Square Park, organized by E Street Band guitarist/radio personality/�Sopranos� star �Little� Steven Van Zandt, and featuring performances by Blondie, Public Enemy and Gavin Rossdale�s new band, Institute, among others. Van Zandt, along with Kristal, pledged to fight the eviction in court. "We're not going without a fight," he told the AP. Kristal added, "We intend to stay. This is not a eulogy. There's no reason why we shouldn't come to an understanding.�

href=http://pitchforkmedia.com/news/05-05/19.shtml#cbgb>Save CBGB!