What was the last song played at the CBGB?
In 2006, the CBGB died. Well, arguably, it had died a long time before as the punk era became stale and then flatlined with a new age. Eventually, however, the iconic venue could no longer keep up with the bills and could no longer run on chaos alone as it had done for decades. A funeral was planned, eulogies written, and one final song was sung on the well-worn stage that had been commanded by so many legends.
CBGB, the bar located at 315 Bowery, opened its doors in December 1973. It was an interesting time in New York. The Chelsea Hotel was beginning its descent into its darker days as the music and literary scene seemed to be spiralling out. The optimism and hedonism of the 1960s came crashing to an end as legends like Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix died, Andy Warhol was shot and closed the doors to his Factory, and the scene that usually buzzed around him could no longer be found holding court at Max’s.
Those who still had money and power graduated to the highest level of the art scene and merged with the upper echelon. Rock and roll was beginning to change and morph in the city as Lou Reed quit The Velvet Underground. And as figures like Patti Smith were still only just unpacking their stuff as new kids in town, there was a moment where the city was lying in wait.
The CBGB founder, Hilly Kristal, didn’t seem to know what to do in this awkward in-between period either. Initially, he had planned for the venue to focus on country, bluegrass, and blues music, but he wrongly thought there was a market for that. But soon, unsigned acts began to flock to his bar as the Mercer Arts Center, which had previously been the spiritual home of the city’s new music scene, shut down. Suddenly, CBGB was the location for up-and-coming acts to be seen, for brand new bands to figure their sound out and for rough, ready and rowdy troupes to make a name for themselves.
Unexpectedly, as if cosmically timed, something new arrived just in time for the doors to open. That new thing was punk as acts like the Ramones, Television, Talking Heads, and more popped up, morphing rock into something new and thrilling. Patti Smith finished settling in and stated rocking out, Debbie Harry ditched her old band and started Blondie and all of them were booked early at the CBGB. Over time, it not only became a beloved meeting place for musicians, but it was hallowed historical ground and a mecca for fans. However, as is often the story in the music world, the profits didn’t match up with the legacy.
In 2005, CBGB was sued for $90,000 in rent allegedly owed to its landlord. That was on top of its staggering monthly rent of $19,000. After a legal battle over that, which had already caused financial chaos for the venue, the landlord raised the rent to $55,000. They fought that, but even when it was offered to drop to $35,000, Kristal still couldn’t afford it. Despite efforts from the venue’s many veterans to save it, the doors had to close.
But what was the last song played there?
On the evening of October 15th, 2006, the CBGB held its own funeral. Broadcast live on Sirius Radio, a gathering of musicians and fans alike came together for one last party and one last show on its hallowed stage. The headline act was Patti Smith.
It was the venue where she cut her teeth, so it felt right for Smith to shut the place down one last time. It was a lengthy 27-track setlist, including covers from various CBGB alumni like Television and the Ramones, along with classic rock and roll songs from The Rolling Stones, The Byrds, The Who and more.
And then, for her final song, she picked the most appropriate piece possible as she closed not only her set but the whole venue with ‘Elegie’. Already, the lyrics of the song from her debut album are perfect for remembrance. But as Smith extended the track, reading out the long list of names of friends, peers and musicians who once played the venue but had sadly passed since, the lyrics of “I think it’s sad, it’s much too bad / That our friends can’t be with us today,” took on a new meaning.
“33 years, it’s the same age as Jesus,” she said before the venue closed its doors and died for the sins of her whole musical generation.
