Celebrated as one of the greatest, most influential hubs of punk rock in the United States, CBGB has gained an almost mythical status that has made it so much more than a mere music venue to fans over the past 50 years. Opened on December 10th, 1973, on the Bowery in Manhattan by Hilly Kristal, CBGB was originally intended for country, bluegrass, and blues acts, but the venue would quickly become the site of the earliest shows by some of punk and new wave’s most important bands, including The Ramones, The Talking Heads, Patti Smith, and Blondie. In the ‘80s, CBGB embraced New York’s hardcore scene, featuring groups like The Misfits, Gorilla Biscuits, Reagan Youth, and The Beastie Boys. Sadly, the venue would shut down in 2006, and is currently occupied by a high-end fashion retailer—much to the dismay of punks everywhere. Although CBGB will likely never return to its former glory, it remains a significant touchstone for disaffected youth…or the disaffected in general. To me, the legacy of CBGB is its history of showcasing a diversity of music that deviated from mainstream tastes at the time—especially in the early years. So, on its 50th anniversary, what better way to celebrate CBGB than listening to the bands that, along with the venue itself, helped define a major period of rock music?

For more great music, make sure to check out the offerings of your local Library branch and Freegal.

Horses by Patti Smith

Still Snotty: Young, Loud, and Snotty at 40 by Dead Boys 

Bad Brains by Bad Brains

Talking Heads ‘77 by The Talking Heads  

Marquee Moon by Television

Ramones by The Ramones

Songs the Lord Taught Us by The Cramps

Static Age by The Misfits

Blank Generation by Richard Hell & the Voidoids

Gorilla Biscuits by Gorilla Biscuits