The 5: CBGB’s House Bands

This Week on the 5: The CGBGs House Bands

CBGB’s was the Mecca of New York City music in the 1970’s. Everyone knows that’s where bands like The Ramones, The Talking Heads, Blondie, Television and Patti Smith got their start. Those are the headliners. But the scene also brought about lesser known but equally as good acts playing there every night. Below are five of those bands.

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• The Dead Boys.  Moving from Ohio to New York City, The Dead Boys were a first wave punk band that lit up the New York Scene. Moving to New York on the suggestion of Joey Ramone, the band only lasted for 3 years, breaking up in 1979 after their label tried to make them more mainstream. The live Dead Boys shows are stuff of punk rock legend – nudity, violence and catchy songs were what they served up. They only had one album of real note, but it’s a classic. They’re best known for Sonic Reducer, a certified punk standard.  Click here or scroll down for the YouTube.
• Richard Hell and the Voidoids.  Richard Hell is punk rock. The Sex Pistols ripped a good part of their look off of him. He started playing with Television in the NYC clubs and eventually split from them due to disputes over creative control. He went on to form the Heatbreakers with Johnny Thunders and once that fell apart created Richard Hell and the Voidoids. Richard Hell was a staple at CBGB’s and everyone knows his biggest hit, Blank Generation.  Click here or scroll down for the YouTube.
• Mink DeVille.  Mink DeVille was one of the original CBGB house bands from 1975 – 1977. Songwriter Doc Pomus had this to say about Deville: “Mink DeVille knows the truth of a city street and the courage in a ghetto love song. And the harsh reality in his voice and phrasing is yesterday, today, and tomorrow — timeless in the same way that loneliness, no money, and troubles find each other and never quit for a minute.” Mink was a real bad ass on stage and a great and respected musician. Unfortunately, front man Willy DeVille passed away in 2009 from pancreatic cancer.  Click here or scroll down for the YouTube.
• The Cramps.  The Cramps were one of the original punk/rockabilly bands bouncing around in the mid 1970’s. They created their sound and image by playing nightly at CBGB’s, immersing themselves in the scene. The Cramps have also been credited as being one of the precursors to psychobilly. They stayed active for a long time, until the death of lead singer Lux Interior in 2009. Click here or scroll down for the YouTube.
• The Dictators.  The Dictators were a New York punk rock institution by the time they got banned from Max Kansas City in the 1970’s. They were seen as a obnoxious, loud and crazy – and they packed out every club they played. Eventually they got booked into CBGB’s on Monday night. packing it out and crushing the door. From there on in they couldn’t be stopped. They’re still touring today and continue to live the life.  Click here or scroll down for the YouTube.

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