How a New York Hotel Collapse Led to the Legendary CBGB’s
This is the story of how the collapse of Mercer Arts Center and a band on the hunt for a new venue led to CBGB’s and the birth of punk rock. Sometimes seemingly disconnected events in history ripple and have monumental impact. This is the story of a few such events led to the transformation of the Country Bluegrass and Blues bar into ground zero of the punk scene. And it’s a story that dates back to the 1800s and one of the juiciest scandals of the era.
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CHAPTERS:
0:00 Punk Rock, MLB, and A Robber Barron from the 1870s
1:00 CBGB’s Before Punk Rock
1:57 The Broadway Central Hotel
4:48 The Collapse of the Mercer Arts Center
8:54 CBGB’s And The Birth of Punk Rock
CLIPS USED:
Ramones at CBGB’s https://youtu.be/IwsVWZ-c8Eo?si=1nBgUU1O6ILzT4oq
NYC in the 1970s https://youtu.be/yf206HJ55ts?si=48BKhY8VnePpHQNa
Baseball Footage from 1898: https://youtu.be/HCoAY1BqpTk?si=Dxw6acDxSJ1gh_N2
Collapse of Mercer Arts Center: https://youtu.be/Tu0JhU9wQK0?si=_kmWshw0fZybRia_
CBGB’s Final Look: https://youtu.be/K6hSTAxju2Y?si=lY4UcUkZfp8JZeQi
Blondie Live at CBGB’s 1975: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOnnKBxhiYk
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#cbgb #cbgbs #punkrock #tomverlaine #ramones #theramones #newyorkdolls #themodernlovers #mercerartscenter #mercerartcenter
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@AndyFenstermaker
April 17, 2026 at 2:47 am
The signs of punk can be traced further back than Mercer Arts and CBGB's. I explore one of the lesser talked about pioneers of proto punk, The Sonics, in this next video: https://youtu.be/f5ENuJ6v4ko
@SEVENSKANYC1999
April 17, 2026 at 2:47 am
U MISSED AN IMPORTANT FACT CBGB'S WAS FIRST CALLED HILLY'S ON THE BOWERY FROM 1969- 1972
@outtathyme5679
April 17, 2026 at 2:47 am
Great work. Are you sure the Ramones played there tho? Seems a bit too early for them
@davybones7111
April 17, 2026 at 2:47 am
You talk about fixing the passed through sights and sounds. When I want to bring myself back to the days of cbgb's I just go stick my nose in the toilet and take a big whiff.
@bibisongtime
April 17, 2026 at 2:47 am
Thank you for this deep dive! I had the pleasure of recording this spooky song with the one and only Richard Lloyd of Televsion. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/KnrMCBvtvYg?si=mVro1bWVLYju-XV7
@agyvonne
April 17, 2026 at 2:47 am
Loved the Mercer Arts Center
@paulsass4343
April 17, 2026 at 2:47 am
the way that television persuaded Hilly to let them play more and more ,was that, he supplied the materials, and those guys, mainly Hell and Verlaine BUILT the stage! not the stage you see in most photos, an earlier one to the left side in the back.
@MrDaigoRiki
April 17, 2026 at 2:47 am
Who was the owner of the cbgb at that punk prime?
@danaszalontai5691
April 17, 2026 at 2:47 am
Awesome stuff. Yer not a New Yorker as evidenced through pronunciation of local names including: Houston, Greenwich. All good though. i appreciate the education and smooth delivery.
@vollsticks
April 17, 2026 at 2:47 am
So, did CBGB's ever serve food?!? This is the real question, surely.
@stringkill70
April 17, 2026 at 2:47 am
The man pictured @ 3:29 is noted financier & investment banker J.P. Morgan, NOT Jim Fisk.
@SamuelLove
April 17, 2026 at 2:47 am
Very good urban history, bravo! So cool to see old photos of the building – after seeing rock photos decades ago
@LuxuryPossum
April 17, 2026 at 2:47 am
It's always so interesting that Television was the first band to make CBGB's the home of what would become Punk, however, they were one of the last bands to put out an album from the scene, with Marquee Moon coming out in early '77, 1 to 2 years after Blondie, Patti Smith, and the Ramones released their first albums. At the same time, I'm glad they waited, because MM is one of the best albums of all time, and transcends the label of Punk. It's funny that the OMFUG part eventually got dropped from the name of the club, as that's exactly what the club ended up catering too: Other Music For Uplifting Gourmandizers. Gourmandizers here could refer to music fans looking for the next big music scene, from Punk, to New Wave, to Goth, to Alternative.
@empireofidiots
April 17, 2026 at 2:47 am
The location is pronounced "Gren-Itch" Village, not "Green-Witch" Village, despite how it's spelled.
@KINGMONKEY1989
April 17, 2026 at 2:47 am
As a British kid in the 80's and huving really young parents who had me at 17 my folks got me into The Sex Pistols and my love for punk rock was born from that. It then led me to discovering bands like The Ramones, Talking Heads, The Dead boys and of course Television who is my favourite band from that whole CBGB's scene. Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers are a very close second.
@AJNpa80
April 17, 2026 at 2:47 am
Curious how one goes about making a Fenster. As a fellow Andy any tips would be appreciated.
@thecolorhero1078
April 17, 2026 at 2:47 am
Subbed…..and liked! -thanks!
@jaimeromero4382
April 17, 2026 at 2:47 am
Thank you , this video should be known by any punk rocker. Remerber Stiv Bators's song. Crimen in the streets.