Founded in 1973 by Hilly Kristal, CBGB (otherwise known as Country, Bluegrass and Blues) was an iconic music venue located at Bowery and Bleecker in New York City. Before it closed in 2006, it saw the likes of Talking Heads, Velvet Underground, Blondie, Ramones, Misfits, Joan Jett, The B-52’s, Iggy Pop, The Police and Patti Smith walk through its doors. It’s story is now the basis for a feature film and the first trailer has arrived today.
Coming from Bottle Shock director Randall Miller, this footage — which is a bit scattered, but perhaps fitting — doesn’t necessarily sell us, but it may be worth a look. Check out the trailer below for the film starring Alan Rickman, Ashley Greene, Malin Akerman, Freddy Rodriguez, Donal Logue, Stana Katic, Rupert Grint, Joel David Moore, Ryan Hurst, Johnny Galecki, Ahna O’Reilly, Richard de Klerk, Mickey Sumner, Taylor Hawkins and Bradley Whitford.
CBGB follows the story of Hilly Kristal’s New York club from its origins as Country, Bluegrass and Blues (CBGB) to what it ultimately became: the birthplace of underground rock ‘n roll and punk. Kristal, a fan of Country and Bluegrass dreamed of having a club in the lower Eastside that catered to that kind of music, when he had difficulty booking those bands he turned to other kinds of rock music. Hilly had one demand of the acts he booked, they could only play their own original music. No top 40’s, no covers. It was the credo he lived by, support the artist at whatever the cost.
CBGB is expected to hit theaters this fall.
What do you think of the debut trailer?