CBGB’s gets punked, moving to Sin City

After 33 years of quintessential punk performances, CBGB’s will be shutting its New York doors for the final time. Forced out by a landlord that no longer wanted the rock institution, owner Hilly Kristal will carry his club to Las Vegas.

CBGB helped launch the careers of punk pioneers like Lou Reed, Patti Smith, the Talking Heads, Blondie and the Ramones, a far cry from the clubs original intention of hosting country, bluegrass and blues performances.

It didn’t take long for the punk scene to adopt the threadbare club into its own haven. With Kristal’s motto appearing to be “anything goes”, punk bands gravitated to the Manhattan club and the rest was history.

With his lease expired and a landlord that no longer wants him, Kristal will be forced to close the doors on Sunday for the final time. Vowing to carry everything he can, including the urinals, Kristal will make the trek to Vegas and open the doors to a new era.

Patti Smith will be playing on the clubs final New York night, and with a legal capacity that barely stretches 300, it might just be the toughest ticket to get in N.Y.