CBGB Founder HILLY KRISTAL Dead At 75

August 29, 2007

MTV.com reports that Hilly Kristal, the founder of legendary New York punk rock venue CBGB, died on Tuesday from complications from lung cancer at the age of 75.

Kristal, who opened the now-defunct venue in 1973 in the then-gritty Bowery neighborhood in Manhattan, is credited with helping to launch the mid-'70s punk revolution with his championing of bands such as the RAMONES, BLONDIE, TALKING HEADS, TELEVISION and PATTI SMITH. Following a final show in October of 2006, Kristal had discussed plans to take the venue to Las Vegas.

CBGB, which opened in December 1973, was officially called CBGB & OMFUG, which stood for "Country, Bluegrass, Blues and Other Music for Uplifting Gormandizers."

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