Blasphemy!
Filed under: Fashion Smashion
John Varvatos, a fashion designer in New York, has opened his latest boutique in the same space that once was the famous underground music club CBGB.
Artists such as The Ramones, Patti Smith, and Blondie all performed there.
CBGB first opened in 1973 and lasted all the way through October of 2006, when they were forced to close after a rent dispute.
Varvatos has decided to preserve much of CBGB's original look, such as CBGB posters and walls covered in graffiti along with crystal chandeliers, velvet curtains, and a black ceiling to help recreate the look.
There are even plans to have an in-house DJ and concerts.
Varvatos tries to defend his decisions, by stating that "We're not trying to reinvent CBGB's. We're just trying to respect the past and let people have an opportunity to enjoy what was there. It sounds kind of hokey, but the walls kind of talk in that place.
The store has already been open for a few days, but it's scheduled grand opening will be on Thursday, April 17th.
You hear that???
That's the sound of dead rockers rolling in their graves!!!!
[Image via WENN.]
I think it's great. It had to close last year because they wanted to charge so much when the lease was up. Without Varvatos, there wouldn't be anything of CBGB left you morons.
>>20 MILLION SELLING PARALLEL LINES
Re: mama coco – What do you mean "20 MILLION SELLING PARALLEL LINES"????
WTF - that record - tho successful - never sold anywhere near that!
at least in the US it's only been certified selling one million … check it: http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS
Blondie were okay for a disco band, I guess… but really were just the last generation's No Doubt… nothing more.
punk doesn't need YOU to defend it.
go blog about madonna or the spice girls.
rock and roll/punk will be fine without you.
Re: lys – I would like to know how possibly does "his designs reflect the lifestyles that all of these performers once lived.." Because he designed converse - a product of Nike which is well known for its corporate exploitation, profit, and greed?
Re: cross_buster –
…that you're a douche bag?
I don't understand why everyone's so upset over this. CBGB is closed. It's unused space. The fact that he stated "We're not trying to reinvent CBGB's. We're just trying to respect the past and let people have an opportunity to enjoy what was there," just shows that he respects the past and the history behind the space.
you know if Marc Jacobs did this you'd think it was an incredible idea… be fair P-Dizzle!
i was disgusted 2
uuhhh perez? when CBGB closed over a year ago….they moved it to LAS VEGAS! now thats blasphemy.
i dont understand why everyone is knocking jahn varvatos for wanting to preserve the integrity of the place…whats worse? someone moves in and keeps the place looking like cbgb's orrrr someone moves in a strips all the history right out of that place? give the guy a fucking break…he's doing the right thing FOR SUREE
CBGB'S has already been closed for over a year. this is as close as the club will come to being preserved. But I know- Perez started this off as "BLASPHEMY" & NOW HAS EVERYONE JUMPING ON THE NEGATIVE BANDWAGON.
The only thing that could have save this place would have been some fundraising, 2 YEARS AGO! (HELLO RICH ROCK STARS THAT ORIGINALLY GOT YOU START ON THIS STAGE? WHERE ARE YOU WHEN IT'S TIME FOR GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY) I'm glad to hear that the new inhabitants plan to treat this as a museum.
IT'S A NICE TRIBUTE.
Re: and your point would be? –
And your point is…?
Mmmm….I could really go for some Starbucks…
I heart John Varvatos!
if anyone should be allowed to take over that space I would rather it be Varvatos than a starbucks or another citbank branch which are the only ones who can afford rent on commercial prop's in NYC. NO ONE is looking at the flip side..this man SAVED the space…from mass retail! He also brought in archival historians at much added expense to preserve the interior. John has been show casing musicians in his ad campaigns for years and is a huge supporter of music ind. People should look at facts before they judge!!!
no, it's the sound of ME rolling my eyes. the 80s are long gone, people.
at least it wasn't ed hardy
WHATEVER - so they are going to let the space sit and waste away? At least someone is doing something with it and still trying to preserve the past. You should be thanking god it isn't a fucking STARBUCKS.
FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK PEREZ FUCK
before you pass judgement you should know that John Varvatos sits of the board of directors for Save the Music Foundation that personally puts instruments in the hands of children. Second, after CB's first owner, Hilary, died his brother took over and let it go to shit. He also failed to pay his taxes and subsequently lost the property. John Varvatos is preserving as much of the original feel as possible. Would you rather it be a Starbucks?
Educate yourselves before you judge, or you look like an ass….
Sorry dudes but he is a f'ing cool designer and the only one who can afford the rent on the Bowery or anywhere in NYC these days. It's just the way it is. CBs got the boot along with a lot of other clubs because his lease was up and the landlords are greedy. Same story everywhere in NYC now. Madonaa is right.
Not to mention this is old news. We've know about this shortly after CBs left. Get on the stick there Perez
i don't see what's so bad about that. Actually i think it's rater awesome how he's connecting fashion with music. those 2 are way closer connected than many hard ass rockers want to admit anyways. I'm studying fashion design and play in a band so i know what i'm talking about. And hey, as some previous poster said.. still a million times better than yet another starbucks.
Don't forget the Talking Heads, please!
THAT'S AWESOME…. Its better it being completely demolished and loosing a piece of history..
As far as I know, CBGB closed because the landlord of the lot sold it. John Varvatos is a great designer and well respected in the Rock & Roll industry because he's dressed many a famous Rock Stars. I think it's a cool take on a legendary building, so stop bitching.
Dont be mean..hes trying to keep CBGB as much a memory of the club as he could and i think that is amazing! He has kept up all the posters and records around the store and preservered the stage to try to make CBGB a memory and make people keep coming to the spot for memories even if they dont want to shop! Props to Varvatos for that!
Re: Megan – and…Megan again.. It not a fuckng bank, wich it most likely would have turned into in the easy village the way things are going now! So MORE props to Varvatos for taking it to another level and preserving the old school!
John Varvatos is amazing! As for the club, at least he's doing as much as he can to preserve it. It's not like he's obligated to do anything. He's an artist too, I'm sure he understands how people feel. There are much worse things that could have happened to it. For instance, I highly doubt that if Prada had taken over, the graffiti and posters would have stayed.
As a punker myself, punk has kinda been dead for a while and not any legendary bands have played for some time. I wish he would have redone the whole thing and let sleeping dogs lie.
It's a shame that it's ended, but why try to keep it revived. It's a sad day for rock n' roll history. A DJ? Really?!!!??!!!
i heart varvatos! innovation is what it's all about
Talking Points by Rebecca Moore (www.bluviolin.com):
We will be back on 17th April to give Mr. Varvatos a proper LES/East Village Welcome at his grand opening!
- It would be great to see the likes of Mr. Varvatos someday not just
stepping in to save a building shell he deems a shrine (and using that
environment to help sell outrageously priced clothing) - - but rather,
actively petitioning the city to save and recognize local cultural arts
and community spaces that have a rightful place in these neighborhoods!
And being out in the front lines demonstrating with the poor and low
income communities who are being evicted from their homes - who can't
afford 1600 dollar jackets! We need Mr. Varvatos and others like him
to connect that we don't just want the building saved for those who
don't need it - we need them boycotting these outrageous rents too. Just
because they can afford it, doesn't mean they should rent it.
As if you guys fucking care! Most of you weren't even born when it closed down. You know what would have been blasphemy? If it was still open and Fall Out Boy or My Chemical Romance were playing there and trying to garner the same support that the Ramones and Patti Smith got. It closed down, and now there is room for someone else to make a mark. It's not the building that was important, it was the spirit of the people who made it iconic.