End of a Music Landmark?

surely it cannot be: the place where Richard Hell, Television and the Ramones all rose to fame is now going to close. According to this New York Daily News article, after 32 years, the club will not get its lease renewed. The bar that launched punk rock will no longer be, although hordes of local residents and musical artists are protesting to keep the club alive.

The club's official web site defiantly states that the club will stay open without a lease, and even has plans for some Benefit Gigs to save the venue, featuring artists such as the Dandy Warhols, Helmet and a band called Dead Men Walking (featuring: Slim Jim Phantom of The Stray Cats, Mike Peters of The Alarm, Captain Sensible of The Damned, Kirk Brandon of Theatre of Hate/Spear of Destiny). How cool would that be? For the ultimate history (with cool pictures of the club), get the book here.

(Picture from CBGB site)