R.I.P. Hilly Kristal
http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2007/08/29/cbgb_founder_hilly_kristal_dies_at_75/
The first time I went to CBGB's was probably in'78 to see The Cramps. The Bowery was scary enough in those days. There were about 30 people there including this drugged up punk doing his Jacob Marley imitation, lots of chains and safety pins. Lux Interior was rolling around on the floor looking up womens' skirts. And I remember thinking, "if this guy comes near my girlfriend, I'm gonna have to punch him in the head". Oh yeah, loved The Cramps, good times.