Rock stars have united for a cause near and dear to their hearts: to save the landmark punk club CBGB's in New York's East Village.
'Little Steven' Van Zandt, Tommy Ramone and others have declared they will organize multiple benefit shows to prevent the closing of the famous club which is scheduled to take place at the end of this month.
'It's a club that embodies the spirit of New York - people with nothing, rising to something successful,' Van Zandt of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and 'Soprano's' fame told the 'New York Daily News.' 'CBGB is the last real rock 'n' roll club,' he said. 'There's nothing like it left in the world.'
The club has been in existence for 31 years. The owner of the club, Hilly Kristal, owes approximately $100,000 in back rent according to the landlord, a homeless support group called the Bowery Residents' Committee.
Kristal claims he was never told of a rent increase and indicates he wants to keep the club going in the trendy East Village.
Numerous bands will play benefit shows at the club itself this month and a bigger concert will be held in Washington Square Park on August 31, the day the club's lease expires.
The musicians have a website called savecbgbs.org which will have more detailed information about the concerts and where fans can sign a petition to help keep the club open.
'This is one of the last vestiges of old New York - what it was and what it could be in the future,' said Tommy Ramone whose legendary punk band The Ram ones got their start playing at Cogs.
Van Zandt concluded by saying, 'What we miss losing a place like this is the opportunity to touch living history, where it happened and where it's still happening. To me, the music of the Ram ones, a place like CGBG -- they're a crossroads where the past points to the future.'
