Goodbye Hilly Kristal, I Hardly Knew You

I spent a fair amount of time at CBGB, mostly from 1982 to about 1992, regularly after that though less and less, but still, last night at the crowded memorial to Hilly Kristal, I was very surprised when the long time booker Louise walked by me and said, casually in passing without missing a beat, “Hi Mark.” Even at the time, I wasn't sure she ever knew my name. I guess that symbolized one of the overriding themes at the poignant and funny Bowery Ballroom event, organized by Louise, lifer-door man B.G., and Jane Friedman, the manager and publicist who’s one of the unsung guiding figures of the early CBGB era. One after another, the musicians, music industry figures, and even relatives told of how the club was like a home away from home -- living room, and the employees like a family, Hilly, a father figure. Incredible stories of his generosity and compassion emerged, along with repeated paraodies of his famously laconic speech and a running joke about his 45 on the jukebox, "Mud"...apparently a goofy country number about pigs. But, really, what I learned was the difference Hilly, one singular man, made on the music scene and the scenesters. Over and over musicians talked of how he just let them be, do what they wanted, nurtured them, gave them a literal stage to create. The time and place was right of course, but Hilly's insistence that bands play their original music -- another of the evening's refrains -- proved a crucial impetus to the emerging NY underground scene. Plus, he didn't have to pay any licensing/royalty fees!

The night had the feel of a high school reunion...a room full of wrinkles and belly rolls, bald hair, old rivalries, old flames. "Do I know that guy/ oh, there's so and so" glances. Except everyone wore black. Anyway, I won't ever forget those long late nights at CBGBs, memories only sharpened by the wonderful remembrance last night of Hilly Kristal.

Ivan Krall ends the night w/ a new song . Something like "Wasn't it Great"







BELOW FROM TOP
Tommy Ramone
Tish and Snooky
Brendan, a doorman
Producer Mike Thorne
Musician Genya Ravan
Punk mag pub John Holstrom
Vernon Reid
Cheetah Chrome
Richard Lloyd
Tina Weymouth
Bob Christgau
didn't catch his name
Jane Friedman
June Hony and Mark Satlof
Photog Bob Gruen
Georgio Gomelsky, NY Rocker Publisher Andy Schwartz, Ivan Julian
Trouser Press's Ira Robbins next to journo David Sprague
Richard Hell
Bob Singerman and Michael Hill