One of the nice guys in the NYC rock 'n' roll scene, right up there with Lenny Kaye, I've known Binky Philips since the 1980's when he worked at Sounds Records. In an earlier life, he was the leader of one the first 10 bands to play at CBGB, the Planets. SonicBoomers recently ran a terrific story by Binky on his personal discovery, initial impressions, and experience of the club. If you're interested in the perspective of someone who was there at the beginning, but not one of the bands who "made it," this story is for you. Great stuff!
"We were sitting at a red light on the Bowery at Bleeker St. For as long as I'd been alive, the Bowery was the definitive Skid Row. The most dilapidated and "lost soul" half-mile in New York. Horrible, sad flophouses, filthy dark wino bars, comatose bodies in doorways, 19th century gloom. The taxi was idling in this squalor. I was sitting on the right and turned and looked out the cab's window. Directly across from me was an old-style but spanking new snow-white half-circle awning with old carny-style lettering in red and black. CBGB. Without thinking, I just blurted out "Look guys, a place we might be able to play." There was nothing but that enigmatic name, CBGB, that clicked, but clicked it did. Yet within a week, the December holiday crap started up and we forgot all about CBGB." Continued here.
Binky Philips photo by Lisa Kristal courtesy of CBGB.com.
Further reading courtesy of Binky's seemingly incredible memory:
- On hanging with Gene & Paul in the early days of Kiss
- On almost joining the Heartbreakers, and meeting Johnny Rotten at CBGB
And much more!
3 comments:
Awesome AWESOME reading from Binky Philips - thanks for the link, KB!
I KNEW you'd like that. I was waiting for a comment. You'll love his story about Kiss. Did you see it?
Yes, I read a bunch of his stories including the Kiss one - was pretty funny - sounds like that whole Gene and Paul -vs- Ace and Peter thing was always there from day one. But I particularly enjoyed the Coventry story - that was a great tale of mobster -vs- young punk rocker craziness. Glad Binky's still around and able to share these stories. Thanks again for the link don't know if I'd have found them if not for you!
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