TravelSkoot

• Sep 22, 2008
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Visit the legendary locations of the punk rock era. From the now-defunct CBGB to the Chelsea Hotel, NYC was home to the iconic places and events that helped define the American punk movement.

Places on this Skoot

• Dee Dee Ramone Writes Chinese Rocks

  18 1st Ave , New York, NY

  Although Dee Dee Ramone claimed to have written “Chinese Rocks” in Debbie Harry’s apartment on 1st and 1st, another source claims it was really the apartment of Blondie’s guitarist, Chris Stein.

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• The Ramones' Loft

  6 E 2nd St , New York, NY

  In 1975, Dee Dee and Joey moved into artist Arturo Vega’s loft. It quickly became the headquarters for the band and where interviews and photo shoots took place. Vega was the graphic designer for The Ramones, creating their logos, tee-shirts, and album covers. The song, Chinese Rocks, written by Dee Dee Ramone is set in this apartment.

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• CBGB

  315 Bowery , New York, NY

  CBGB is synonymous with the U.S. punk movement. It was here in 1973 that Hilly Crystal opened CBGB: OMFUG (Country Bluegrass Blues: Other Music for Uplifting Gormandizers). His intention was to have a blues and bluegrass venue.

  Since business was slow, Crystal reluctantly agreed to let Television play at his venue with disappointing results. The band didn’t bring in many paying or drinking customers. When Television’s manager, Terry Ork, asked Crystal to let the band return with The Ramones, Crystal almost refused but was persuaded the band from Queens had a big fan base and would bring in more customers. Crystal agreed and CBGB became the birthplace of punk. Aside from Television, and The Ramones, other bands such as The Stilettos, Blondie, Pattie Smith, the Deadboys and many others graced the CBGB stage.

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• Mercer Arts Center

  240 Mercer St , New York, NY

  The Mercer Arts Center housed a number of performance spaces in the early 1970’s until it collapsed on August 3rd, 1973. Before its demise it was one of the venues for punk’s forefathers, The New York Dolls. The Dolls played regularly in the Mercer’s Oscar Wilde’s Room from June through October of 1972.

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• Patti Smith's First Public Performance

  131 E 10th St , New York, NY

  Patti Smith performed with Lenny Kaye for the first time at St. Mark's In-The-Bowery Episcopal Church on February 10, 1971.

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• The Palladium

  140 E 14th St , New York, NY

  The Palladium is no longer standing, but on its location is NYU’s Palladium Hall.

  Aside from the famous CBGB, The Palladium was another music venue that booked punk bands such as The Buzzcocks, The Clash, and The Fall. It was here that Pennie Smith snapped the iconic cover photograph of The Clash’s London Calling album. In the photo, Paul Simonon is about to smash his bass on the stage floor.

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• Sid Vicious is Found Dead

  63 Bank St , New York, NY

  Five months after Nancy was found dead in the Chelsea Hotel, Sid Vicious died on Bank St., he was twenty-one years old. After being arrested and charged for Nancy’s death, Sid was out on bail, but on December 9th he was arrested again for assalting Patti Smith’s brother, Todd Smith at 36 W. 62nd street. Sid was sent back to prison until he posted bail once again on February 2nd, 1979. That night, celebrating his release from Rikers Island, Sid overdosed on heroin and was found dead the following morning. His mother, Anne Beverly, took Sid’s ashes to Philadelphia where Nancy was burred and scattered them on her grave.

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• Chelsea Hotel

  222 W 23rd St , New York, NY

  The Chelsea Hotel has been the site of numerous accomplishments and tragedies. One of the most infamous events was the murder of Nancy Spungen, girlfriend of The Sex Pistol’s Sid Vicious. On October 12, 1978 in room 100, where Sid and Nancy had been staying, Nancy was found dead from a fatal stabbing. Sid, who had been under the influence of heroin claimed to have no recollection of the night before. Sid was charged with Nancy’s murder but was released on bail. After a suicide attempt and another stint in jail, on Feb 2nd, 1979, Vicious was again released on bail. That night he suffered from an overdose of heroin, was revived but found dead in the morning.

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