 For more than two decades, CBGB's has
been the proving ground for the tri- state area's finest punk and hardcore
bands. An argument can be made that the club was the birthplace of an entire
movement! The list of pioneering bands who have served their tenure there
has been written and rewritten over the years. The Ramones, Blondie, Patti
Smith, the Dead Boys, Television and the Talking Heads are the bands most
commonly associated with the club. However, ask anyone involved in the music
business about it and the reaction is unanimous. CBGB's has become a global
rock and roll institution.
The man behind the curtain is none other than owner/operator Hilly Kristal,
who has taken CB's from a crumbling Bowery dead-end bar to a New York City
landmark for hungry musicians and artists. Much has been written about the
club and its influence on two generations of East Coast musicians. So now
what's up his sleeve? Kristal has rallied partner-in-crime Genya Ravan (producer
and recording artist in her own right) into establishing the first self-contained
record label bearing the club's moniker. CBGB's Records Ltd. will take the
club and its happy family into the next millennium!
How is CBGB Records Ltd. different than
the label that recorded the "Live at CBGB'S" album 20 some odd
years ago? I understand you are taking a whole new approach. Can you elaborate?
Hilly: I had managed bands
and sometimes it would behoove me to put out cassettes or records and different
things. I had a label but I never really utilized it like a bonafide record
label. Mostly it was creating a vehicle for the artists. You know, increase
their credibility as well as giving them a
calling card. This is the first time we are really doing a label with distribution
that's worldwide.
Do you have a roster of talent lined
up? I heard through the grapevine that Cheetah Chrome (Ex-Dead Boys) might
be doing a solo record with you. Is that true?
Hilly: Yes. Cheetah is
living in Nashville and thankfully he is turning things around for himself.
He kicked and is clean. It was horrible for him towards the end of his active
addiction, living a very tortured existence. We helped him but he had to
do it for himself and he did.
Genya: We went out to lunch with him, Hilly as his manager or as a friend
at
that point. There is a bond there, you know from the history of the
relationship (Kristal managed The Dead Boys). We cared about him.
Hilly: We asked him, 'Do you want to keep going or do you want to
stop?' He wanted to stop. He couldn't take it anymore. He wanted the help.
Genya:
We told him he was going to die, that was the bottom line. He was at death's
door when we met with him. We were afraid he would be left in a hotel room
somewhere in Europe. He turned down the European tour to get help. That's
how we knew he really wanted help. He lives for music. Unfortunately at
that point he was living to feed his addiction.
Hilly: Genya had got him into
detox and then rehab. He went off to stay with his mother for a period and
he kicked it, now he has a genuine healthy fear of coming to New York.
Genya:
And why not, he ran with a real hard-core crowd.
So can we expect a record from Cheetah
this year?
Hilly: Oh yes, absolutely!
Genya is producing his record.
Genya:
We recorded in Nashville. It was wonderful working with him again. (Ravan produced the Dead Boys seminal debut, "Young,
Loud and Snotty") He is a really fine writer. I have always admired
Cheetah's song writing. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. This is
a very stripped down introspective
record, and it really rocks as well!
Who else can we be on the look out for
in '98?
Hilly: We have The Wives
Genya:
Fabulous band!
Hilly: The Wives are a three piece....
Genya: Power trio!
Hilly: Power trio yes
Genya: I would call them a power trio.
Hilly: I think they range
from hard-core to hard rock. They do what they do! I followed them for a
while and they were always good and one night I came in and they were on
stage and I thought my God they have really arrived. They were blowing the
roof off!
Genya: He called me and said you have got to come and see this group!
I did
and I just fell in love with them.
You produced them?
Genya: Yes
Did you record here in New York City?
 Genya: No, I took them upstate. Sometimes I think it's
a good idea to take groups out of town and away from the hustle and the
bustle and the phone calls and the friends and myriad of distractions. Who
needs it, you know! I found a studio upstate with a great engineer, Michael
Birnbaum. I told Hilly about it and the deal was sweet so we decided why
not! We went up and did the record and it is incredible. The name of the
record is "Ripped". They really are fantastic. You know I had
the very first female band (Goldie and the Gingerbreads) ever to hit the
charts so I grabbed a chunk of history. For me to produce a female band
that I am nuts about, I couldn't tell you what that meant to me! To find
other women who can play today's kind of music just blew me away! I just
fell in love with them.
So it's the Wives, Cheetah and who else
is on deck at this point?
Hilly: Ricanstruction!
Do you mean like re-construction?
Hilly: No Rican, like
Puerto Rican and struction. Ricanstruction! They are amazing. They are this
wonderful blend of hard rock and Latin beats. I hate to have to compare
them with anyone or label them, but if you can imagine Rage Against the
Machine with a Latino drummer, that's kind of where this is coming from.
(Chuckles)
You have The Wives, Ricanstruction
and Cheetah Chromes's record all coming out sometime in the first half of
1998?
Hilly: Yes. The
Wives and Ricanstruction are both slated for release on March 15th. Cheetah's
record will hopefully be ready for late Spring or early Summer. There are
also a handful of things that are still in the pre-production or planning
stages.
You must get showered with an onslaught
of demo tapes from acts that want to play the club and record. What qualities
does an act have to possess to get noticed by you?
 Hilly: For me initially
I have to feel that I can make something happen for an act. As owner, operator
and manager, I have to feel in my gut that we can take an act to that next
level of recognition. Genya as producer has to hear the possibilities. At
this late stage of the game and in my life I am concerned with turning a
profit. This is a business, what good does it do a band to make a record
that just sits there and never gets heard! We need to turn a profit on our
investment so we can continue to invest in future projects. I don't expect
to break a band on the first record. However, we will be laying the groundwork
for the future of the band. The grass roots approach. That's what the business
was about during the early days of the club. When a band finally broke and
crossed over they had a rich history. You look at most of the bands that
have had any type of longevity; most took a long steady course. That often
times than not would build the character it takes to sustain you in this
business. When someone is hot right out of the box on a freshman effort,
nine times out of ten there isn't anywhere to go from there! The second
release no matter how developed usually pales. It is the old sophomore jinx.
Genya: Hilly hears a lot of stuff. His recommendation is what keeps me
coming. If he says you should take a listen to this or come down to see
so and so I come, because usually something's up! We have heard some things
that just aren't ready yet or the time isn't right. So we pass with an open
mind.
Hilly: I am not doing anyone a favor by setting them up prematurely
because that is another pitfall. There is nothing worse than getting your
break and not really being ready for it! Not being able to deliver the goods
consistently. To answer your question, there has to be a number of things
in place and ready to go.
Will there be room for a diversity of
styles on the label?
Hilly: Absolutely! There
will be an offshoot of CBGB's Records called 313 The Gallery. And the idea
is the same as with the clubs. The lighter more introspective things can
find a home at 313 while the full frontal assault stuff will be on CBGB's
label.
Genya: Why turn away that wealth of talent by only signing one type of
act. There is a wonderful singer/songwriter named Nicholas Strouse who will
be on the 313 label. He is a blend of styles including jazz, pop, folk and
rock.
Hilly: There is no doubt that it takes a lot of time and effort to
get these things off of the ground. I have Genya producing and she is head
of promotions. She helped me take Fossil to #13 on the CMJ charts. Genya
has so much energy and positivity. Her enthusiasm draws you in and you find
yourself getting excited about the music. And isn't that what this is all
about? That is definitely the quality a person must possess to be in promotion.
In closing, is there anything you would
like say to the music community about your plans?
Hilly: Just that I am
going to try to do what I believe all labels should do, which is the best
job we can and really stand behind the artists. We are going to focus our
energy on the long term, not just getting the record out there, but touring
and promoting.
Genya: The one thing I love about the way Hilly is doing this label, and
this is drawing on my experience with many major labels over the span of
my career, is that we are not promising the bands the world .We are making
a commitment to their integrity. There will be no fear of being dropped
because you haven't sold enough. Usually you find out from your lawyer and
not the label. A week ago they took you to lunch and spent the whole afternoon
telling you how wonderful you are --then wham-- goodbye (much laughter).
That won't happen at CBGB's Records!
What wont happen? that they won't get dropped...
or that they won't get taken to lunch?
Genya: No comment ! | 
