CBGB – from Severus Snape to Hilly Kristal for Alan Rickman
It’s a bit if a hike from Hogwarts to the streets of New York, but if anyone can do it, it’s the greatness that is Alan Rickman. Rickman stars as iconic CBGB club owner, Hilly Krystal, with his Harry Potter co-star, Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) appearing in the film as punk star Cheetar Chrome.
CBGB follows the story of Hilly Kristal’s New York club from its origins as Country, Bluegrass and Blues (CBGB) to what it ultimately became – the birthplace of underground rock ‘n roll and punk. Kristal, a fan of Country and Bluegrass dreamed of having a club in the lower Eastside that catered to that kind of music. The club opened in December of 1973 but when he had difficulty booking those bands he turned to other kinds of rock music. Hilly had one demand of the acts he booked, they could only play their own original music. No top 40’s, no covers. It was the credo he lived by, support the artist at whatever the cost. In a short time, CBGB became the birthplace of American punk and the launching pad for scores of bands.
CBGB, which features music from the likes of Iggy Pop, Blondie, Patti Smith, The Velvet Underground, The Police, Talking Heads and Dead Boys and also stars The Big Bang Theory‘s Johnny Galecki, Twilight‘s Ashley Greene, Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins as Iggy Pop and Sting’s daughter Mickey Sumner as Patti Smith, is set for an October 11 release in the States with no release date set as of yet in the UK.
Looks like a fun trip through an amazing place and time, but with a killer soundtrack.
