I was a student in London in the '70s, so CBGB really wasn't on my radar at all. Obviously, I was aware of the emergence of the Police in England and as an art student, I was very aware of David Byrne, but I suppose my musical taste at that time certainly didn't stretch towards the Dead Boys or the Ramones.
Just selfishly, I wanted to be associated with something as synonymous with cool and cutting edge and artistic as CBGB. People are aware of that, at least, even if nothing else. That's something to be proud of, to be a small part of the association with something like that.
My first job in NYC was playing a gig in the early nineties at CBGBs.
I still have dreams about CBGB's. I still miss the place.
That was an amazing time period [ CBGB filming] to transport to during filming - the clothes, the music, the lifestyle - it really helps to get into character when there's so much that changes from the moment you step onto the set.
CBGB was a wild place,. . . The first time I ever played there was in 1987, I think, with my hardcore band, Scream. And I remember the craziest [thing] about that club was you could be in front of the stage and it could be louder than any show you've ever been to in your life. But if you were towards the back of the club at the bar, you could sit and have a conversation with someone. It was the weirdest thing to me.
