This Ain't No Disco

The Story of CBGB

By: Roman Kozak

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

CBGB was the birthplace of punk and new wave in America in the 1970s. The Ramones, Blondie, Television, Talking Heads and many other groundbreaking bands got their start in the rock club on New York’s Bowery. Years later, CBGB became the cauldron for New York hardcore.

Originally issued in 1988 and out of print for decades, This Ain't No Disco is a detailed warts-and-all history, with memories, stories and gossip from dozens of insiders who worked, played or just hung out at CBGB. Written long before the legend overtook the reality — while the club was open and most of the principals alive — this is the real story, told in gritty, outrageous and sometimes hilarious detail.

The text includes unguarded quotes from CBGB founder Hilly Kristal, Joey Ramone and Dee Dee Ramone (the Ramones), Clem Burke and Chris Stein (Blondie), David Byrne (Talking Heads), Jim Carroll, Willy DeVille (Mink DeVille), Annie Golden (Shirts), Richard Hell and Richard Lloyd (Television), Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group), Handsome Dick Manitoba (Dictators), Wendy O. Williams (Plasmatics) and many others.

This 2024 edition includes a new foreword by Chris Frantz of Talking Heads, a new selection of photographs by Ebet Roberts and historical reporting about the club's closing in 2006.