Behind the Scenes in the Acclaimed CBGB Club

Hilly Kristal managed daily operations from his cluttered office inside CBGB, overseeing booking and administration throughout the club’s decades-long history. Despite minimal commercial ambition, Kristal maintained a strict open-door booking policy that favored original music over covers. His hands-on approach provided an irreplaceable support system for hundreds of emerging independent artists, positioning him as a mentor to generations of New York musicians.