(MVD) MVD Entertainment Group has sealed a deal with CBGB to bring a series of live performance audio recordings from the club to consumers. Each CD will feature a full concert recorded at the club from the 80s through 00s. The initial offerings will come from Mooney Suzuki, the Queers, and H2O. More are expected to be announced in the fourth quarter of 2007, including some limited edition vinyl releases. Its fantastic that these great vintage performances are going to be seen, said Brett Green, Attorney for CBGB and Hilly Kristal. Its a fitting tribute to Hillys legacy.MVD is donating a portion of sales to the Hilly Kristal Foundation for Musicians and Artists. Hilly Kristal, the famed founder of CBGB, passed away on August 28, 2007 at the age of 75 due to complications from lung cancer. As a singer, songwriter, and musician, he ran CBGB for 33 years until it closed in 2006. He is credited with giving the Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, and Television their first gigs. His friendship and partnership with MVD throughout the years has been extremely cherished and will be missed greatly according to Ed Seaman, COO of MVD Entertainment Group.
Hilly gave new bands an opportunity to work at CBGB, and stuck with that philosophy until the very end. Similarly, in 2002 Hilly gave MVD the opportunity to work with CBGB at a time when MVD was up and coming in the DVD business, said Seaman.
MVD has released the following CBGB related projects to date: CBGB - Punk From Bowery (which includes an interview with Kristal and his guided tour of CBGB), Bad Brains Live at CBGB 1982, Dead Boys Live at CBGB 1977, Vibrators Live Energized: CBGB 2004, and CroMags - Final Quarrel: Live At CBGB 2001. MVD also has plans to release another classic Dead Boys performance sometime in 2008.
