Former CBGB Artist Slams Film About The Iconic Punk Venue

Marc Campbell, frontman of '70s new wave act The Nails, has penned a savage and scathing review of CBGB, the film based on the iconic New York punk venue

The film, which was less-than-anticipated following the reveal of its trailer, has copped a shellacking at the hands of Campbell who says the film not only misrepresents the venue and its bands, but also accuses it of racism, brands the director Randall Miller “clueless' and generally says it's a shit-house film.

Writing for the Dangerous Minds blog Campbell writes that the film “diminishes everything it touches”.

The film's treatment of The Ramones is “obscene”, he writes.

“They were smart, they knew what they were doing and their sense of rock history was deep and profound,” he says of the iconic act. “The movie treats them like losers, takes them at face value and totally misses out on the passion and brilliance of their concept.”

Campbell points out that that Bad Brains, Living Colour, The Dead Kennedys, his own band The Nails and others featured black musicians, but there are none in the film.

“To add a bit of harsh racial reality (not too much) to the all-white mix, some knife-wielding Hispanic street creeps, whose sole dramatic purpose is to bum everybody out, stab a swastika-wearing punk rocker in the only scene intended to yank a tear in the entire fucking film. Yeah, tears get shed for the Nazi youth while rock 'n' roll n*ggers get no fucking recognition at all,” he writes.

Adding to the battering in the review, a number of punk icons and identities have joined the chorus in the comments. Television's Richard Lloyd wrote, “I look forward to the [premiere] later this month and although I think that the reviewer in many cases was dead accurate.”

Cheetah Chrome, who was involved with the film, said Campbell has an “axe to grind” and “misses the point entirely”.

The film stars Alan Rickman as venue owner Hilly Kristal (whose portrayal Campbell also objects to) as well as Jonny Galecki and Rupert Grint. The film's out this month in the US.

Here are the review's best quotes:

“The film fails in almost every way as a history of the legendary rock venue.”

“The movie is more interested in the cockroaches, junkies and rats that rattled around CBGB than the extraordinary music that was forged within its decaying walls.”

“Fortunately, I can't imagine CBGB finding an audience willing to spend a dime on this glob of postulating spit.”

“The whole thing has about as much punk credibility as an off-the-rack $30 Ramones t-shirt from Hot Topic”

“I was at the Police gig. The joint was half empty and while the band was terrific there was no sense of history being made.”

“CBGB gets it wrong in almost every way in how the actors portray these musicians.”

“CBGB, the movie, is an insult to every band that played there.”

“And I can assure you that Iggy Pop was not hanging out at CBGB, lonely and half-naked, looking to get his cock sucked.”

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