CBGB and MVD Entertainment Group Sign Deal to Release Live Audio

Press release
Source: MVD Entertainment Group

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.

“It’s fantastic that these great vintage performances are going to be seen,” said Brett Green, Attorney for CBGB and Hilly Kristal. “It’s a fitting tribute to Hilly’s 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.

Hilly Kristal (left) and Ed 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.

“It was always an honor to work with Hilly & CBGB, and I am especially touched that he entrusted MVD with this challenging new project,” said Seaman. “The artists in the series have been so cooperative and responsive because of their respect for CBGB and Hilly. It has been really refreshing. And the club’s personnel did a great job capturing, mixing and storing the audio masters over the years. We expect to have 10-15 single artist releases in the next year, and probably a handful of compilations.”