As I’m sure most of you know, the movie CBGB will be filming in Savannah this month (6.25)! The legendary club wasn’t known for it’s cleanliness, but for the awesome rock music it brought to New York.  Now, Savannah gets to experience a little of that history!  Originally CBGB stood for “Country, Bluegrass & Blues”, but eventually became the playground for Punk and New Wave music then later, in the 80s, Hardcore Punk.  Far cry from Country, Bluegrass and Blues huh?  But totally worth it!

CBGB, founded in 1973 and closed in 2006, will set center stage for the film (which takes place in the 70s) about the New York Lower Eastside punk rock scene. The film will center on characters Hilly Kristal (owner of CBGB, and played by Alan Rickman) and Cheetah Chrome of the punk band the Dead Boys (played by Rupert Grint).  This club gave a start to then unsigned bands, such as Talking Heads, Blondie, Ramones (still love them), The Cramps, The B-52s, Youth of Today, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and many more. 

Last Tuesday (6.12), Meddin Studios held casting calls for extras in the movie.  At least half of the extras cast will be from Savannah. There are some cast members from Savannah that are actually very familiar with club CBGB.  Then on Friday (6.15), all the CBGB memorabilia finally arrived in Savannah.  Complete with the actual bar, the toilets, the urinals, and many other pieces of the club.  Anything that wasn’t already nailed down in the building came to Savannah! 

CBGB continues to bring more of a star-studded cast as the days tick by.  You can expect to see Joel David Moore (known for his part as Norm Spelling in Avatar), Ashley Green (Alice Cullen from the Twilight Series), Johnny Galecki (Leonard Hofstadter from Big Bang Theory), Taylor Hawkins (drummer from Foo Fighters), and many more.

Most of the movie will be filmed at Meddin Studios, here in Savannah, and a location shooting at Congress Street.  So, keep an eye on Congress Street, you might see someone famous.

UPDATE: Freddy Rodriguez (Six Feet Under) has been added to the cast of CBGB.  He will play a junkie who frequents the punk club. Also added to the cast, Ryan Hurst (from Sons of Anarchy).  Hurst will play a biker providing personal protection to Alan Rickman's character, Hilly Kristal.