CBGB And Epic Rights Team Up To Develop Global Branding Program For Legendary New York Music Venue CBGB

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- CBGB: The New York music venue synonymous with groundbreaking music, youth, adventure, rebellion and extreme expressions of individuality, CBGB, has named Epic Rights as its global branding, licensing and rights management representative to manage the brand development of the most valued symbol for rebels, misfits and music fans around the world. The announcement was made today by President of CBGB, Tim Hayes, and CEO of Epic Rights, Dell Furano.

"True music fans worldwide know CBGB as the birthplace of some of the greatest rock and punk bands in history," said Furano in making today's announcement. "What made CBGB so special was the fact that it was gritty, real, hardcore – everything that rock is supposed to be.  Musicians, actors, artists all wanted to hang out at CBGB, and today, they all want to be associated with its raw, unadulterated and non-conformist, anything-goes attitude."

"CBGB was the home for countless artists, misfits and rebels.  No one cared what you looked like and everyone took care of each other.  In a way, CBGB became a tightly-knit international family of musicians, artists and fans," said Hayes.  "The same strong spirit of CBGB continues today.  We are excited to be working with Epic Rights as we expand the CBGB attitude around the world." 

Epic Rights is developing a dynamic global branding campaign, spearheaded by Executive Vice President of Global Strategic Partnerships & Licensing Juli Boylan-Riddles, for a new generation of rebels that captures the CBGB experience with a broad selection of unique high quality products, including fashion apparel, accessories, footwear, electronics, spirits/beverages and themed entertainment that embody the classic punk, post punk, glam rock, new wave, and grunge with a flair style that defined CBGB.

Additionally, the new CBGB program created by Epic Rights will include opportunities that can be associated with and will promote the annual CBGB Music and Film Festival, which kicks-off its 3^rd year this October in New York. Five days of festival events from October 8^th – 12^th include performances by Jane's Addiction, Devo, Macy Gray, We Are Scientists, Robert DeLong and others. The Festival will premiere and screen over thirty music-themed films and will include talks with music industry insiders, performances by up and coming and established acts and other exclusive events taking place in theaters, clubs, galleries, private spaces, rooftops and hotels throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn.

"We are developing a global campaign that honors and reflects the brand's dynamic heritage, combining the pure grit and glam that defined the CBGB experience," said Boylan-Riddles. "We look forward to working with Tim and the CBGB team, as well as our vast network of licensing and retail partners around the world to deliver a uniquely cool program that crosses cultural boundaries to an all new audience."

Founded on the Bowery in New York City by Hilly Kristal in 1973, CBGB became a forum for American punk and new wave bands such as the Ramones, Devo, Blondie, Talking Heads, Misfits, Television, Patti Smith Group, New York Dolls, The Dead Boys, The Dictators, The Cramps, and Joan Jett.   From the early 1980s until its later years, the club was known for hardcore punk as bands like Agnostic Front, Murphy's Law, Cro-Mags, Gorilla Biscuits, Sick of It All, and Bad Brains performed there.  In the 1990s, CBGB became closely associated with bands like Beastie Boys, Helmet, SoundGarden, Living Colour, Rollins Band, Tool, Green Day and Guns N' Roses with GNR's Duff McKagan acting as an unofficial ambassador of the CBGB attitude around the world.  

Expanding to create a second performance space and art gallery, CBGB extended its music style to showcase many popular bands and singer-songwriters who performed acoustic, rock, folk, jazz or experimental music, such as Ani Difranco, G Love, Mark Ribot, Medeski Martin and Wood and Toshi Reagon, while the original club continued to present mainly hardcore bands and post-punk, metal, and alternative rock acts.  CBGB's final performance was delivered by Patti Smith on October 15, 2006.

In 2013, the former location of CBGB was added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Bowery Historic District. The National Park Service nomination described the significance of the site saying "CBGB...The legendary music venue fostered new genres of American music, including punk and art rock, that defined the culture of downtown Manhattan in the 1970s, and that still resonate today...as cultural incubator, CBGB remains a pilgrimage site for legions of music fans."

About CBGB & OMFUG and CBGB Festival Productions:
CBGB has been discovering and presenting the best in live music and culture for 40 years. Since 2012, CBGB Productions has been creating unique and unforgettable experiences through the production of live events, such as the annual CBGB Music and Film Festival, the country's largest entertainment festival of its kind.  In 2014, the CBGB Festival produced a historic concert for Amnesty International at Barclays Center that featured Madonna, Imagine Dragons, Blondie and the first ever U.S. appearance of Pussy Riot. Learn more at CBGB.

About Epic Rights:
Epic Rights is a full service global branding, licensing and rights management company dedicated to building celebrities and entertainment brands via its broad global network of retailers, licensees and agents. Working with a roster of top clients and brands, Epic Rights' services includes licensing/branding, music merchandising, social media management, VIP ticketing and fan clubs.  Epic Rights also oversees sponsorships and endorsements, digital archiving of all creative/photos/media assets and manages worldwide e-commerce for its clients in addition to providing in-house legal resources for trademark registration and audit management.  Epic Rights is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.  For more information, visit: Epic Rights.

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SOURCE Epic Rights