Hilly Kristal passed away on August 28, 2007. So sad news. The closing of CBGB’s did happen in October, 2006. Now this. Like Mariano Asch wrote to me, it definitely means the end of an era. The CBGB’s was founded by Hilly Kristal in December 1973. Without CBGB’s history of punk and the Ramones would be so different. Hilly gave a chance to the Ramones and many other bands to play at his place, in those days when punk was new and 99 % of the venues did not gave a chance for them to play. Lot of love and thanks comes from me and from hundreds of thousands of people for You Hilly. It was always for me a big honour to meet You and I was also honoured to do with You interview for my first book Heaven Needed A Lead Singer: Fans Remember Joey Ramone. You was so widely loved and appreciated Hilly. I had a silent moment for You. I know that Joey, Dee Dee and Johnny Ramone and other people take a good care of You there in Heaven.

“When the punk scene was first starting out back in the 1970’s I played at CBGB many times with Richard Hell and the Voidoids and later with the Ramones. Hilly was always hospitable and a cool fatherly kind-of figure to me. I was always very grateful that he was supportive of this genre of music. Hilly was an integral part of the scene and we’ll miss him dearly.”

- Marky Ramone