Voting Station

Hilly Kristal

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Promoter

The Resume

    (1932-August 28, 2007)
    Born in Manhattan, New York
    Ran the jazz club The Village Vanguard, the bar Hilly's on the Bowery and the music club CBGB

Why he might be annoying:

    CBGB stood for 'country, bluegrass and blues,' three genres that were rarely played at the club.
    His penny-pinching was epitomized by his refusal to build steps to the stage in CBGB.
    Richard Hell said, 'I'm really glad that I was always very drunk by the time they turned the lights on at 4 AM, because you would not want to see that place with the lights on sober.'
    CBGB lost its lease after he forgot to pay rent for several months and the club failed a fire inspection.
    He threatened to reopen CBGB in Las Vegas.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was a concert violinist at age 9.
    He served in the Marines.
    CBGB launched the careers of numerous punk and new wave acts, including The Ramones, Patti Smith, Blondie and Talking Heads.
    Marky Ramone said, 'In an era when disco was the mainstream, Hilly took a chance and gambled.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 18 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 14 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 14 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 24 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 19 Votes: 57.89% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 25 Votes: 72.00% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 96 Votes: 60.42% Annoying