In 1973, Hilly Kristal, a fan of Country, Bluegrass and Blues (CBGB) dreamed of having a club in the lower Eastside of New York that catered to that kind of music, but when he had difficulty booking those bands he turned to other kinds of rock music. Hilly had one demand of the acts he booked, they could only play their own original music. No top 40's, no covers. It was the credo he lived by, support the artist at whatever the cost. CBGB ultimately became the birthplace of underground rock 'n roll and punk.