Bookmarks: Le Tigre

A photoset from Mike Evans of Le Tigre playing CBGB's in 2000

Punkobit: Willy DeVille

Willy DeVille, founder of Mink DeVille, has died from pancreatic cancer.

Although the band which bore his made-up name might be his most visible memorial, DeVille created more than just punk in his career. After the band ended in 1985, he went solo and explored a range of genres, including Zydeco and cajun ballads. His work on the soundtrack of The Princess Bride won him an Oscar nomination in 1987.

Mink DeVille formed in 1974, getting a slot as house band at CBGBs shortly after Billy Borsay had changed his name to Willy DeVille. The arrangement lasted for three years and cemented the band's reputation as being at the heart of the US punk scene, despite DeVille's belief that his music had little in common with the CBGBs crowd.

A slew of albums for Capitol, starting with Cabretta, built on the band's reputation and saw them win a support slot on a Costello & Nick Lowe tour of the US. A spell with Atlantic would follow, but by 1985 DeVille was keen to explore other musical avenues and the band didn't so much split as disappear when the name was dropped. DeVille had, though, revived the name in the last few years, appearing as Willy DeVille and Mink DeVille Band.

Willy DeVille was 55; he is survived by a wife and a son.

Venuewatch: CBGB shop opens as protest cries "pants"

The store - it calls itself a "boutique", which is French for "overpriced clothes shop" - that has taken over the address of CBGBs has opened. A small protest gathered outside, with placards:

"One small loss of a music space, one large step for pants"

Or possibly a step for large pants. The pants are not pictured.

CBGBobit: Hilly Kristal

Hilly Kristal, the founder of CBGBs, has died at the age of 75.

Born in Manhattan in 1932, Kristal was performer in his own right, before turning his hand to managing a string of New York clubs in the 1950s - including The Village Vanguard. He opened his own club, Hilly's On Ninth Street, which over the years would move and change its name to Country Bluegrass and Blues. The titular music was quickly pushed aside, though, as CBGBs became the home of US punk in the 1970s.

Debbie Harry led the tributes:

I am very sorry that Hilly is gone. He was a big help to Blondie and to the New York music scene for many years. His club CBGB’s has become a part of New York lore and Rock n’ Roll history.

Kristal remained associated with CBGBs for thirty-three years. His death on Tuesday morning was related to the lung cancer from which he had been suffering.