Hilly Kristal, who opened the iconic, world-renowned, grimy live music venue CBGB's in 1973, died yesterday at age 75 of lung cancer.

Kristal opened the venue as a space for Country, Blue Grass, Blues, and Other Music (For Uplifting Gourmandisers), but it became famous for breeding punk and alternative rock. Influential and popular acts that got their start at CBGB's included The Ramones, Talking Heads, Sonic Youth, and Blondie.

Read the New York Times obituary for more.

(photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)