CBGB & OMFUG, the “House of Underground Rock” and the legendary birthplace of punk and new wave, has named International Merchandising Providers as its unique worldwide licensing company, together with attire companions on board to create new product traces. The deal marks a brand new period for CBGB because it reimagines its dwell music, media, international merchandise, e-commerce, and retail applications for the following technology of music followers by means of the lens of one in all music’s most storied cultural touchstones.
International Merchandising and CBGB will collaborate on a recent model program launching in fall 2025, rooted within the emotional legacy of the venue and its profound affect on music and tradition for greater than 5 a long time. A reimagined CBGB model information is being developed, with merchandise rolling out to coincide with the CBGB Competition, happening on September 27 in Brooklyn, New York.
New North American attire companions embrace John Varvatos, unveiling an unique attire and accent assortment on the New York Metropolis retailer and on-line at johnvarvatos.com, and Ed Hardy, debuting daring new types on the CBGB Competition and on-line at edhardyoriginals.com. Moreover, Dixxon will subsequently launch a signature flannel shirt assortment, additional increasing the model’s attain into way of life attire.
“We’re honored to characterize CBGB, some of the influential music manufacturers in historical past,” mentioned Benny Lindstrom, CEO of International Merchandising Providers. “The membership’s uncooked authenticity and cultural defiance nonetheless resonate with followers all over the world. Partnering with innovators like John Varvatos, Ed Hardy and Dixxon permits us to channel that legacy into recent artistic expressions that join with each longtime followers and a brand new technology of music lovers.”
Michael Smith, managing accomplice of CBGB, added, “CBGB has at all times been greater than only a venue — it’s an iconic music model that evokes an emotional ardour from musicians and music followers. It was floor zero for brand spanking new music together with the punk and new wave actions and residential for the enduring bands that performed on the membership. Right this moment, CBGB and its iconic brand proceed to have a profound affect on music, vogue, and visible artwork. In International Merch, we have discovered a accomplice who understands the emotional connection followers should this model. Collectively, together with our attire companions, we’re creating one thing that honors the previous and brings CBGB to the fashionable music scene and all music fanatics.”
The announcement comes forward of the CBGB Competition introduced in partnership with The Bowery Presents, which takes place Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Below the Ok Bridge Park in Brooklyn. The one-day celebration brings collectively 21 generation-spanning acts throughout three explosive levels, together with headliners Iggy Pop (his first New York Metropolis present in over a decade) and Jack White.
Different performers embrace punk pioneers Johnny Marr, LUNACHICKS, Marky Ramone, THE MOLOTOVS, THE DAMNED and MELVINS; CBGB-era hardcore acts GORILLA BISCUITS, MURPHY’S LAW and CRO-MAGS; and at present’s punk torchbearers THE LINDA LINDAS, LAMBRINI GIRLS, DESTROY BOYS, ANGEL DU$T, SCOWL, PINKSHIFT, TEEN MORTGAGE, YHWH NAILGUN SOUL GLO and LIP CRITIC.
Competition-goers can count on a full day of dwell music, immersive CBGB installations — together with the unique bar and stage — plus native food and drinks distributors and unique classic and new merchandise celebrating the enduring punk ethos.
From its gritty beginnings on the Bowery in 1973, based by Hilly Kristal, CBGB gave rise to legends like RAMONES, BLONDIE, Patti Smith, TALKING HEADS and tv. The CBGB Competition and new model program pay tribute to that spirit — uncooked, unfiltered, and perpetually underground.
Based in 1973 in Manhattan’s East Village, CBGB was floor zero for the seminal punk rock and new wave actions, launching the careers of bands just like the RAMONES, BLONDIE, TALKING HEADS, TELEVISION, PATTI SMITH GROUP, THE DEAD BOYS, Richard Hell, THE BEASTIE BOYS and THE DICTATORS. Through the Eighties, CBGB would turn into residence to the hardcore punk revolution, with bands resembling AGNOSTIC FRONT, MURPHY’S LAW, CRO-MAGS and GORILLA BISCUITS changing into synonymous with the membership. Within the Nineteen Nineties, the membership embraced the following technology of exhausting rock with bands together with SUM 41, KORN, GREEN DAY and GUNS N’ ROSES repeatedly performing. Over the previous 50 years, CBGB has turn into essentially the most well-known, influential, and talked-about rock and roll membership of all time.
CBGB and its iconic brand proceed to personify underground and various music and all that it stands for. In 2013, the previous location at 315 Bowery was added to the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations and stays a pilgrimage website for legions of music followers at present. CBGB’s legacy and cultural relevance at the moment are managed by a passionate group of New York Metropolis-based music lovers who’re devoted to curating its affect on music, vogue, and visible artwork at present.
International Merchandising Providers Ltd is an award-winning music, celeb and way of life merchandising firm. Headquartered in London and Los Angeles, International is a licensing powerhouse with world-class experience in design, product growth, branding, manufacturing and direct gross sales. International conducts enterprise throughout all channels of retail distribution, dwell occasions, internet outlets, pop-up outlets, sponsorships, endorsements and third-party licensing.
Picture courtesy of Three.Sixty Advertising and marketing & Communications for International Merchandising Providers
