The Lounge Lizards, pictured performing here in 1979, had a sound that was based in jazz but influenced by many other genres, indicative of the cross-pollination of music during the early 1980s.

This nightclub was a gathering spot for musicians poets, artists, and other celebrities. A meeting place for NYC's creatives, the synergy of art, music, and fashion that happened here provided a space for a number of influential collaborations and launched careers in these fields. Credited as one of the birthplaces of punk, Blondie, the B–52's, The Cramps, David Bowie, Devo, The Misfits, The Ramones, and the Talking Heads performed here, among others. The original site closed in 1981 with a final concert by the Beastie Boys.