The building at the corner of 7th and Avenue A has a subcultural history going back decades. Its where Allen Ginsberg photographed Jack Kerouac peering into its barroom window in 1953 and where NYC hardcore punk was born in the early 80s and where notable downtown bohemian regulars like Joe Strummer (who is muralized along the side) have been drinking since it became Niagara in 1997. While it's no secret that chain stores, condos, and exclusive rent have changed the East Village significantly in the 21st Century, downtown, still also inhabited by both veteran and new subterranean denizens, art galleries, music venues, decades-old dining institutions, and a tightly-knit community, has long been in need of an uncompromising underground rock and roll bar worthy of its quirky neighborhood mythology. Savvy neighbors looking for the elusive remnants of why they moved to the East Village in the first place, plus fellow travelers adventuring from the greater metropolitan area and around the globe, lack a hangout with a decor, soundtrack, and spirit that embodies the unconventional cultural history that made downtown internationally famous.

96 Tears, the bar opening next door to Niagara in the same building, wants to fulfill this need and live up to these lofty traditions. “96 Tears” is of course the ? and The Mysterians distinctive #1 hit that was covered by everybody from Big Maybelle, Jimmy Ruffin, and Aretha Franklin to The Modern Lovers, Suicide, and The Stranglers. The DNA of so many revolutionary minimalist sounds that evolved across generations since its release, the original classic recording is also the first song ever referred to in print as “punk music” (by Dave Marsh in a 1971 issue of CREEM). While these dimensions of the song’s journey are at the heart of what 96 Tears is all about, the bar took its name from a tattoo across the neck of Howie Pyro, the dearly departed friend of owners Jesse Malin, Johnny T, and Jonathan Toubin. Howie’s tragic death in May, and his friends’ subsequent focus on his remarkable life and how he lived it, was the inspiration for 96 Tears.

Howie Pyro was a world-renowned DJ, musician, collector, archivist, historian, and writer who was a ubiquitous vital force in the bicoastal punk, proto-goth, garage, R&B, drag, monster, and cinema scenes for decades. This downtown legend and member of original 1977 CBGB punks The Blessed, glam punk innovators D-Generation, and rock stars Danzig, who then became a prolific professional deep cuts vinyl DJ, spent half-a-century ravenously exploring a rainbow of subcultures and accumulating weird and wonderful objects as souvenirs along the way. Though eventually also known for his hoarding and collecting, Pyro generously shared his knowledge with generations of disciples and wanted to make these exquisite curiosities accessible to all - eventually scheming to exhibit them as nightlife decor. The walls and shelves of the 96 Tears bar realize Howie’s dream as they’re adorned with his original posters, tchotchkes, and other extraordinary artifacts like the original promotional fruit company ashtray he discovered Andy Warhol lifted for The Velvet Underground & Nico LP cover (and wrote about in Dangerous Minds), the “Free Sid Vicious” shirt that punk’s original poster child left at Howie’s apartment before his legendary demise, the original art Ed “Big Daddy” Roth “Rat Fink” gifted Pyro (who penned his 1992 biography Confessions of a Rat Fink), a gold record The Ramones presented to Howie for their debut LP, a Dead Boys bass case that became his own, and an unimaginable array of other authentic subcultural wonders from across the edges of the 20th Century subterrain that found their way into Howie’s orbit.

Parties & Reservations

Whether it’s group reservations, video shoots, corporate events, or anything in between, we can accommodate any group size for any occasion.

Book your private party with 96 Tears.