The Heebie Jeebies at CBGB’s: A Secret History of Jewish Punk
Jewish Punk & Holocaust History
Lecture • Live Music • Conversation
This program examines a surprising and powerful cultural intersection: Jewish identity, punk rock, and Holocaust memory. Inspired by Steven Lee Beeber’s critically acclaimed The Heebie-Jeebies at CBGB’s: A Secret History of Jewish Punk, the evening traces how themes of alienation, resilience, satire, and survival—so often tied to the Jewish experience—found their voice in the raw, rebellious energy of punk.
About author Steven Lee Beeber: Steven Lee Beeber is the author of The Heebie-Jeebies at CBGB’s: A Secret History of Jewish Punk, the editor of AWAKE! A Reader for the Sleepless, and the associate editor of the literary journal, Conduit. His work has appeared in Harpers, The New York Times, The Paris Review, Fiction, Crazyhorse, Spin, MOJO, and elsewhere. He teaches creative writing and creative nonfiction at Emerson University and GrubStreet.
Featured Lecture (60 minutes)
Steven Lee Beeber presents the Jewish cultural currents that informed punk and stories behind some of punk’s key figures like Joey Ramone and Lou Reed.
Live Music
Era-informed performances bring the music to life — think early Ramones, Richard Hell-era rawness, and Blondie’s downtown edge.
Conversation & Q&A
A moderated conversation and audience Q&A will follow the lecture.
