Playground: Growing Up in the New York Underground

Fans of punk rock and New Wave music will be impressed by this collection of never-before-seen images The first-time release of this private photo collection, Zone's photo memoir will give new insight into what some might see as a saturated field, proving that underground rock royalty will never grow old This book is the chronicle of a 14-year-old boy through his teens; so he was invisible to the people he was photographing, giving him an extra boost in terms of taking candid photographs Fans of Blondie will flock to this insider's guide to the era Inspirational volume of D.I.Y. style that appeals to youth and adults around the world, even more culturally relevant in the face of an ever-changing New York While most teenagers daydreamed of summer break while playing rock 'n' roll in their bedrooms, fourteen-year-old Paul Zone danced away his youth in underground clubs with those very same rock stars, exploring the concrete playground with actors, drag queens, and drug addicts. The mid-1970s was a time when the death of glam and the birth of punk rock collided in a celebration of glitter and grunge, and Zone had a front-row seat to it all. In this incredible photo memoir, Zone shares personal images that have never been released to the public alongside memories of the era, all through the eyes of a youngster whose reverential regard to his subjects made him a regular fixture in the lives of these greats. Zone captures the joys and the fantasy of the New York underground with a genuine intimacy, making this volume a worthy tribute to the legends of underground rock royalty.

About the Author :
Paul Zone spent his early teenage years photographing his friends at Max's Kansas City, Mercer Arts Center, Club 82, and CBGB during New York's Glam Rock era and the early days of Punk. He became the resident DJ at Max's and, with his brothers Miki and Mandy, was in a band called The Fast. In the 1980s, Paul and Miki formed the electronic duo Man 2 Man, recording the international pop hit Male Stripper. Although Paul's photography has been exhibited in Berlin, Rome, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Canada, and the United States, Playground is the first comprehensive assemblage of his personal images from the American punk era. Jake Austen is the editor of Roctober magazine, author of TV-A-Go-Go: Rock Music on Television from American Bandstand to American Idol, co-author of Darkest America: Black Minstrelsy from Slavery to Hip Hop, and editor of Flying Saucers Rock n Roll. He also produces the all-ages dance show, Chic-A-Go-Go. Debbie Harry and Chris Stein are the founders of the punk rock band Blondie and helped pioneer the American New Wave scene of the 1970s.

Review :
It also chronicles a watershed time when gender-bending, androgyny, and cross-dressing were just beginning to find accepting outlets in American pop culture: highlights include a shot of Baltimore drag legend Divine in a red pleather mini-dress, shaking maracas; and shots of Paul Zone s own band, The Fast, with his two brothers, with KISS-like face paint, sequin capes, and teased hair.--Carey Dunne "Brooklyn Magazine, May 28, 2015 " "Going through the book I loved the grainy private images of his subjects. Illuminated Patti Smith on stage, club kids arriving in their best attire, glam shots of Blondie and the many faces of the scene Zone was part of. He documents what he saw right there in front of him and the cool 'anything goes' attitude of these young artists starting out in such exciting times." --Emma Graney, Shutterhub