A new book sheds light on the birth of punk in New York City fifty years ago
When punk coalesced into something tangible in NYC in 1976, Legs McNeil was a 19-year-old fan who was witness to everything first-hand. His new book tells his story.
In the early 1970s, a series of events in both the U.K. and New York City sparked the emergence of a new genre of rock music known as "punk rock." This style was characterized by its unique aesthetic, attitude, and fashion sense. While the British punk scene embraced political themes and sometimes violent expressions, the New York punk scene focused more on artistic expression.
At the heart of the New York punk movement was CBGB, a former biker bar on the ground floor of a flophouse hotel that became a hub for artists, poets, writers, and painters. The book "Resident Punk: How I Smoked, Drank, and Stumbled My Way Through the '70s Punk Scene and Beyond" by Legs McNeil chronicles his experiences during this transformative period.
McNeil, a teenager at the time, recounts his journey through the punk scene, capturing snapshots of his life and interactions with various musicians, artists, and creators who were part of this groundbreaking movement.
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