Fear City: The New York Underground, 1974-1981

Written by Gary Lachman, who, as Gary Valentine, was an original member of Blondie, this fold-out map and guide draws on his firsthand experiences. It offers an insider's view of the clubs, streets, and landmarks that defined New York's underground music scene between 1974 and 1981.

Lachman captures the energy of the time, taking readers back to legendary venues like CBGB, where Blondie, the Ramones, and Talking Heads performed. His recollections breathe life into once-gritty, now-unrecognisable neighbourhoods, including the Bowery, East Village and Soho, which served as the backdrop to a cultural revolution. The map traces pivotal spots like the Blondie loft on Bowery Street, where Lachman lived with Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, or Max's Kansas City, a crucial hub where artists, musicians, and Warhol's Factory crowd gathered.

This guide is more than a catalogue of places; it's a memoir that intertwines personal stories with the history of punk. From Lachman's performances with Blondie to after-hours hangs at iconic locations like the Mudd Club, he immerses the reader in the gritty, chaotic world where art, music, and rebellion collided. Valentine highlights the birth of punk fashion at shops like Trash and Vaudeville and recounts the artistic energy flowing through places like the Poetry Project at St. Mark's Church, where Patti Smith's performances paved the way for punk's poetic edge.

"Fear City" also introduces readers to other significant cultural figures who were part of that vibrant scene, including William Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg. With stops ranging from the infamous Hell's Angels' clubhouse to after-hours joints like the Nursery, Lachman paints a vivid picture of a wild, creative world that shaped not just punk music but the culture of New York.

Through a personal narrative, "Fear City" invites readers to explore this transformative period in New York's history. It offers a unique, nostalgic map of the underground from the perspective of someone who lived and breathed it.