Playground: Growing Up in the New York Underground

Zone, who formed the 1970s glam/punk band Fast with his brothers Miki and Mandy, here offers this striking photo memoir of the decade. The book includes a winning chapter entitled “Autobiographical Text” that follows the Zone brothers from working-class Brooklyn to the stage of CBGB, as they transform from spectators to performers with fans of their own; in addition, the book features a preface by Jake Austen, editor of Roctober magazine, and a foreword by Blondie’s Debbie Harry and Chris Stein. Readers will enjoy Zone’s gritty snapshots of members of the aforementioned bands, as well as candid images of Lou Reed, Patti Smith, the New York Dolls, and downtown demimonde habitués of the era (such as designer Anna Sui). Fans of those artists will be tickled by previously unseen glimpses of their idols onstage and backstage, and inspired by Zone’s story of cult success. 200 color photos. [em](June) [/em]