Punk avenue Inside the New York City underground, 1972-1982

In this memoir, artist and writer -Marcade (Au-delà de l'Avenue D) discusses being a French expat who became a fixture in the New York City punk scene in the late 1970s. Unlike other books of this sort, which mostly focus on legendary figures, this one features a fringe character on the scene. His 1950s rock revival band, The Senders, never attained the popular or critical recognition that Blondie, Television, or the Ramones did. As a result, Marcade's account is more relatable. While this volume highlights his relationships with people such as musician Johnny Thunders and photographer Nan Goldin, it's the personal anecdotes that make this work memorable. Examples include surviving a fall from a cliff while high on LSD, adopting a cat owned by the future wife of Sid Vicious, Nancy Spungen, that is addicted to heroin, or almost getting into a fight with The Clash's Mick Jones over a cigarette. The more solemn moments recount his battle with heroin and the many friends he lost to drug addiction and AIDS. VERDICT -Marcade's great sense for storytelling, as well as his knack for being in the right place at the right time, make this a must-read for those interested in the history of punk.-Brian Flota, James -Madison Univ., -Harrisonburg, VA © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A musician's memoir of punk rock in its New York City heyday shows how much fun it was while it lasted, before AIDS and heroin had the last laugh.As frontman for the Senders, Marcade never saw his band achieve the notoriety of the Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, or others that played CBGBs and Max's Kansas City, but his memoir has an antic vitality and humor that seem to encapsulate the spirit of those times. Everything seemed so funnyeven nodding out from heroin, throwing up from overindulgence, and getting tossed into jail, where the teenage Marcade begins this account after getting busted for dope. A French native, he had come to America for adventure. He found his share and also found himself in the middle of the punk scene that was soon to emerge on the Lower East Side. Everyone seemed to know him and like himformer New York Doll Johnny Thunders brought him from Boston to New York and provided entree. The Clash appreciated him so much that they invited the Senders to open for them at their peak. Marcade was the one who, by his account, told Nancy Spungen to follow her heart to London, where she began her fatal romance with the Sex Pistols' Sid Vicious. ("You need love, not heroin," he remembers telling her.) There are a number of hilarious, outrageous scenes involving petsnot just dogs and cats, but monkeysor parties, and some featuring both, and there is plenty of insider observation: "The Ramones got along great with everybody, which was funny because they couldn't stand each other." And there are way too many exclamation points. Ultimately, AIDS cost many their lives and others their sexual freedom. Heroin also took many of Marcade's friends, his marriage, and his band. Written 35 years after he kicked his addiction for good, the book retains the madcap spirit of that time and place, suggesting how punk happened and why it had to end. Must-read for those who love that era and want a fresh perspective on it. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.