New York hardcore punk legends Roger Miret of Agnostic Front, Mike Judge of Judge, and Freddy Cricien of Madball have voiced their approval after reading advance copies of Tony Rettman’s upcoming oral history NYHC: New York Hardcore 1980–1990.
Based on original interviews with over 100 key historical figures, the dense 384pp volume features hundreds of images and over fifty chapters covering the bands, venues, labels, hangouts, and larger-than-life characters that built hardcore punk rock in New York City. Bazillion Points Books is now accepting preorders, which will ship with a limited Sean Taggart flyer patch and metal badge in early December.
Previews and a sample chapter (“17. East Village Nights: A7 and 2+2”) are available at this location:
NYHC: New York Hardcore 1980–1990, by Tony Rettman
Roger Miret of Agnostic Front: “I’m floored! Tony Rettman’s NYHC is by far one of the most informative looks at New York hardcore. An amazing read loaded with remnants of my life and a movement I truly adore. Hardcore lives!”
Mike Judge of Judge: “Thank you, Tony Rettman! Great book! So much fun to read everybody’s take on our great history. So proud to be a part. Much respect!”
Freddy Cricien of Madball: “This book is a way to get caught up on history, and also a bridge to a whole world that is as relevant today as its ever been. This book is a fun and informative read—enjoy it!”
The gripping and sometimes hilarious narrative of NYHC is woven together like the fabric of New York itself from over 100 original interviews with members of Absolution, Adrenalin O.D., Agnostic Front, Antidote, Bad Brains, Bloodclot, Bold, Born Against, Breakdown, Cause for Alarm, Cavity Creeps, Citizens Arrest, Cro-Mags, Crumbsuckers, Death Before Dishonor, Even Worse, False Prophets, Gorilla Biscuits, H20, Heart Attack, Inhuman, Into Another, Irate, Judge, Kraut, Leeway, Life’s Blood, Major Conflict, Murphy’s Law, Nausea, Nihilistics, Nuclear Assault, Numskulls, Outburst, Pro-Pain, Quicksand, Raw Deal, Reagan Youth, Rorschach, S.O.D., Sacrilege, Savage Circle, Sheer Terror, Shelter, Shok, Sick of it All, Side by Side, Skinhead Youth, Straight Ahead, the Abused, the Cryptcrashers, the Mad, the Misfits, the Misguided, the Mob, the Psychos, the Ritz, the Stimulators, the Undead, Token Entry, Underdog, Urban Waste, Virus, Warzone, Youth of Today, and many, many more.
“New York City has an energy that you’re not going to find anywhere else. People who have that passionate, driven mindset; they gravitate to New York City. Being in that intense environment—you had to come into your own to survive that area.”—John Porcelly, Youth of Today/Shelter
