Style 43

I think this is the first book review that the site has had, and who knows, perhaps I have opened the flood gates for a Style 43 book club? Maybe not. Regardless of the long term implications of my literary based opinions, let’s get back to the point in hand.

I first found F**K YOU HEROES when I was working at a friend’s photo lab. Obviously the title, printed on the spine in thick, white letters leapt out at me and I was quickly engrossed in what was to become one of my favourite photography books.

Between 1976 and 1991, Glen E. Friedman was lucky enough to not only be a part of but to have the ability to document one of the most exciting times in youth culture ever. Skateboarding exploded on America’s west coast, with Dogtown and the Z Boys being at the forefront of the movement. Soon enough there was huge money involved and this once underground movement was thrust into the media spotlight.

At the same time Los Angeles gave birth to Black Flag, credited with being one of the first Hardcore bands alongside east coast D.C. legends Bad Brains and Minor Threat. This new music was fast and savage, and relied on a network of tight knit bands spread across America to keep the scene alive and to help touring. These bands, alongside Dead Kennedy’s, were afforded none of the glamour that the Sex Pistols experienced.

He also managed to befriend early hip hop acts, like the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy and Run DMC in the 80s.

What Friedman has done is to capture these movements at their very conception, before they were corrupted by money and fame, before ’selling out’ was even an option, before bitter arguments shattered friendships. He was there when Peralta was first carving pools, when Chuck D first proclaimed “power to the people”, when Greg Ginn was causing riots with Black Flag.

Anyone with even a vague interest in skateboarding, hip hop, punk or photography should try to track down this book. Join a library if you must, just find it! The photographs are a mix of black and white and colour, and range from portrait style shots such as those of Ice-T, to action shots like slam dancing at early Black Flag gigs.

This book is one of the few publications which sufficiently captures such an important period of history, and the birth and rise of subcultures which are now multi billion dollar industries known worldwide.