Arts New Jay Adams Book Due in October
I am rather obsessed with punk-minded skateboard pioneer Jay Adams. The fascination initially took hold because of this unforgettable documentary (and honestly, this redundant, dramatized version wasn’t nearly as bad as I had feared, thanks to Catherine Hardwicke’s low-key direction and the wise use of hand-held cameras and actors who could actually skateboard—no thanks to Stacy Peralta’s self-aggrandizing screenplay).
My interest in Adams, his fellow Z-Boys, and the culture that grew up around them was also reinforced by the stunning photographs from C.R. Stecyk III and Glen E. Friedman book, Dogtown: The Legend of Z-Boys. Friedman and Stecyk also released another collection, Fuck You Heroes, which includes some arresting images of Black Flag and Chuck D.
This October, Burning Flags Press will release Jay Boy, a collection of photographs taken by Adams’ stepfather throughout the ’70s. C.R. Stecyk III has once again written the introduction, and Adams himself wrote all the captions. Unfortunately, he wrote them from jail, where he landed again this year. It is unclear whether it was because of back taxes or a drug charge, but regardless, all proceeds from sales of the book will go towards the Jay Adams Family Fund to help care for his wife and family while he is locked up (supposedly his wife is pregnant). It is a limited edition pressing, so if you’re a fan, you may want to place your pre-order here.
also worth a mention is Friedman's follow-up to Fuck You Heroes: Fuck You All. I forget if it is in FYA, or FYH, but there is a great pic of Chuck D and Flava Flav wearing Minor Threat tees. Warms the cockles of this former DC straight-edge kid's heart.