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Punk Icon McNeil: From CBGB Chaos to Country Quiet
12 Sep
Summary
- Punk magazine co-founder Legs McNeil reflects on the scene's origins.
- McNeil's new memoir details his wild life in 1970s New York.
- He now lives a quiet life in rural Pennsylvania, far from the city.
Legs McNeil, the co-founder of the seminal Punk magazine, has released a new memoir detailing his tumultuous experiences in the 1970s New York punk scene. McNeil, who described himself as a 'fuck-up,' recounts how the term 'punk' was initially rejected by bands like the Ramones before becoming a celebrated identity, partly due to his influential magazine.
His memoir, 'Resident Punk: How I Smoked, Drank and Stumbled My Way Through the '70s Punk Scene (and Beyond),' offers candid reflections on the era's excess and the nascent music scene. Despite his past embracing a wild lifestyle in the city, McNeil now lives a secluded life in rural Pennsylvania with his wife and dogs, a stark contrast to his earlier years.
McNeil's career includes co-authoring the successful oral history of punk, 'Please Kill Me,' which sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide. He also worked for publications like Spin and launched Nerve Magazine, navigating the evolving media landscape from print to the early internet era. His journey highlights a life defined by punk's rebellious spirit and a surprising transition to quietude.
