Parties come and go; clubs fade in and out of relevancy. But nothing will ever recreate the perfect storm of disco, drugs, sexuality and decadence that was New York City’s Studio 54 in the late 70s and 80s.
Swedish Photojournalist Hasse Persson was there snapping shots of what would become the gold standard of 70s hedonism and 80s excess.
In December 1979 the club was raided by the IRS. Between all the sleepless nights and overindulgence, owners Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager never got around to making the business legitimate. They were skimming millions, and the raid turned up entire bags filled with cash stashed throughout the club. Steve and Ian pled guilty to tax evasion and were sentenced to three and a half years in prison.
Presson’s stunning collection of black-and-white photos is aptly called Studio 54, and if you’re looking for the perfect coffee table conversation starter, the hard cover book will accent any living room.
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Here’s what Persson writes in the forward:
“The times and the prevalent drug culture sanctioned this hedonistic half-way-house between heaven and hell. Somebody smart said Studio 54 existed after the Pill, before AIDS and while cocaine was still seen as a pick-me-up. The drug reference today seems vapid but a lot of people had been reading Sigmund Freud’s so-called cocaine-papers. In his book Über Coca, published in 1984, Freud was full of praise for cocaine’s benefits, claiming it to be a far better drug than alcohol. And less harmful. When Freud also mentioned that patients who had been prescribed cocaine reported an increased sex drive, Studio 54 was easily convinced. ‘Push, Push, in the Bush’ as Mustique put it.”
And here’s a sample of shots. You might recognize the likes of Andy Warhol, Truman Capote and Bianca Jagger — all regulars:
corktownboy
It’s Musique, not Mustique.
ingyaom
Can’t really say I’m sorry I missed all this.
rattanman
As a friend of Uber Coca, please change the publication date to 1884, not 1984. Freud would have loved the party, but he was dead at the time.
stanhope
It was a perfect moment in time never to be experienced again. I had a more moving experience going in the Saint than in 54. The first time I walked onto the dance floor I had a premonition that this would end soon…there was no way this level of excitement, joy and energy would sustain forever. The music was incredible, the boys fantastic looking, the space unlike anything ever seen. It was like entering Heaven if you were one of the lucky ones to enter as their door policy was strict. AIDS came soon after and it all vanished. Very, very sad. Someone should write the ultimate book on those days.
Tobi
@stanhope: +1 although 54 could be very hit-and-miss, and Rubell when smashed could be truly vile. I think some of my best nights around that time were at Save The Robots! I found Anthony Haden-Guest’s “The Last Party” did a fair job of summing up the 54 experience, the good, the bad and the indifferent.