Dustin Pittman amassed an archive of 100,000 photographs chronicling the untamed corners of New York City’s after-hours nightlife, from shadowy underground haunts to prestigious galleries and clubs. This “wish I was there” book unveils the vibrant pop culture scene of New York during the 1970s and ’80s.

Pittman was not just an observer but was an active participant in the places and events that shaped pop culture as we know it—the goings- on at Andy Warhol’s Factory, the women’s liberation movements of the 1970s, the VIP room at Studio 54, and the nascent punk scene at CBGB and The Mudd Club. Through Pittman’s lens, readers are provided an intimate glimpse into the intersecting worlds of fashion and celebrity, music, art, and politics—from the glam rock underground and the golden age of disco to the ateliers of the world’s most famous fashion designers such as Halston, Yves Saint Laurent, and Calvin Klein. Pittman was witness to such rising stars as Blondie, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, The New York Dolls, and Roxy Music, as well as seminal cultural figures including Raquel Welch, Truman Capote, Diana Ross, Tina Chow, Brooke Shields, Jerry Hall, Divine, and Liza Minnelli—all caught in spontaneous, unguarded New York moments.

A vast majority are previously unpublished images of some of the most iconic and revered figures of the late 20th century, accompanied by firsthand observations and remembrances by Pittman. The book features an introductory essay offering an objective view of Pittman’s work and importance as a chronicle of the music, art, and fashion scenes.