Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on October 14, 2025
Celebrated photographer Bob Minkin, best known for his decades documenting the Grateful Dead, has launched a new project called Bob Minkin New York Rocked, a deluxe photo book capturing New York’s explosive rock, punk, and blues scene of the late 1970s and 1980s.
The 224-page hardcover features hundreds of images—many never before published— spanning from intimate club performances to packed arenas. In addition, Minkin’s lens captured legends including Bruce Springsteen, The Clash, Talking Heads, The Ramones, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, The Allman Brothers, Bonnie Raitt, Frank Zappa, Johnny Winter, Grace Slick, Peter Tosh, Albert King, Al DiMeola, Weather Report, Jethro Tull, The Who, Paul Simon, Santana, Hot Tuna, and yes, the Grateful Dead too.
The book’s images transport readers through the city’s storied venues: The Palladium, The Bottom Line, The Lone Star Café, Central Park, Madison Square Garden, The Beacon Theatre, The Capitol Theatre (Passaic), Radio City Music Hall, Wetlands, Bond’s International Casino, The Ritz, My Father’s Place, and many more. These pages tell the story of a city that never stopped buzzing with sound and electricity.
“It’s my love letter to New York’s music scene during the late ’70s and ’80s,” says Minkin. “From punk and blues to classic rock—these were nights that changed my life.”
Born in Brooklyn, Minkin began shooting shows at 15, attending concerts with his camera in hand and developing his first prints in the darkrooms of the School of Visual Arts. By 1977, his photos were already appearing in music magazines. His deep connection to New York’s soundscape runs deep. Bob Minkin New York Rocked is more than a photography book — it’s a time capsule of a city alive with creative energy.
Each first-edition hardcover is personally signed and limited to 1,000 copies, printed on heavyweight matte paper with spot varnish to make the photographs pop. Every image was shot on film, offering a warm analog authenticity that perfectly matches the era it documents.
Meanwhile, Minkin has self-published five successful music photography books through Kickstarter, including LIVE DEAD, The Music Never Stopped, Just Jerry, Just Bobby, and Just Phil. As a result, Bob Minkin New York Rocked continues that same independent spirit — inviting fans to help bring this collector’s edition to life.
📸 Support the project on Kickstarter: Bob Minkin New York Rocked – Rock, Punk & Blues
🌐 More from Bob: minkinphotography.com | minkinphotographystore.com
