REQUEST -DECEMEBER 1994

The last time Ice-T, Beastie Boy Mike Diamond, rap tycoon Russell Simmons, and indie-rocker Ian MacKaye inspired the same thing, it was probably a high school principal's headache. To see why, look to Fuck You Heroes, a pop anarchist's photo album that documents photographer Glen E. Friedman's fascination and friendship with such music-business icons.

As a teenager, Friedman documented '70's skateboard rebels Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta. In his early 20s, he snapped hardcore bands including Black Flag, the Dead Kennedys, and Suicidal Tendencies, whose first album Friedman produced. After meeting the Beastie Boys at New York City's CBGB, the photographer shifted his focus to such emerging rappers as Run-D.M.C, L.L. Cool J, and Public Enemy for a slew of memorable album covers and publicity stills.

Friedman's interest in his subjects waned as their cutting-edge power became blunted by mainstream popularity. In his book's preface, the photographer cited dissatisfaction with current youth culture as a major stimulus for Fuck You Heroes. The lineup of defiant faces and quotations he's assembled is a challenge to all up and comers.

Ian Christie

REQUEST -DECEMEBER 1994

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