“Low Fidelity is going to be the book of the year!” - Michael Zagaris

Bobby Grossman arrived in New York in 1976 after receiving a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) where he studied alongside friends Chris Frantz and David Byrne of Talking Heads. His first job was assisting Richard Bernstein, the artist responsible for the striking covers for Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine. Bernstein’s studio, located at the legendary Chelsea Hotel, is where Grossman found himself at ground zero in the early days of Punk and the downtown art scene.

Bobby Grossman became a regular fixture at CBGB, the Mudd Club and other downtown haunts where he took photographs of friends and newfound acquaintances including David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Alex Chilton, Jackie Curtis, Claudia Summers, and the milieu around Andy Warhol’s Factory.

Grossman also served as the official photographer for Glenn O’Brien’s TV Party, the uniquely original weekly public access television show that David Letterman described as “…the greatest TV show anywhere, ever!” TV Party ran from 1978-1982 and captured the countless artists and innovators on the scene including Chris Stein, Basquiat, Fab 5 Freddy, Kate Simon, Walter Steding, James Chance, Patti Astor, Nile Rogers, and Klaus Nomi.

Bobby Grossman's work was included in the groundbreaking 1981 exhibition, “New York/New Wave” at P.S.1. alongside more than one hundred artists including Kenny Scharf, Robert Mapplethorpe, Keith Haring, Brian Eno, and Nan Goldin. Grossman’s work has appeared in numerous publications and documentaries, though the majority of his archive has remained unseen until now.

The Waverly Press is pleased to present LOW FIDELITY, the first comprehensive collection of Bobby Grossman’s photographs, offered in a deluxe, limited edition. This 224-page book includes rarities and never before published photographs from the New York underground of the 1970s and 80s.

The subjects in this book include: Andy Warhol, Talking Heads, Blondie, Ramones, Lou Reed, David Bowie, The B-52's, Iggy Pop, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Diego Cortez, Cookie Mueller, John Waters, Jackie Curtis, Vincent Fremont, Lester Bangs, Nile Rodgers, Robert Fripp, Anya Phillips, Gerard Malanga, Patti Smith Group, Richard Hell, Grace Jones, Glenn O'Brien, William Burroughs and countless other cultural icons from the period.

Accompanying Grossman’s stunning images and personal accounts are contributions by: Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke, Fab 5 Freddy Brathwaite, Thurston Moore, Legs McNeil, Richard Boch, Walter Steding, Sylvia Reed, David Godlis, Vincent Fremont, Duncan Hannah, Victor Bockris, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, Lisa Jane Persky, Robert Fripp, Lenny Kaye, Amos Poe, Suzanne Mallouk, Meg Griffin, Jamie Nares, Max Blagg, Kate Simon, Ed Stasium, Robyn Geddes, Guy Furrow, Paul Zone, Julia Gorton, Hal & Randy Ludacer, Claudia Summers, Chocomoo, and PUNK magazine publisher John Holmstrom. Preface by Lisa Jane Persky, introduction by Glenn O’Brien and afterword by Richard Boch.

Preface by Lisa Jane Persky, introduction by Glenn O’Brien and afterword by Richard Boch.

LOW FIDELITY in limited to 750 signed and numbered copies.

Every copy of LOW FIDELITY is individually numbered and hand signed by Bobby Grossman. The Deluxe edition is signed by 20 contributors. The contributor signatures are: Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke, "Fab 5 Freddy" Brathwaite, Shepard Fairey, Bobby Grossman, Dagon James, Vincent Fremont, Robert Fripp, Duncan Hannah, Godlis, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, Amos Poe, Sylvia Reed, Lisa Jane Persky, Richard Boch, Meg Griffin, and John Holmstrom. The 20th signature is Glenn O'Brien's estate signature stamp.

Select book bundles come with an 8x10" museum quality, archival pigment print hand signed by Bobby Grossman. Choose one from four options: Jean-Michel Basquiat on Bleecker Street (1980), David Bowie & Jackie Curtis at the Mudd Club (1979), Debbie Harry - color (1980), or Debbie Harry, Fab 5 Freddy and Lee Quinones (1980).

COLLECTOR - $125  

• Limited to 500 numbered copies. Books numbered 201-700.

• Hardcover Quarter-bound book.

• Silver gilt pages.

• Signed & Numbered by Photographer Bobby Grossman and Editor Dagon James.

DELUXE - $395 

• Limited to 100 numbered copies. Books numbered 101-200.

• Hardcover Quarter-bound book with Debbie Harry cover.

• Premium slipcase.

• Silver gilt pages.

• One signed 8x10" archival pigment print.

Every PREMIUM book is Signed by 12 contributors: Bobby Grossman, Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke, Shepard Fairey, Fab 5 Freddy, Duncan Hannah, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, Amos Poe, Robert Fripp, and Dagon James. 

ARCHIVE - $495  

• Limited to 100 numbered copies. books numbered 1-100.

• Hardcover book with Debbie Harry cover art designed by Shepard Fairey.

• Bespoke slipcase unique to the DELUXE edition.

• Gold gilt pages.

• One signed 8x10" archival pigment print. 

Every DELUXE book is Signed by 20 contributors: Bobby Grossman, Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke, Fab 5 Freddy Brathwaite, Shepard Fairey, Robert Fripp, Duncan Hannah, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, Meg Griffin, Amos Poe, Lisa Jane Persky, David Godlis, Sylvia Reed, John Holmstrom, Richard Boch, Vincent Fremont, and Dagon James. The 20th signature is Glenn O'Brien's estate signature stamp.