Steve: It was one of the last musical eras before the huge wave of technology took over. So much happened at City Gardens that wasn't documented, and by the time it ended in the 90s we were just starting to have all these ways of documenting things. Back then just having a VHS video of a show was no small feat, especially if you went to shows in the '80s. A lot of places didn't even let you bring cameras in to shows. All we had were stories told and re-told by older brothers, cousins, etc. I think it's important to prreserve some of that oral tradition.

Q: I know this project has been germinating for some time. When did you and Steven first begin kicking around the idea for the project? Was there anything in particular that inspired you to move ahead with the idea?

Amy: I have been working on this book off and on for about 15 years. Doing an oral history is a very daunting process, as you have to track down and interview many people, you can't just write a narrative. It's very exhausting meeting with people, transcribing interviews, trying to make sense of certain events. I had pretty much given up on the whole thing until I met Steven. We met over the internet, of course. At the time, he was living in the South, and thinking about writing a book about City Gardens. I suggested we join forces and he got me energized about the project again. What's great is that he went to the club steadily in the early '90s, when my attendence started to trail off. Our time there covers almost the entire span of the club - and his perspective is entirely different than mine. It's a great combination. And I am really thankful that Steve and I met - he really made this possible.

Steve: I happened into the whole thing quite by accident. Amy had already done the lion's share of the research by the time I had met her. I was inspired by what she had already accomplished by herself to try and do whatever i could to keep the project going. The first time I read her account of the Butthole Surfers mayhem I was hooked and I practically begged her to let me be involved.

Q: Do you remember your first City Gardens show? What was it, how old were you, what kind of impression did it make?

Amy: I went to see the British punk band Toxic Reasons on a Wednesday night and there was no one there. Even so, I though the place was heaven. It was a very accepting atmosphere. As a single female, I could go by myself, dance by myself, watch the bands by myself and no one would bother me. If I wanted to talk to people, I could, but it was a very non-judgmental place.

Steve:I was 14 the first time I went there. Saw Danzig. He signed my Misfits records after the show and signed my super-tight rocker jeans "EVIL IS...GLENN DANZIG!" And he meant it, too.

Q: I know you were quite involved with the music scene that revolved around City Gardens, even so far as letting touring bands crash with you. What are some of your favorite memories? Best shows? Any good anecdotes from those days?

Amy: Being around punk bands at City Gardens taught me many life lessons, but I remember one in particular. In 1984, I was interviewing many punk and hardcore bands for the magazine Hard Times. Never had a problem, except for the Butthole Surfers, who were tripping so hard they could barely talk. Even so, they were still nice about it. And then, I met Flipper.

Even among fellow punks, they had the reputation for being a bunch of assholes, and on this night they lived up to it. They were accused of trying to steal the opening band, Scornflakes', equipment, which they denied. After the show, another woman and I were sent to the dressing room to do the interview. The band seemed nice enough, if not totally drunk, but then something set them off. I believe we asked them, in a joking way, about the alleged equipment stealing. The next thing I know I’m in a shoving match with Bruce from Flipper. It ended when he grabbed me by my hair and attempted to throw me down a flight of stairs. I punched him the balls, which seemed to have shockingly little effect, but it was enough for him to let me go. My friend and I got out of there, went to car and looked at each other like, what the hell just happened? It was like petting a friendly dog who all of the sudden snaps at you for no reason.

Hard Times editor Ron Gregorio saw them at Maxwell’s in Hoboken two nights later. The band said that they had no memory of anything that happened. Surprise, surprise. Even weirder than the fight with the band was the lack of commiseration I got from everyone about it. My own mother told me I should have known better then go to drunk band’s dressing room—which was probably true—and the magazine’s editor told me to toughen up. I learned there’s no whining in punk rock.

Steve: For me City Gardens was this mythical place. I grew up in Philadelphia and that's where I went to shows mostly. I had heard of City Gardens (and its reputation) long before I ventured over there. I was surprisingly blown away by Jane's Addiction in '88, that was an amazing show. Also, the night the Afghan Whigs played there; the night Kurt Cobain killed himself. It was really intense.

Q: Just so people understand why they're donating, what exactly is the purpose of the Kickstarter and what will the funds be used for?

Amy:The bulk of the money will be used to print the book, in both hardcover and paperback. That alone is about $14k. To have the book designed for print and download is another $5k. We are also having a professional editor proofread the manuscript. And please be aware that 8-10% of the money raised will be paid in fees to Kickstarter and Amazon.

Steve: Kickstarter is a great platform for independent projects to see the light of day. In our case the funds we receive through kickstarter will pay for the actrual printing of the book; the manufacturing costs. This way Amy and I can creatively control every aspect of the project. We are beholden only to the people who are most passionate about seeing the project realized: the people who donate.

Q: What's the difference between No Slam Dancing and Riot On the Dance Floor?

Amy: There was a Kickstarter campaign for the documentary film Riot on the Dance Floor, which is a different project than No Slamdancing, No Stagediving, No Spikes. Simply put, Riot is a film directed by Steve Tozzi and No Slam Dancing is a book by Amy & Steve. Riot on the Dance Floor reached its targeted goal and is currently in the final stages of production. It should be completed by the end of the year.

While both projects share many similarities and overlap in many places, there are very distinct differences. The main difference is the focus of the narratives being told. While the film does include a lot of Trenton and City Gardens’ history, its main subject is the story of promoter Randy Ellis. The book being written by Amy and Steve focuses intensely on the club itself—dates and details of some of its most important events, personal stories and anecdotes, and what the club meant to people.

Q: Here's your chance to make your pitch: Explain why this is important to you and why it should be important to the people reading this.

Amy:We have done well over 100 interviews and along the way have talked to Henry Rollins (a onetime Trenton resident), Daily Show host and former City Gardens bartender Jon Stewart, Dean Ween, Ian MacKaye, GWAR, Al Jourgenson (Ministry),Gibby Haynes (Butthole Surfers), Harley from the Cro-Mags, City Gardens promoter Randy Now, plus a lot of the people who went there.

Besides all the music, what so many people remember is how City Gardens changed their lives; it made many lives better and may have even saved a few. Attending those shows and dance nights made a lot of outsiders and odd socks feel like they were part of a community - accepted and free to express themselves. Over the years, patrons had different perceptions of, and relationships to, the club and what went on there. People who went there in the beginning saw things differently than those who started going in later years. We worked hard to document it all.

No Slam Dancing is different from other punk history books, in that the story of ‘80s and ‘90s punk is told through the lens of one club and the experiences of those who worked, played and gigged there. Other books compile already-completed interviews or give “history” from one person’s point of view; this book will be an oral history from the people who created a sub-culture, supported the bands and the club and made those shows happen—and all the drama and gossip that entails.

Steve: For a lot of people City Gardens was a huge part of their lives. And, for a lot of people it was all they had. For me it represents a great time in my life. Made a lot of good friends, saw some amazing shows. I just want to honor that by doing what I can. If you were there you understand.

For more information, visit No Slam Dancing, No Stage Diving, No Spikes' Kickstarter page.