Journalist Walter Gröbchen Recommends "Vienna You Dead City"

Journalist, blogger, author, and music publisher Walter Gröbchen, 64, has recommended the recently released book "Wien du tote Stadt" (Vienna You Dead City). The book is notable for its striking photographs by Michael Snoj, also known as Kodak, a prominent figure from Vienna's early punk scene.

Gröbchen describes the book as an "impressive portrait of a mini-scene." While Gröbchen himself was not part of the punk movement, identifying more as a hippie with long hair during that era, he acknowledges the significance of individuals like Kodak who ventured to London to observe the burgeoning scene there. His own experiences involved exploring local venues like Amerlinghaus and Gassergasse in Vienna.

He recalls the limited access to international music culture in Vienna at the time, mentioning that only a few people managed to purchase English music magazines from a kiosk at the Westbahnhof. This scarcity highlights the unique context in which Vienna's own subcultures developed.

The recommendation is presented as part of an album column, offering readers a glimpse into Gröbchen's literary and cultural interests, particularly concerning Vienna's past.