NYC Go-Go
Dancing Boys
Slava Mogutin, the notorious Russian dissident-turned-art-star and creator
of the critically acclaimed Lost Boys (powerHouse Books, 2006), returns
with his second monograph, NYC Go-Go, a tribute to the golden age of
New York City nightlife.
The once-glittering club world had all but disappeared by the time
Mogutin arrived in America in the mid-1990s. Under Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s
controversial Quality of Life campaign, downtown clubs paid the ultimate
price: owners were branded community pariahs and paid crippling fines for
alleged disruptiveness, while others were prosecuted for criminal acts;
many legendary night spots were wiped off the map altogether.
In his new book, Mogutin documents the ever-shrinking downtown gay
scene, taking us inside remaining joints like the Cock, Boysroom, and Mr.
Black. NYC Go-Go is a wild and raunchy journey into the decaying but
utterly decadent underworld of hustlers and go-go boys. Some of them are

rough trade—thugs with criminal pasts, busted for prostitution, drugs, or
armed assault—while others are gay for pay, married with kids and
hustling for their families; most are Mogutin’s friends. NYC Go-Go
captures the spirit of a scene under fire with Mogutin’s trademark raw, in-
your-face style.
Personal Review: NYC Go-Go
Mogutin, Slava (photographer) and Benderson, Bruce (introduction). "NYC
Go-Go", Powerhouse Books, 2008.
Dancing Boys
Amos Lassen
Slava Mogutin was born in Siberia and exiled from Russia when he was 21
because of his queer activism and writings. Russia's loss was our gain. His
beautiful photography of the New York City club world of the mid-1990's is
what "NYC Go-Go" is about. This is a tribute to a period that was and
Mogutin shows us the shrinking downtown gay club scene by taking us,
through his photographs to the few remaining spots--Cock, Boysroom and
Mr. Black. It is a world of decadence, populated by hustlers and go-go
boys, "rough trade' with criminal pasts and guys that are gay for pay. Many
of them are friends of the man with the camera. He gives us a raw style
that is most definitely in your face. Downtown New York was like this
before then mayor, Rudy Giuliani began his "Quality of Life" campaign and
cleaned up the area. The photos are incredible.
The shots are not posed and we see pictures that are lewd and very
erotic and that tease the viewer. The early photos lead to the full frontal
nude photos in the nook.
Bruce Benderson, noted gay author contributes the introduction
which is enlightening and clearly written. It and the photos give us a look at
a world that many of us will never have the chance to know.
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