Back in 2003, Gary Wien released “Beyond the Palace,” a book about the players in the Asbury Park music scene that was unique because it didn’t just focus on the usual suspects, i.e., Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny Lyon, Little Steven Van Zandt and Jon Bon Jovi.
Sure, their stories are in there, but so are memories of the late, great radio station WHTG-FM, 106.3, bands like Hot Romance, Cats on a Smooth Surface and clubs like the Green Parrot, T-Birds Cafe and The Saint. More than 40 artists were interviewed for the first edition of the book.
Now Wien wants to release an updated version of the book, and he’s turned to the website Kickstarter to help raise funds for the project. The website, which has been used by several bands, including Jersey girl April Smith, to raise money for albums, lets fans contribute dollars to causes they support in return for first access to the project and other goodies.
Wien is trying to raise $3,000 to release his updated book.
He has raised more than $1,000 s0 far and has until June 5 to raise the rest.
“Asbury Park is a special place,” Wien said. “Many people compare Asbury Park’s music scene with cities like Seattle or Washington, DC, but they don’t realize that Asbury Park is so much smaller. I don’t think there’s another town in the United States with a population of less than 20,000 to be home to so many great musicians or have such an illustrious music history.”