Out of Step: Faces of Straight Edge [Oct. 6]

About me:

RELEASE DATE FOR THE BOOK HAS BEEN SET. PICK IT UP BEGINNING OCTOBER 6, 2007. www.facesofstraightedge.com.

BE THE FIRST TO GET YOUR HANDS ON IT AT THE OFFICIAL RELEASE PARTY AN OPENING OF THE OUT OF STEP: FACES OF STRAIGHT EDGE EXHIBITION IN ATLANTA OCTOBER 6.

Taken from the April 2007 issue of Quick Fix zine:

Explain in brief about the book project and how you came about it? Do you have a publisher yet?

"This project is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time now. I just finally got the motivation or time to begin it. The project is basically a personal exploration of the straight edge community in America today. I’m picking up my camera and traveling around the country trying to find a bunch of really different straight edge people. Trying to sort of analyze the diversity. And I’m photographing these people in their environments. The book will be published by Empire Press October 2007."

Are you straight edge yourself? If so, why and what are your principals on it. If not, why a book project like this?

"I’ve been straight edge for just about 9 years now. One thing I’ve learned over the years is that its not always most important why you initially became straight edge, what’s most important is why you are straight edge today. For me living a straight edge lifestyle is many things. Most simply it’s a rebellion. Every day I live without being intoxicated or addicted to some drug is my way of saying Fuck You to the greedy power hungry corporations that profit from addiction and miserable lives. If I smoke then I’m not only a slave to that addiction I’m a slave to that company. I’m financing their huge mansions, yachts, and their exploitation. I’m their slave and I’m not ok with that. Being straight edge is another way for me to be politically active. There’s no way I can stand up for what I believe and fight back if I’m not in my right mind, if I’m in some way being controlled by a foreign substance. That’s what I believe and I totally respect everyone’s opinions for being straight edge. I love hearing people’s stories."

Ok, in closing what is your ultimate goal with the book?

"The ultimate goal of this book is to be able to share my experience with other people. Not just other straight edge people but anyone who likes photography or is interested in alternative lifestyles. Not everyone will have a chance to travel around and meet a bunch of really different people who all share a common belief. So hopefully this book will be interesting to them. And for the young kid in Mississippi who thinks he or she is different than everyone else maybe this book will show that its ok to be different. And it’s okay to go against flow and live your life differently. For the straight edge people out there I hope this collection of pictures is something they can be proud of. Something they can hold on to and show others and say, “This is my extended family.”

The collection will be published as a book on Southern Empire Records in October 2007. Here is what Dave Anthem from SER has to say:

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May 1, 2006

"So, we're happy to announce that following the release of Giant's Song EP, we're going to be working with straight edge photographer, Raymond McCrea Jones, on a book of photographs tentatively titled, Out of Step: Faces of Straight Edge. These photographs, some of which can be viewed on his site, attempt to portray the straight edge movement for what it is: a cross-section of individuals who transcend class, race, religious affiliation, sexual preference, gender, etc. One of the invectives constantly hurled at the straight edge movement is that it is nothing but a gang of white, middle class, male, jocks who gather once a week at hardcore shows to champion sobriety. And although statistically there is some truth to this generalization, Ray's book of beautiful black & white photographs attempts to depart from this assumption by displaying the many faces of those who've adopted the straight edge lifestyle as an alternative to the enslavement and pacification that substance abuse so often engenders. More information coming soon!"

Links:

Out Of Step: Faces of Straight Edge Official Website
Southern Empire Records
Raymond McCrea Jones

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