In the gritty heart of New York's punk scene, Harley Flanagan's life unfolds like a tumultuous, exhilarating riff. "Hard-Core: Life of My Own" charts the incredible journey of a child prodigy entwined with the legends of punk before even hitting puberty. With the raw intensity of the streets he called home, Harley drummed his way into the anarchic core of the 70s Lower East Side, rubbing shoulders with icons like Joe Strummer and Debbie Harry, and laying down the bassline for the hardcore movement with the Cro-Mags. This is not just a memoir; it's a chronicle of survival, a testament to the power of sheer will in the face of adversity, and a tour-de-force of punk history. Flanagan's narrative is a deep dive into a New York that no longer exists, brought vividly to life through the eyes of someone who not only survived but thrived in its most ferocious corners. From drumming in his aunt's band at age 11 to his battles both in the streets and the courts, his story is one of loyalty, betrayal, and redemption. With endorsements from cultural icons like Anthony Bourdain, who insists you "don't even pretend to talk about New York... if you don't read this," "Hard-Core" is a raw, compelling read. It's not just the story of punk; it's the story of a man who lived it, breathed it, and survived to tell the tale with all the intensity and passion of a punk rock song.