A time of explosive creativity in a myriad of forms from the rubble of a once ‘great’ city. Defaulting on debts, broke and cast adrift by Gerald Ford – the city became a free ride fairground for the parasites that were ruthless developers, mafia and slum landlords.

Banks unregulated became contorted and uncontrolled mutated versions of themselves. The economy was turned on its head and inside out.

From this ugly soup of extremes came music and art in a colourful series of eruptions. CBGB gave space to and nurtured Blondie, Talking Heads, New York Dolls, The Ramones and so many more.

Brooklyn’s wastelands and the memorials shells of the ghosted housing projects gave birth to the Hip Hop movement. In turn it provided unity between previously warring factions, gangs and races. ‘Artist’ would be the label given to ‘graffiti vandals’. Their colourful topography, Futura 2000, Fab Five Freddy and Keith Haring would be regarded highly even before Basquiat.

Uptown the Roman circus would be reborn in Bacchanalian proportions. Bloated with its own self-righteous, grandiose pomposity, Studio 54. Eventually it would choke on its own vomit, after the body refused to take another dose.

The dirty money and destruction, under the guise of renewal and development would spawn sociopaths like one Mr. D. Trump. The new emperors of a city re-built atop the bones of what were once a vibrant metropolis.

Protests led inevitably to riots and violence in the fight for equal rights in the gay community. Stonewall a beacon for those seeking assurance their fight was worthy and just.

By the time the 1980s came into being and Reaganomics took root the capitalist wet dream of the Chicago School was made real. The final piece of this mutating virus was in place, transforming this city forever.