A new photo book shows off the hedonistic playground of Studio 54

Studio 54 was the number one spot for gloriously mad partying in New York in the late 70s.

Celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Grace Jones, Diana Ross and David Bowie frequented the club, which hosted drug-fuelled discos. Even Donald Trump was pictured inside, though he was reportedly “never on the dancefloor” and just there to “cut the deal” not “cut the coke”.

Upon the anniversary of Studio 54’s grand opening in 1977, a new photobook from co-founder Ian Schrager captures the heyday of the nightspot’s wildest years.

In the book he writes: “Studio was a glamorous place. There was an excitement when you walked in. You were like a wide-eyed kid in a candy shop. It was absolutely electrifying. There were beautiful women and hot guys everywhere. It was like nobody cared about anything. There was a combustible energy inside. You were free without a care in the world and could let your hair down. It was a sanctuary. You felt protected and safe.”

Check out some images from the book, titled Studio 54, in the gallery above, including Michael Jackson celebrating his 19th birthday, Mick and Bianca Jagger, Liza and Vincente Minneli, Truman Capote and a group of ballet dancers performing on mopeds.

Studio 54 is published by Rizzoli Books and is on sale now.

[Photo credits: Martha Cooper, Rose Hartman, Photofest, Dustin Pittman, Adam Scull, Neal Slavin, Sonia Moskowitz]

[Via: Nylon]

Patrick Hinton is Mixmag's Digital Staff Writer, follow him on Twitter