Asbury Park, New Jersey early years of Springsteen's career in Asbury Park. Daniel Wolff's "4 July Asbury Park" examines the social, political and cultural history of the city with a special emphasis on the part that music played in the city's development, culminating in Springsteen. "Beyond the Palace" by Gary Wien is a comprehensive look at the local music scene that Springsteen emerged from, and includes many photographs of musicians and clubs. Against the backdrop of the fading resort, Alex Austin's novel "The Red Album of Asbury Park" tracks a young rock musician pursuing his dream in the late 60s/early 70s, with Springsteen as
Weird NJ the legend of the "Hookerman" Lights and the life of Zip the Pinhead. Subjects covered include the Evil Clown of Middletown, Midgetville,"Gates of Hell," Shades of Death Road, Clinton Road, Demon Alley, and the Devil's Tower. The painting of a grinning face named Tillie from the Palace Amusements building in Asbury Park has appeared in many "Weird NJ" books and on the magazine covers. In 2003 a "Weird NJ" book, made up of content from earlier issues, was published. The next year saw the follow-up "Weird US", covering sites and stories across the country. That led to a series of