Phil Marcade left Paris in his late teens to begin "a few months? of travel that would lead to a 40 year-stay in the U.S., mostly in New York City. He was at the center of the origins of the punk rock explosion, as a musician (founder and lead singer of The Senders) and scenester, forming intimate friendships with artists and musicians including Johnny Thunders, Nan Goldin, Cookie Muller, Wayne Kramer, Debbie Harry, Nancy Spungen and Willie DeVille. His first book, Au-delà de l'Avenue D (Scali, 2006), was published in France. In addition to writing, he works as a painter and graphic artist.