Josh Alan Friedman

Josh Alan Friedman’s 2026 novel, ALL ROADS LEAD TO GREAT NECK, is a bildungsroman set in 1970 Great Neck, following a teenager whose drug experiments summon visions of a 19th century Jewish pimp. Mystical Judaism meets drug culture in ’70’s suburbia.

For those prone to disbelief, Josh Alan Friedman’s landmark book, TALES OF TIMES SQUARE, serves as last will and testament of what once was. Still in print since its 1986 hardcover release by Delacorte Press, TALES OF TIMES SQUARE: THE TAPES became its own podcast in 2017.

Previous to that, the civil rights movement was turned upside down in Josh’s “autobiographical novel,” BLACK CRACKER. A new hardcover was published in 2017, along with Josh’s collection of music journalism, TELL THE TRUTH UNTIL THEY BLEED (both from Wyatt Doyle Books). Before that: WHEN SEX WAS DIRTY (Feral House); I, GOLDSTEIN: MY SCREWED LIFE (with Al Goldstein, Thunder's Mouth Press); and NOW DIG THIS: THE UNSPEAKABLE WRITINGS OF TERRY SOUTHERN (co-editor, Grove Press).

Before the age of graphic novels, Josh set off satirical fires and lawsuits as writer-half of the Friedman Bros cartooning duo. Two anthologies from Fantagraphics feature the art of Josh's brother, Drew: WARTS AND ALL and ANY SIMILARITY TO PERSONS LIVING OR DEAD IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL.

On the music front, as "Josh Alan," he barnstormed the state of Texas for 30 years, rocking whole arenas with his Guild D-40. Copping three Dallas Observer Music Awards for Best Acoustic Act, he released six albums: FAMOUS & POOR, THE WORST!, BLACKS 'N' JEWS, JOSH ALAN BAND, SIXTY, GODDAMMIT, and ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTALS.

Josh is the son of Bruce Jay Friedman, also considered the father of Black Humor.