I am the most published early punk rock photographer on the West Coast. ~ Jenny Lens, MFA.
Welcome! Glad You Are Here! Stay Awhile and Have Fun!
Once upon a time … when music, fashion, graphics, film, vid, high energy, endless creativity, rebels and outcasts (and in LA, lots of wild women – we did it ALL!) and low cost of living came together to change world culture. Fun times.
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These unique, limited edition 12 x 18 inch poster sized, archival, museum quality photo prints make great gifts for yourself or others.
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Hear True Tall Tales of Early Punk. See Rare Photos and Narrated Vids of Photos To Prove It!
Don’t be left behind, believing all kinds of distortions about early punk. Or playing guessing games. Get the True Fun Facts!
It’s All Happening in the coolest place online.
“The infamous Jenny Lens, supreme master of the punk rock photo.”
~ San Francisco Bay Guardian [And straight up rock too!]
“The was a time when Punk Rock was dangerous, man — in a cerebral way. And Jenny Lens was there to record it all.”
~ Garage Magazine “Jenny Lens was not just one of the few photographers chronicling the early punk scene in both North America and London, she was also one of the few women working in a very male-dominated field. Her life is pretty fascinating and made up of the three acts usually associated with characters in movies and novels.” Adorama Camera.
Punk Pioneers Podcast and Photos Private Club
How Does this Work?
So simple! You can listen to audio or look at images or video using any device with an online connection or wifi.
Photos appear larger on most tablets, laptop or computer monitors, but phones will do.
Start having fun, immersed in a very magical space and place for a brief incandescent few moments.
Join before I raise membership fees!
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“How to Look Punk” in 1977 Hollywood on Lethal Amounts gallery and site magazine.
The following taken from their article, which included many of my photos and quotes from various sources:
“How To Look Punk” exclusively features photos by Jenny Lens, the premier photographer of the first wave of Los Angeles punk rock.
Lens, who shot from 1976-1980, knew how important it was to document the revolutionary fashions that were taking Hollywood Blvd by storm. She was there from literally beginning to end, and her work is the most crucial link in preserving the visual history and fashions of this era.
“I often photographed people based on their creative clothes, dancing, love of partying and posing, in a time when this was rare. The fans who migrated to the Hollywood shows often were colorful, vintage clothes from thrift stores or something they created themselves.” — Jenny Lens, an excerpt from her website, Punk Pioneers.
More fabulous photos of 1977 Hollywood punk style can be found in a lecture posted on YouTube by Jenny Lens, accompanied by a commentary slideshow. Mandatory viewing for anyone thirsty for knowledge about where this fashion came from and the characters that put it on the map.
Tap or Click to Buy Museum Quality Prints of World Famous Museum Quality Photos!
After this text, you’ll see highlights, a tiny fraction of my most famous photos of very famous performers.
You can see and read more on my Buy Photo Prints page.
IF you want to learn from the best, check out Dreaming Big Rocks! I love to share secrets about photography, the business, marketing, and offer coaching too. (Very experienced teacher. I was teaching when I started taking punk photos.)
Clash are in Rock Hall of Fame. I was so honored so many of my photos in this fine book! Plus a special credit. Lots of photographers in this book and they chose to give ME “A Very Special Thank You”! Wow!
Rhino Records (and other record companies) used tons of my images for their punk releases. One of my most famous of my fave band, X. March, 1980.
Jenny! You have a keen eye. You’ve always been the most incredibly talented decisive photographer but at times underrated. Your body of work is superb, thank you for your decades of perseverance. Your back catalog of photos should serve you well during your golden years! We’re the same age! I’m likely older but have fond fun memories of you from the 1970s. Stay well, stay safe. With sincere warmest wishes, Ginger Canzoneri ps I think I have the polaroid shown in this photo on the stage floor in front of the drum kit!!
Ginger Canzoneri Management ~ Ginger is THE woman who magically transformed a punk girl band into the record setting, inspiring, fun, legendary Go-Go’s. She’s a talented artist who represents some of the world’s best photographers, graphic artists, authors and others. So that’s quite THE compliment. I appreciate all she’s done and doing.
Wanna hear stories behind these photos? See more and larger photos?
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YOU keep asking me so many questions. I keep emailing and posting. And more keep asking me to repeat stuff over and over again. NOW you can easily find out more than you ever imagined, in one easy to use site!
Plus I can Tell True Tall Tales no one has heard! Photos rarely seen or never! More good stuff now!
I posted member-only exclusive audio, photos, video and text of Blondie, Fashion, Germs, Go-Go’s, the Masque, Ramones, the Screamers, X, lots of punk history and so much more to come! IF you join us!
Long-ago promised Clash stories and photos. Tech held me back. But I pushed forward JUST FOR YOU!
My acclaimed book, “Punk Pioneers” from major art publisher, Rizzoli/Universe.
So many copies were stolen from Los Angeles Library downtown LA branch. So they moved it to the Reference Department. Cannot check it out! Now that’s punk.
My Punk Pioneers cover, Debbie Harry, Blondie’s LA debut, the Whisky, Feb 1977. (in Rock Hall of Fame)
One of many magazine listings. This when Punk Pioneers was published. I’ve been interviewed many times through the years.
My photo graced Spin Magazine‘s obit when Dee Dee Ramone passed away. Dee Dee was one of THE sweetest people I ever met. We hung together during the Ramones first West Coast tour, August 1976. (in Rock Hall of Fame)
My photo graced Spin Magazine‘s obit when Joey Ramone passed away. I was asked to drive Joey, Arturo Vega (who designed Ramones graphics and merch) and Tomata du Plenty (lead singer of the Screamers, not yet performing) to Little Tokyo in LA. I saw this Kamen Rider standing on the sidewalk. I asked Joey to pose. Good times. Ramones second West Coast tour, Feb 1977. (in Rock Hall of Fame)
My photo graced Spin Magazine‘s opening image for last Johnny Ramone interview. I photographed him in San Francisco during the first Ramones West Coast tour, August 1976. (in Rock Hall of Fame)
I photographed Joey Ramone in “a seedy hotel off Van Ness” in San Francisco during the Ramones first West Coast tour, August, 1976. (in Rock Hall of Fame)
This photo was supposed to be in the Clash Official Book. Oops, I forgot to send it in. Sometimes I get depressed. hard doing this all alone, in debt. But The Clash! were AMAZING live! 16 Tons Tour, England, June 1980.
HUGE honor when MY photo of legendary icon, Alice Bag, was used in a travelling Smithsonian exhibit!! WOW!
Patti Smith called me “the girl with the camera eye.” Shouted from LA’s Roxy stage, pointing to me, Nov 15, 1976.
Patti told me “She still dares other photographers to take better photos than I.” The Roxy, August 2002. (in Rock Hall of Fame)
Iggy Pop told me my photos were as good as his photographer. He asked me where I’d been. I said, “Earning art degrees.” He smiled and nodded. I learned from artists. (in Rock Hall of Fame)
Punk Pioneers Podcast and Photos Private Club
How Does this Work?
So simple! You can listen to audio or look at images or video using any device with an online connection or wifi!
Photos appear larger on most tablets, laptop or computer monitor. But if you prefer a phone, that works too!
Start having fun and get BEST deals, exclusive audio, photos, video and text. Before I raise membership fees!
Click for Punk Pioneers Podcast and Photos Private Club now!
At least Sign up for Free Previews!
It’s All Happening! Join Us Now!
Just a few of my cool punk pals, backstage, the Whisky, March 5, 1978. All became famous for performing, writing, hair stylist and one Oscar nominated Art Director!
My early Go-Go’s photo and many more in recent Showtime documentary on the Go-Go’s. Plus Under the Big Black Sun, Belinda’s memoir, Lips Unsealed, and more books. Another image on The View too! March 1980.
MY PHOTO of LA’s Screamers used for Metropolitan Museum of Art FASHION GALA! Punk: From Chaos to Couture! Centerfold of their hard cover exhibit catalog! May 28, 1977.
My Joan Jett photos were shown onstage when she was inducted into Rock Hall of Fame. Here’s just one in her solo book. Joan always had her own sense of style. With Johnny Rotten, Whisky, March 9, 1978. (Both are in Rock Hall of Fame)
Dueling Guitars, Joan Jett and Lita Ford, the Runaways, Whisky, August 27, 1977. One of my most popular, beloved and world famous photos. (Joan is in Rock Hall of Fame)
I love this Blondie at American Bandstand image because you rarely see behind the scenes photos. These fashions might look every day normal. But June 4, 1979, people did not dress like Blondie! All the members were fashion-forward. (in Rock Hall of Fame)
Jenny Lens In Action
I’ve always been camera shy, but so glad there’s a few images of myself! I painted my face as if I were Fauve (“Wild Beast”) Matisse on acid.
I made most of my jewelry and some of my clothes. Hollywood punks were a rough crowd. Amazing I got out alive! Gotta be made of strong stuff to survive. But it takes money and time and energy to do all I did then and continue to do.
100% DIY.
There’s more on my About Jenny Lens page.
But … IF you want to hear and read True Tall Tales with Photos (and some vids), you’ll become a Member of the Punk Pioneers Podcast and Photos Club NOW!
You’ll be glad you took that wonderful step to great adventures!!
Mary Rat, Jenny Lens, Hellin Killer. We were at the farewell party for Farrah Faucet-Minors aka “She Had to Leave Los Angeles,” X. September 17, 1977.
My hair was naturally curly. That is my Jewfro cos I combed my hair. Not permed.
The woman X sang about in “Los Angeles” named me “Jenny Lens.” True fact.
Gabi Berlin took this lovely photo of me on top left, 1977. Polaroid in pink kimono, spring 1980, Melanie Nissen took photo of Robbie “Posh Boy” Fields and I making out in the closet at the Screamers Wilton Hilton party, January 1978. I think photo with star in my hair at Masque Benefit, Feb 25 and 25, 1978. I made my dress, then safety-pinned fabric Xeroxes of my photos onto dress.
Divine and I at Fiorucci’s Beverly Hills store. I also photographed ANDY WARHOL!! I was so stunned I could hardly take photos. June 1978.