Bands, Belinda Carlisle, Charlotte Caffey, Darby Crash, England June 1980, Germs, Go-Gos, Jane Draino Wiedlin, Jeffrey Lee Pierce - Gun Club, Lorna Doom, Masque, Masque Benefit Feb 24-25 1978, Parties, Punk Fashions and Parties, Screamers, Sex Pistols, Slash Mag Benefit, Starwood, Whisky, X, X Home |
Go-Gos, 1977-1980. I loved photographing Belinda Carlisle, Jane Draino Wiedlin, and the totes adorbs Margot. A few shots of Charlotte Caffey with then-boyfriend, Leonard Phillips, singer of the Dickies, first LA punk band to get signed. Plus Jane with her then-boyfriend, Terry Graham, drummer for the Bags and Gun Club. And more, so let’s get started with some IDs and stories behind my photos. Plus so many of our friends. Good times.
Bands, Blondie, Clash, Damned, Darby Crash, England June 1980, Germs, Iggy, Jam, Joan Jett, Joe Strummer, Lita Ford, Masque, Queen, Ramones, Runaways, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Screamers, Starwood, Whisky, Writers |
Creem Magazine was THE ROCK magazine. The best of the best was, without a doubt, Creem. Forget Rolling Stone. Corporate and usually dismissive of Punk. Yes, Creem magazine was the BEST ROCK MAG. Ever. Read on to see they didn’t treat me that well, lost slides, but hey, THEY WERE IT. And Creem, of all the mags, deserves to be honored, remembered and most of all, CELEBRATED. Contribute to the documentary fund-raiser, til August 5, 2016! Creem was one of the few magazines who actually put photographer’s names on their masthead. This is a major list of who’s who of rock photography. Note the author of the Creem book is not listed. Yeah. Ok, so why we MUST have THIS version? The TRUTH. Creem magazine and I started our relationship in early 1976. Let’s start at the beginning. Late 1975, while waiting in line at the grocery store, I glanced at a new magazine called “People.” I lived in the northeast corner of the Valley, in Granada Hills. I stopped when seeing a photo of a rather androgynous looking woman. Quoting Rimbaud. I figured any rock n roller who knows the Symbolist poets is someone I want to know. I will never forget first listening to Patti’s “Horses.” My life was totally and irreversibly changed. I wanted to read everything I could about this new thing called “Punk music.” But mainstream media wasn’t having it. They were not fans. Only a handful of magazines and fanzines were covering punk in late 75 and early 76. I also had a disadvantage because I was out in the Valley. We didn’t get a...
Blog, Fashion, Germs, Go-Gos, Joan Jett, Masque, Masque Benefit Feb 24-25 1978, Punk Fashions and Parties, Runaways, Stardust Ballroom, Starwood, Tower Records, Whisky, X |
Alice Bag, Blog, Fashion, Fiorucci's, Germs, Go-Gos, Masque, Masque Benefit Feb 24-25 1978, Parties, Punk Fashions and Parties, Screamers, Screamers Parties, Slash Mag Benefit, Starwood, Tower Records, Whisky, X |
Belinda Carlisle, Fashion, Germs, Go-Gos, Lorna Doom |
Belinda wrote: “The following people have each, in some way, made a difference in my life, and I am so grateful… JENNY LENS.” Third line, after two LA pals who are very close to her, JENNY LENS.
I CRY with Gratitude every time I read or think about this. My name above so many famous people from all walks of life. Just re-read Belinda’s great autobio Lips Unsealed: A Memoir. I am thrilled she used ONLY my punk photos, 1977-1980.
Click Title to Read More and See Photos!
Blog, Fashion, Germs, Punk Fashions and Parties, Punk History, Whisky |
My rebuttal to article claiming Punk saved the Whisky but then talked more about non-punk bands. Minimal about LA Punk bands. I could write a book. Read what I wrote (below or use link) after reading his long article. Why the fashion photo above? Author included photos of English punks with swastikas on their faces. Not in LA! Plus most everyone in the above photo played a VITAL part in bringing punk to life. At the Whisky and elsewhere. Left to right: Terry Graham (Bags drummer and much more), Lorna Doom, Germs bassist, Belinda, future Go-Go and solo performer, ?, Hellin Killer, ?, Pleasant Gehman (who was quoted, as was I). Photographed near the Whisky, on the Sunset Strip, August, 1977. Just another night on the town. LOVELY compliment: “Photographer Jenny Lens, whose work vividly documented the LA scene, wrote in Punk Pioneers…” Yes, I did vividly document and helped create the LA scene. Lots of colorful and vibrant photos. My responses: Where do I start? First, yes, I always said punk brought the Whisky back to life. No argument there. But the stories and photos veer off to include Van Halen (the better to promote his book), Johnny Cougar and Tom Petty. But exclude vital LA Bands? LA PUNKS built and kept the scene alive. Not just the Whisky. The many fanzines and flyers. We promoted and publicized and produced our own shows and good times at the Whisky. No mention. The photos of the punk fans with swastikas on their faces: England. I went out nearly every night and many days, photographing parties, backstage, on the street and shows. Starting August 1976 and ending nearly...
