Alice Bag, Bands, Bands Misc, Belinda, Belinda Carlisle, Blondie, Bomp Records Store, Clash, Club 88, Damned, Darby Crash, Devo, Elvis Costello, England June 1980, Fiorucci's, Germs, Go-Gos, Hollywood Palladium, Iggy, Jenny Lens Bio + History, Joan Jett, Lorna Doom, Masque, Parties, Pat Smear, Patti Smith, Punk Fashions and Parties, Punk History and Interviews from Jenny Lens, Ramones, Runaways, Screamers, Screamers Parties, Sex Pistols, Stardust Ballroom, Starwood, Whisky, X, X Home |
I wrote this in 2004. My attitude is far better, thanks to SO many great Facebook comments, messages, emails and IRL (in real life) encounters. Enjoy! I was born and raised in LA. I was a shy, introverted adolescent in the wild sixties of Vietnam protests, free love and sex due to the pill and no STDs, no AIDs, women’s liberation and civil rights. But the hippie generation were as messed up as any, far … Read...
Bands, Blondie, Fashion, Jenny Lens Bio + History, Parties, Punk Fashions and Parties, Punk History and Interviews from Jenny Lens, Ramones, Screamers |
by Richard Schaefer in Lisa Fancher’s “Street Life” fanzine. Proof I was the Ramones “numero uno fan and famous paparazzi in her own right.” In EARLY 1977!! Tantalizing sounds of the skirmishes of desire, of lips surrendering cheap kissed in the other room, brought torture to anyone who listened. We stood between the jungle and the stars, both of us trying to keep our balance as we fought. DEE DEE was a madman … Read...
Alice Bag, Bands, Jenny Lens Bio + History, Parties, Punk Fashions and Parties, Punk History and Interviews from Jenny Lens |
Alice Bag interviewed Jenny Lens in 2004. Alice is considered by many to be the very first hard core singer with her radical band, the Bags,who first hit the streets in 1977. Their riotous show at the Troubadour, known for folk singers and laid-back rockers, is still talked about today. I always considered Alice a sweet, thoughtful, beautiful woman and never realized this side of her. She was and is a true … Read...
Alice Bag, Bands, Bands Misc, Belinda, Belinda Carlisle, Go-Gos, Jenny Lens Bio + History, Masque, Parties, Punk Fashions and Parties, Punk History and Interviews from Jenny Lens |
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Jenny Lens, Jenny Lens Bio + History, Punk History and Interviews from Jenny Lens |
Interview circa 2008. Punk Globe: First can you tell us about yourself. Where you grew up and what inspired you to take photos? Jenny Lens: I was born in West LA, raised mostly in Northridge, near Cal State University, Northridge (where I later earned my BA in Art). I am really smart, curious, creative, talkative and helpful. My fellow students and teachers hated me. I was also fat and Jewish, a real … Read...
Political, Punk History and Interviews from Jenny Lens |
Did POTUS Carter suppress punk? (DO NOT MAKE ME LAUGH). How political was early punk? Did punk influence or be influenced by politics requires investigating the mid-1970s. I wrote this because a Facebook pal asked me some questions about punk and politics for her college paper. It is obvious to me what people think NOW often is at odds what many of us were thinking THEN. I suppose if I posted this when I … Read...
Jenny Lens Bio + History, Punk History and Interviews from Jenny Lens |
Welcome to a brief history on Jenny Lens, MFA, the Punk Years. Creator of some of the most iconic Punk Photos, first generation, 1976 to 1980, punk photos based in LA. Classic photos of New York, British, San Francisco and other bands. How did it start? I waited in line, towards the end of the marquee or building to see Patti, the Roxy, January 76. Cold evening air. I see people … Read...
Misc, Political, Punk History and Interviews from Jenny Lens |
People love to say I photographed punk of the 1980s. I always correct them. I photographed FIRST gen punk in the 1970s! They are DIFFERENT eras. I could write a book about how and why 1970s punk is VERY different than 1980s. If nothing else, we had more mass media coverage in the 1980s. MTV. Music videos. Much more, but that’s enough. Art develops differently when hidden from sight vs under the public’s constant scrutiny. … Read...
Blondie, Clash, Jewish, Punk History and Interviews from Jenny Lens |
Ramones, Sex Pistols, Clash, Patti Smith Group, Lou Reed, photographers, writers, managers were often Jewish punks. I compiled this list in 2005. I have poor Jewdar. I was stunned to find out so early punks were Jewish. Now you can find books, blogs, articles and more. But in 2005, my post was radical! NEW YORK Ramones: Joey [Jeffrey Hyman] RIP, and his brother, Mickey Leigh (who roadied for them). Original drummer Tommy Ramone. … Read...
Blog, Fashion, Germs, Punk Fashions and Parties, Punk History and Interviews from Jenny Lens, 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 … Read...
Jenny Lens Bio + History, Misc |
Punk Stories and Photos, April 9, 2014. Written for a local rag who misquoted me. Here’s what I really wrote: Jenny Lens, MFA was born in West LA and raised in the Valley. I went to the Teenage Fair at the Hollywood Palladium in the 60s, and the Renaissance Faires, 1960s-70s, but otherwise didn’t get out much. Then, like now, I don’t like to drive. I surprised my high school classmates because … Read...
Punk History and Interviews from Jenny Lens |
Jenny Lens Interview, continued from Part 1. Okay, your favorite band. X is (and will always be) my favorite band. I have photos of them at Bomp Records, which was the March ’77. A lot of it had to do with hanging out with Pleasant because she hung out with these people. It was just this small circle of people who would go to different apartments, parties, shows and things. I hung out in X’s … Read...
