Punk History and Interviews from Jenny Lens

Alice Bag Interview of Jenny Lens, MFA

December 16, 2018 July 4, 2020

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 […]

TRUE LA Early Punk History by MAJOR Photographer!

May 13, 2014 November 7, 2019

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 […]

How and Why I Became an Infamous Early Punk Photographer

May 24, 2018 November 7, 2019

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 […]

July 4, 2004: Intro Punk History

October 15, 2012 April 11, 2020

From one of the VERY First Punk Photographers, 1976 – 1980. “Hey baby, it’s the 4th of July . . .” 2004 and I’m lying on the dance floor, with a nearly 300 pound former punk drummer and smaller security guard rolling about on top of me. I’m thinking, of all the punk clubs and […]

Jenny Lens Bio 2004

December 16, 2018 November 7, 2019

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 […]

Jenny Lens Interview 2001 part 1

October 15, 2012 April 11, 2020

Rare op to read TRUE history of early punk as seen though “the girl with the camera eye,” Jenny Lens. I met David Jones through someone at Virgin Sound and Vision when I was a consultant for their E3 booth. He and I often looked through my boxes of prints, while regaling each other with […]

Jenny Lens Interview 2001 part 2

October 15, 2012 April 11, 2020

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 […]

Punk Globe Interview 2009

October 31, 2018 November 7, 2019

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 […]

Dee Dee Ramone Changed MY Life

November 5, 2014 July 4, 2020

I wrote this immediately after we lost Dee Dee on June 5, 2002. I’m crying just opening this file and haven’t re-read it since I wrote it. If not for Dee Dee Ramone, this archive might not exist. For him I picked up a camera and that’s all I can write right now. Bless you, […]

Jenny Lens Ramones Numero Uno Fan

December 16, 2018 July 4, 2020

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 […]