Rare true tales and photos about the wild times of early punk from Jenny Lens, MFA, the most published early West Coast punk photographer, first gen, 1976-80
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]