Interview Benefits I Bring Your Audience

My whole life has been about inspiring others.

One of my goals when picking up my camera to photograph punk was to inspire others to do the same.

Take photos, pick up a guitar, support these bands by buying tickets and records, start your own band, fanzines, whatever.

— My major goal, since August 12, 1976, has been to document and share what we early punks created. Remind and inspire others of our varied cultural contributions and still current impact on the world. Although we are never credited.

What being a first gen “punk” was about. When Punk was Fun with Women and Men. [vs subsequent hardcore punk with violent men]

When “sex n drugs n rock n roll” was more than a phrase. It was our lifestyle.

— My focus is fashion (men and women), music, LGBTQ, Latino/Latina, Jews and others who created our own bands, fanzines, record companies, did our own hair, makeup and clothing which still influences street fashion as well as high couture to this day.

Our music and visuals are still affecting art, print, online, movies, music, fashions and more. But we never get the credit.

Once upon a time, many native Angelenos, like myself, as well as transplants from other states and countries, found LA wildly receptive to our creativity. We went to San Francisco, NYC and England. And they to LA.

When cost of living was nothing and expressing ourselves was an attainable goal.

With of course classic photos and memories of bands and personalities from LA, NYC, England, San Francisco and elsewhere.

Always from a impoverished, highly educated LA Jewish woman’s POV.

— Photos, videos with my narration, audio, text: sharing never told true tall tales behind my photos. And much more.

I’ve scanned thousands of images. Discovering so many exciting photos!

Every photo DOES tell a story. Now assemble many photos from one event or about one person or band or venue. You’ve got a chapter in a book.

I’ve enough for an encyclopedia. That’s what Pleasant Gehman wrote over 20 years ago in Alice Bag’s Blog section on LA Women. I was the first Alice interviewed.

My faves are offstage. To see legendary, iconic performers and personalities at parties, backstage, hanging out in the street or someone’s apartment, gives me so much joy.

I can’t wait to share cos these are so rare! Some remind me of Nan Goldin, although I had no idea who she was til a couple of years ago.

And my stunning, exciting, dramatic color photos of the Clash in their native England. Plus unbelievable color and black and white photos of fans onstage with them.

That’s real street rock n roll. Early punks, 1976 – 1980, were the last of their kind. Last Bohemians of the 20th Century and later.