Jenny Lens Punk Archive, Photo Publication History, short list

“Please investigate Punk Pioneers by photographer Jenny Lens, who captured the scene so perfectly.”

“Henry Rollins, LA Weekly

Hi and Welcome! Patti Smith called me “The Girl with the Camera Eye.” Shouted from LA’s Roxy stage, pointing to me, Nov 15, 1976. Patti told me she “still dares other photographers to take better photos than I.” The Roxy, August 2002.

“The infamous Jenny Lens, supreme master of the punk rock photo.” San Francisco Bay Guardian.

“There was a time when Punk Rock was dangerous, man – in a cerebral way. And Jenny Lens was there to record it all.” Garage Magazine.

I rarely update this, so lots more activity, but for now … For those who place importance on the Jenny Lens Punk Archive official published history, (proving I AM THE MOST PUBLISHED EARLY WEST COAST PUNK PHOTOGRAPHER), here’s a brief tour (not updated in many months) . . .

NOT updated in years. But will give you an idea WHY I say I’m so published! This doesn’t begin to include photos from back in the day which I keep finding in old fanzines, newspapers and more.

Hear Me, See Me, Touch My Photos:

Rock Hall of Fame Inductions:

Joan Jett performed and at least one of my photos was displayed behind her during her induction into Rock Hall of Fame.

Ramones visiting Rhino Records co-founder, Harold Bronson with Joey Ramone and Johnny Ramone, standing outside Rhino’s landmark store.

Harold told me he saw that photo in a Rock Hall of Fame souvenir book one year. That was news to me.We were at a party given by the late Gary Stewart, RIP. I brought my Punk Pioneers book and asked him to sign it. (He paid me a huge compliment. He’s such a nice Jewish boy.) I wonder what other years my photos used and I don’t know?

Pat Smear when Foo Fighters inducted into Rock Hall of Fame.

The Punk Rock Museum, Las Vegas. I think about a dozen photos. That was a memorable experience …

MY interview and photos!!! Shepard Fairey’s Too Fast To Live, Too Young to Die, Obey Gallery. 

TWO hours of photos and stories!! LA Library, January 10, 2015. Timing still a tad off, but best the man who recorded it can do. FAB FUN!!!  I was told to speak for 2 hours, then right before starting, told to speak for only 1.5 hours, so I rushed through it.

I could have talked for 20 hours! Everyone had a BLAST. Over 100 people came out in the rain. For LA, that’s major. I did ALL the Facebook marketing. Many hours every day for a week, spreading the word, commenting, posting. Not my job. But someone had to do it. IF YOU want results, be prepared to do everything!

“PUNK PIONEERS,” my highly critically acclaimed first solo photography book, Rizzoli/Universe, April 2008. Chosen for the Frankfurt Book Fair, October, 2008.

PUNK PIONEERS: Oops, out of print. Maybe you can find online somewhere, my first and only solo photo book. I’ve have offers, but no thank you.

Johnny Ramone Army official tshirt. I took the photo at the Savoy, when Ramones debuted in San Francisco, Aug 1976. I don’t see it online at their store yet (Nov 4, 2010). My name is nowhere on the tshirt. But I took the photo!

Often people tell me about a picture disc, a poster, a book with my photos, a bootleg and it’s the first I’ve heard of it. This has been going on since I was first published back in October, 1976. I found a typed sheet from July 1978, with two columns listing the mags/record companies. I hand wrote “I can’t remember them all,” so how am I to ever track my published photos? My photos are all over the net, but same problem.

Scroll down to Books, Documentaries/DVDs, Personal Appearance in docs, Benefits/Fund-Raisers, Recent Magazines, A Partial List of Recent CDs with my Photos (1993-to present), early Recordings/Releases, Publications (1976-1980), and other Exhibits.

My ART Education: Scroll down for that story . . .

HIGHLIGHTS:

MAJOR EXHIBITS (more Exhibits listed below. I routinely turn down exhibit offers. Too much time and hassle. I can REACH MORE ONLINE.):

1. Punk: Chaos to Couture (Metropolitan Museum of Art), only LA Photographer in the show/catalog! My fave LA band, the Screamers! Imagine waking up to an email from the MET! 
2. Under the Big Black Sun: California Art 1974-1981 catalog, part of MOCA/Getty city wide tribute to California Art, 1945-1981.
3. Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, American Sabor, 2010 – 2020. American Sabor preview site. MY ALICE BAG photo!! Yay Alice and I!!
4. Grammy Museum, Songs of Conscience, Sounds of Freedom opening exhibit, Exene, X during filming of Decline of Western Civilization, Dec 2008.
5. Rock Hall of Fame, my photo of Johnny and Joey Ramone with Harold Bronson (one of Rhino Records founders and Presidents), in front of Rhino Record Store, 1977. Used by the museum in a book during their awards ceremony, 2008?
6. Experience Music Project, Seattle, opening exhibit, Punk in Hollywood, 2000?

MISC:

1. Behind the Music Remastered, The GoGo’s, Eagle Rock Entertainment, England.
2. Ramones Rockaway Beach, Starbuck Opus Collection, booklet centerfold.
3. GI, Germs, Real Gone Music, Pat Smear, color live at Masque, back cover, Darby at Masque, 2012.
4. California Hitchhike, Iggy, 8 of 9 large color, from EasyAction, December 2009.
5. Blondie, Buddhist Punk Clothes, Oct 2009.
6. Ramones Calendar, Pyramid Posters, 2009.
7. Joey Ramone website. CHECK IT OUT! MY Photos on the header!! Aug 2008.
8. Christian Siriano, wore MY my tshirt on Bravo’s first Project Runway.
9. DEVO events:
   1. “Devo”tional slide show, 2010.
   2. MY photo on “Devo”tional Tshirt, CD, poster, 2009.
10. The Raw Living Food Diet, freepointdvd.com, 2005. I am PROFILED!!

BOOKS:

1. “Queens of Noise: The Real Story of the Runaways” by Evelyn McDonnell.
2. “Van Halen Exuberant California Zen Rock ‘n’ Roll,” John Scanlan, published by Reaktion books of London (www.reaktionbooks.co.uk). The print run will be 2,000 copies. 3 of my photos.
3. “Kids of the Black Hole, Punk Rock in Postsuburban California,” Dewar MacLeod. EXENE ON COVER, 17 of 20 photos, 2010.
4. “AC/DC: High-Voltage Rock ‘n’ Roll: The Ultimate Illustrated History,” Phil Sutcliffe. MY photo opens Chapter 4, and spread on 70-71, 2010.
5. “Star Guitars: 101 Guitars That Rocked the World,” Dave Hunter, AC/DC Angus Young, 2010.
6. “Lips Unsealed: A Memoir,” Belinda Carlisle, ALL 3 back color, 7 interior (all the early punk), 2010.
7. “Poisoned Heart: I Married Dee Dee Ramone (the Ramones Years): A Punk Love Story,” Vera Ramone King, 9 images. 2008 or 2009?
8. “The Encyclopedia of Punk” Brian Cogan, tons of photos! The most by any non-hardcore punk photographer and/or woman!, 2008, revised 2010.
9. “Ramones, Soundtrack of our Lives,” photos and interview. 2009?
10. “Enter Naomi: SST, L.A. and All That… ,” Joe Carducci quotes me.
11. “Lowside of the Road, The Life of Tom Waits,” Barney Hoskyns, German version, Britain, 2008, Germany, April 2009, and America, 2010.
12. “Punk Pioneers,” Rizzoli/Universe. My first photo book. Written by Jenny Lens, Foreword by Glenn E. Friedman. Hardcover, ISBN: 978-0-7893-1589-2 (0-7893-1589-0). April, 2008.
13. “Punk 365,” Holly George-Warren, Abrams, Fall, 2007.
14. “Live at the Masque: Nightmare in Punk Alley,” Brendan Mullen and Roger Gastman, Gingko Press, 33 photos. 2007.
15. “Bomp!: Saving the World One Record at a Time,” Suzy Shaw and Mick Farren, Ammo. 2007.
16. “Punk,” Federico Guglielmi, from Giunti, a major Italian publisher, 2007.
17. “We Got the Neutron Bomb,” Three Rivers Press, 2001. More of my photos than any other photographer.
18. “Lexicon Devil,” Adam Parfrey, Feral House, 2002. More of my photos than any other photographer.
19. “Fucked-Up and Photocopied: Instant Art of the Punk Rock Movement,” Brian Ray, Gingko Press, 1999.
20. “Forming: The Early Days of LA Punk,” Smart Art Press catalog for Forming, punk photo/art exhibit, Track 16, April 1999.
21. “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” Pamela des Barres, Chicago Review Press. Iggy Pop and Pleasant Gehman, back cover. 2007.
22. “Chris Spedding: Reluctant Guitar Hero.” Cover photo and several interior photos. Kimberly J Bright, iUniverse, Inc. September, 2006
23. “Babel,” Patti Smith, Putnam. Back cover credited to my former name, Jenny Stern. ISBN: 399-12102-1. 1978.
24. “Patti Smith Complete: Lyrics, Reflections, and Notes for the Future,” by Patti Smith, Anchor; Ill edition, ISBN-10: 0385490801, ISBN-13: 978-038549080. Credited to Jenny Stern, pg 51, backbend, 1976, with Fender Duo-Sonic (bent backwards, on knees, Fender glowing and upright), and page 64, backbend. October, 1999.
25. “Legend of a Rock Star, the Last Testament of Dee Dee Ramone,” Dee Dee Ramone, Thunder’s Mouth Press. Pg 191. December, 2002.
26. “AC/DC: Maximum Rock & Roll: The Ultimate Story of the World’s Greatest Rock-and-Roll Band,” by Murray Engleheart and Arnaud Durieux. January, 2007.
27. “Loca Motion: The Travels of Chicana and Latina Popular Culture,” Michelle Habell-Pallan, NYU Press. 2005.
28. “Cinderella’s Big Score,” (about punk and indie women musicians) Maria Raha, Avalon. 2004.
29. “Punk Like Me,” Gun Club/Bag drummer, Terry Graham’s outrageous memoir.
30. “California Hardcore.” Ok, no photos, but I’m mentioned, although it’s not true what they wrote, but at least I’m in it!!
31. And more . . .

DOCUMENTARIES/DVDs/TELEVISION (I have not updated in years):

1. The Go-Go’s documentary for Showtime. Several photos. Wonderful doc! Heartbreaking. Revelatory. Fun. Great relationship with the photo researchers and team. Good times!
2. “The View,” Belinda, June, 2010.
3. Tom Snyder’s NBC “Tomorrow” show displayed a dozen of my shots, first airing, October 11, 1977. MY shots are the opening montage of the Shout! Factory DVD compilation release. 2006.
4. “Punk’s Not Dead,” directed by Susan Dynner. Over 50 of my shots are seen in the extended opening, which covers the 1970’s, and the end credits. Note the shot of Joey Ramone and Exene, on the linked page. Those are mine. 2007.
5. “Punk: Attitude,” IFC. Only woman interviewed, with 8 men, in LA section and provided 45 of 67 photos. 2005.
6. “What We Do Is Secret,” “Original Source Photography,” credited on IMDB and film credits. Entertaining, except it’s a highly fictional, narrative Germs film. 2007.
7. “It’s Alive!” Ramones documentary, 122 photos! 2007.
8. “Too Tough to Die,” Ramones documentary directed by Mandy Stein, Rhino Films. 2006.
9. “End of the Century,” Ramones documentary. 2005.
10. “Treasures of Long Gone John,” about Sympathy for the Record Industry founder and low-brow art collector, Long Gone John Mermis. The director suggested another, more well-known hardcore photographer, but John said: “No, I want Jenny’s photos.” 2006.
11. “Ghost on the Highway,” directed by Kurt Voss,Gun Club documentary. 2006.
12. “Germs: Media Blitz.” They scanned photos from “Lexicon Devil,” Adam Parfrey, Feral House, 2004.
13. VH1 “Behind the Music: Go-Go’s,” Episode #1156.
14. VH1 “True Spin, Go-Go’s,” Episode #204, Sept 2, 2004.
15. “Lifetime Intimate Portrayal: Go-Go Belinda.”
16. MTV Networks VH1 “News Special Grunge,” Sept 12, 2001. And more . . .

PERSONAL APPEARANCES:

1. Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die, only female in Shepard Fairey’s Subliminal Gallery Early LA Punk Exhibit.
2. Jenny Lens whipping Tomata and dancing with Darby Crash, the Masque, December 16, 1977.
3. “Decline of Western Civilization” (for a few seconds I fill the frames while dancing to X’s “Nausea.”
4. “Punk: Attitude,” IFC archival footage (I’m whipping lead singer of Screamers while dancing with Darby Crash of the Germs at the legendary underground Masque, December 16, 1977).
5. “Rage – 20 Years of Punk Rock, West Coast Style (2001).” Masque, Screamers, Germs footage, 12/16/77.
6. “Never Mind the Sex Pistols, Here’s the Bollocks,” Masque, Screamers, Germs footage, 12/16/77.
7. “Screamers Target Video.” September, 1978.

BENEFITS/FUND-RAISERS:

1. “Punk’s Not Dead,” benefit for the Nick Traina Foundation, May 4, 2007. Donated 16 x 20 ltd edition silver gelatin fiber print of the Ramones, live at the Whisky, Feb 1977. Also donated a ltd edition Jenny Lens t-shirt, designed by Shepard Fairey/Obey Giant LLC.
2. Ramones 30th anniversary, Sept, 2004 (photos projected during sets and on display).
3. Simi Valley Free Dental Clinic Media, iconic shot of Cherie Currie.

Recent magazines:

1. Q Magazine, Sept 2013: 3 Unseen Clash photos, cover blurb.
2. MOJO Magazine, Sept 2013: Go-Go’s, Back page.
3. Henry Rollins, LA Weekly … “Please investigate Punk Pioneers by ace photographer Jenny Lens, who captured the scene so perfectly.”
   
4. Lorna Doom, Germs, Palais de Tokyo, French, pg 80-81, Lorna in trash, my book, Fall 2010.
5. Devo, Spin, August 2010.
6. People, Belinda, page 136, June 7, 2010.
7. Guitar World, Richard Lloyd, Dec 2009.
8. GQ, X at Stardust, LA music story, March 2009.
9. Blender, Ron Asheton, Feb 2009.
10. Guardian Observer, Darby Crash and Germs photos, Sept 2008.
11. Spin, Germs, Weirdos, X, Bags and others (6 total), PLUS Darby Crash, online “The Spirit of ’77.” Plus MY Darby opened their online coverage. October, 2007.
12. Swindle’s second ICON issue, Blondie, Fall, 2007.
13. Swindle, four Germs photos (including Table of Contents), Fall, 2007. ALL vintage Germs photos are mine.
14. Los Angeles Times, L. A. Lookback, “Under the Big Black Sun,” My Belinda, Alice, Hellin Killer and Pleasant Gehman fashion spread, shot August 21, 1977, published June 17, 2007.
15. Garage Magazine, Jenny Lens photo spread, Spring, 2007.
16. Spin, Germs, 2006.
17. URB, July 2006 cover blurb and 8 interior pages.
18. Rolling Stone, Italy, Darby Crash, Germs, 2006.
19. MOJO, July, 2005.
20. Swindle’s first ICON issue, Exene Cervenka/X, 2006.
21. Punk Rock Confidential cover story, 2006.
22. Razorcake, 2005.
23. Details
24. Rock City
25. This is just the tip of the iceberg and off the top of my head. More below . . .

1970’s PUBLICATIONS:

1. Fanzines which predated Slash, like New York Rocker, Back Door Man and Lisa Fancher’s Street Life, then Pleasant’s Lobotomy, Search and Destroy (San Francisco) and Twisted (Seattle)
2. Magazines like Bomp, Creem (the most important rock mag of its day), Rolling Stone, Hit Parader and Rock Scene (both from rock writer Lisa Robinson), People, Playboy and Oui (part of the Playboy empire),
3. Music industry mags like Billboard, Cashbox, Radio and Records, Phonograph and Record World.
4. British mags like Sounds, New Musical Express, Melody Maker and Trouser Press.
5. National papers like Village Voice and Women’s Wear Daily.
6. International like Rock Show (very important Japanese magazine), Goro (also Japan), Frezeit (Germany), Music Express (Dutch), Conecto (Mexico), I Wanna Be Your Dog (French).

EXHIBITS:

1. Grammy Museum Opening Show, Songs of Conscience, My X photo.
2. Strange Beasts, Emily the Strange collaboration,, 111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco, press release, September, 2007.
3. “Gift for the Screamers,” RAID Gallery, The Brewery, LA. I created a self-running DVD with 265 photos of the Screamers, Blondie, Ramones, Damned, Masque, bands and fans who were part of the large Screamers circle. That circle was larger than the Germs circle! August 4 – 25, 2007.
4. Eastside Studios LA, December 1, 2006 – January 27, 2007.
5. “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Root Division, San Francisco, September 9, 2006 .
6. “I Do Adore,” Subliminal Projects, December, 2005.
7. Subliminal Projects was created by artists Shepard Fairey and Blaze Blouin in 1995, as an artist collective.
8. “Project: Vice,” October 2005.
9. “The Hive,” May 2005.
10. “Forming,” Track 16, April, 1999.

RECORD COMPANIES:

They routinely used my photos, whether Sire and Ramones, Elektra and Dictators, Polydor and Jam. ABC, Atlantic, Bomp Records, Casablanca, Columbia, Epic, Shelter, United Artist and Warners used my work. I worked BEFORE many photographers who are more well-known and considered “early.”

I am truly one of THE seminal photographers., Hardest working one, resurrecting those times, with photos, fanzines, memorabilia and music. I was a wild, rebellious, hedonistic artist who didn’t follow any rules. I didn’t shoot for money or fame or a career. I just shot what moved me. I knew this was a cultural revolution that had to be documented, no matter the personal costs. I dedicated my life to it.

My photos, and this era, has increasing meaning and resonance in modern international culture.

That is why I’ve dedicated my life to my archive, working 16 hr days, 24/7. Oy!

A Partial List of Recent CDs with my Photos (1993 – to Present)

Earlier Recordings/Releases: Dickies back cover of “Sounds of Silence.” 20/20, Bomp. Simpletones, Post Boy. Extremes. Germs, Slash release. Johnny Rotten and Joan Jett picture disc (bootlegged, I’ve never seen it).

Japan: Rolling Stones, for “Coming Home” soundtrack. Crystal Gayle.

Ramones bootleg cover. Ramones, Mumps and Screamers fan club flyers.

Publications, starting in 1976:

Exhibits: I’ve turned down more one women shows than most people are offered due to cost. See Exhibits link for upcoming shows. I have made no attempt at grants nor exhibits. Now I wish I had time to pursue this!

Education Pre-Punk

I earned a BA in Art, CSUN and a MFA in Design, CalArts, both with high honors, PRIOR to punk.

Post Punk:

• Certificate in Computer Graphics, UCLA Extension. Waaaay back in 1989, when computer graphics were just beginning. I knew I needed those early tools to share my photo archive.
• ABA Paralegal Certificate and Legal Secretaries Certificate, both from UCLA.
• Invested in about 11 or 12 years in college.
• Took years of computer classes and presentation at major conferences.
• I taught computer programs at various colleges/universities/training centers/conferences.

I turned my back on a promising gallery career. My art has been acclaimed and exhibited since I was a young child. Few know or have seen the beautiful art I created every day. I gave it all up to document punk and never looked back. My art education was invaluable, however!

I am STUNNED that MY photography is now being exhibited. I couldn’t run away from my destiny: to be in galleries and museums, again. But I limit exhibition exposure, despite repeated requests and invitations. Not my thang.

I have always been an artist, equally skilled in many varied media. I miss working with my hands. I miss creating art from my photos. There’s so much more I want to do. I work hard so that my fine art prints will lead me to the time and money to really become creative with my photos.

That’s my prayer, that’s my dream. To preserve and share my archive, but to make even more art from my photos.

PS  Broken links are always an issue. Some fine photos, articles and exhibits are no longer online. I spent HOURS updating my site. Any broken links are not my fault. They were active when I posted and edited.

It’s either I spend ALL my time doing everything: creating, editing, posting, and the real time and money black hole: tech. So a few broken links means more photos. But I do appreciate hearing about broken links! Please use my contact page, tell me the text you clicked on, page title, and I can take it from from there. Thanks. have fun! Rock on!