I’ve wanted to write a blog answering a lot of questions people always ask me. Plus there’s so much I’ve wanted to share. For Free.
I know way too well how one feels when you want to be part of something but you cannot spare five bucks. I get it! Been there, done that. So I always knew my BLOG MUST BE FREE!
(My Club will cost a few bucks. You’ll see narrated vids of my photos that each take DAYS and DAYS of work. Plus far more photo content than anywhere else. It’s a helluva lotta work. Costs ME thousands to do, every year for 49 years. Technically it’s a bitch. So stressful and time consuming!)
THIS is about MY journey, MY memories during the Birth of Early Punk Rock, when Punk was Fun has never been told.
When the Ramones and the Clash Ruled the world, even if few knew it at that time.
(Plus Devo, Blondie, Patti, X, Germs, Screamers, Sex Pistols, Weirdos, and so many others plus incredible performers like #AliceBag)
The world, its society, cultures, economics and politics of then vs now. And how that affected what we could do then vs now.
- How or why did I take punk rock photos?
- My art background but lack of knowledge about photography, the rock industry, the emerging scene or anything.
- I was Jenny in Punkland. Down many interconnected rabbit holes. I was NOT prepared.
- Punk Rock: music, fashion, scenes, publications, the whole atmosphere via my photos.
- Women in punk rock.
- Influence of earlier music, films, books, television. We looked at past eras for influence. That’s sadly missing today. Anything more than 15 or so years is too old.
- Politics!
- Punk attracted the misfits, the outsiders: Jews, Gay Men and a few Lesbians, Latinos. Not many Asian or Black punks.
- Economic: low cost of living, squatting in Hollywood, living in run down places that are now pricey condos. When gas was $.39/gallon. I flew to shoot the Clash from LAX to San Francisco for $13.
- Art and Photography and Tech! I mix talking about tech and color theory using my photos. Or I discuss something useful if you are a photographer or artist or hobbyist. If not interested, don’t read it!
- It is REALLY hard for me to talk about only my photos or only art or only tech. These topics work together in my brain, life, work and art.
For years, I’ve been writing hundreds of pages, long and short notes, about those wild, creative, truly influentially important cultural revolution that is still impacting modern culture. Although few really know or understand what went down.
I hear and read a lot of misunderstandings, misrepresentations, outright false histories, and general lack of knowledge of the world I lived in and documented for four years.
I’ll present my memories with my photos or other documentation to give weight to my True Tall Tales.
I also welcome other points of view and evidence. These are primarily about MY experiences and what I observed.
I had to keep my distance taking photos. I was working hard. Couldn’t be everywhere. Always been a curious introvert. So I’m always open to what others say. Helps if they have some proof.
I’m creating narrated videos of my photos, going into more detail and far more photos than I can afford to share for free. I’ve been repeating the same stories for years.
It’s costing me thousands of dollars every year to do this. I can’t afford a car, new clothes and I dread winter’s heating bills.
So this BLOG is free. But my Punk Pioneers Club will cos a few dollars each month. I just wanted to start this to share before I get it running again. Cos it’s a FREE way to share cool stuff.
I like sharing my True Tall Tales. It’s working on the photos that takes so much time.
What I do for love of my photos, the early punk era, and those amazing people in my photos. I get so excited, although sad cos we’ve lost so many. So ENJOY!
I hate writing about myself. LOOK at my photos, LISTEN to the bands I photographed, and read my words. IF you need more than that …
BA in Art, CSUN and MFA in Design, Cal Arts PRIOR to punk. Never took a photo class. Never read a rock mag or bought rock releases. I bought Broadway and Classical music (late 1800s to early 1900s).
Never went to rock shows large or small, with few exceptions.
But I fell in love with Patti and the Ramones. Then sweet Dee Dee Ramone’s cheekbones, so I grabbed my camera and photographed him. Those photos are used in his sites, social, and products. I was soooo blessed to MEET the Ramones that night. And the rest is history.
I love to read movie history books. The older the movie, the happier I am.
I love to read art history from the Pre-Raphaelites, circa 1850s to 1933, when artists, filmmakers, writers, actors, musicians and others fled to the USA cos of Hitler.
I like being ALONE. The older I get, the less I go out and less people allowed in my home or life. Decades of hurtful abuse and betrayals led me to realize something I learned before kindergarten: I don’t do well around people. I do better online. Where I can retreat and block people. I’m FED UP.
I HAD NO IDEA who the eff was Ron Asheton. Never heard of the Stooges. So Phast Phreddie, publisher, editor, writer of the FAB early SoCal fanzine, Back Door Man, brought his pal Ron to my 1976 Halloween party for all Phred’s pals. We had FUN!!
Then summer 1977, I found myself at Iggy’s rented Malibu mansion. I’d been up for over 24 hours printing photos. I was ready for sleep. But instead, I photographed him painting and hanging with his pals.OMG I SAT NEXT TO IGGY while he played piano and sang. Wow. IF I didn’t have photos, it’d be so hard to believe my WILD stories! There’s more, but that’s for my private club, when I get it going again.THIS platform is for free photos and stories.
Some stories need to be more private. Plus TONS of photos and vids I’m making with my stunning photos. Even THIS is taking FAR too long with links and photos. That’s why I have to charge. When I spend days making vids, I can’t give everything away. Been doing that for years and drowning in debt.
VERY excited about new, improved digital graphics and photo programs. I rely on Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop to turn blah photos into dramatic, fun, exciting photos. Sadly, film didn’t capture the vitality and correct colors and lighting all too often. So I LIVE in these two programs, esp Lightroom.
Been focused on computer tech since November 1980. I was homeless and saw Time and Newsweek covers at newsstand. Voyage I and Saturn. I knew little rolls of film weren’t being hurtled through space.
I WANTED THAT TECH FOR MY PHOTOS. So I continued my dive into poverty, constantly learning (often being frustrated) to improve my photos. JUST to show YOU!
BUT I FUCKING HATE AI! It’s gonna be the RUINATION of humanity. Get back to me when YOUR electricity and water bills are sky high cos YOU are paying for billionaires using OUR utilities so YOU can use AI to plan your life, write your papers, and replace your jobs.
I do appreciate AI integrated into Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop to HELP me MANUALLY adjust colors, tonal values (light and dark areas) and restore colors.
Also make images larger to show online and in docs. That’s it.
Otherwise, AI SUCKS. You’ve been warned. Read Futurism, articles based on REAL news and REAL statements from AI industry. Have fun!
Don’t want to end on that note … so IF you really want to know about me, listen, really listen to The Clash’s first release, The Clash. Add Tommy Gun and of course, Working for the Clampdown.
I’m the only one dancing to Working for the Clampdown on Fridays, a short-lived variety show. I can still fit into that blue dress that you saw at the very top cos THE CLASH ARE THE VERY TOP!
NO AFFILIATE LINKS.
I am highly opinionated and I swear. If that’s not to your liking, that’s fine. I AM AN ANGRY WOMAN. Why else did I dive into early punk?
It was fun. But the SONGS I loved the most were ANGRY, singing/screaming Truth to Power.
