This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website.
Hello and Welcome to Punk Pioneers Podcast and Photos Private Club Membership
I am the most published early punk rock photographer on the West Coast. ~ Jenny Lens, MFA.
Glad You Are Here! Stay Awhile. Have Fun! Rock On …
Preview of Punk Pioneers Photos in the Free Bonus Calendar for First Five 1 Year Members! Plus 2 Free Months! Podcast, Photos, Vids and Wild True Tall Tales from Jenny Lens, most published early punk rock photog, west coast, 1976-80.Join The Punk Pioneers Podcast and Photos Club Membership!
Great Gift for You and others: Affordable, No Shipping, and very Unique!
Hear True Tall Tales of Early Punk. See Rare Photos and Hear just the FACTS behind my Photos To Prove Everything I Share only with YOU!
Don’t be left behind, believing all kinds of distortions about early punk. Or playing guessing games. Get the True Fun Facts!
It’s All Happening in the coolest place online.
Buy a variety of photo prints on my other site: PunkPioneers.com
UPDATING IMAGES ON MY SITE. MISSING PHOTOS ARE BEING REPLACED!!
“Please investigate PUNK PIONEERS by photographer Jenny Lens, who captured the scene so perfectly.” — Henry Rollins, LA Weekly.
“The infamous Jenny Lens, supreme master of the punk rock photo.” ~ San Francisco Bay Guardian [And straight up rock too!]
“The was a time when Punk Rock was dangerous, man — in a cerebral way. And Jenny Lens was there to record it all.” ~ Garage Magazine“Jenny Lens was not just one of the few photographers chronicling the early punk scene in both North America and London, she was also one of the few women working in a very male-dominated field. Her life is pretty fascinating and made up of the three acts usually associated with characters in movies and novels.” Adorama Camera.
Punk Pioneers Podcast and Photos Private Club
How Does this Work?
So simple! You can listen to audio or look at images or video using any device with an online connection or wifi!
Photos appear larger on most tablets, laptop or computer monitor. But if you prefer a phone, that works too!
Start having fun and get BEST deals, exclusive audio, photos, video and text. Before I raise membership fees!
It’s All Happening! Join Us Now!
So simple! You can listen to audio or look at images or video using any device with an online connection or wifi!
Photos appear larger on most tablets, laptop or computer monitors. But if you prefer a phone, that works too!
Easily install Chrome. Do not use Safari.
You can use your Credit/Debit Card using Stripe, as a guest or log into PayPal.
IF you don’t like PayPal (who charge huge fees on my end) and prefer paying with Venmo, CashApp or another app or method, Write Me! I can manually sign you up.
Whatever is easiest for you. Thank you!
Be sure to write/type/dictate your user name and PASSWORD AND be sure your email is correct when signing up! You’ll need that when you login.
Or you need to provide the email you signed up with and request new sign-in credentials.
Easier to keep a record somewhere secure but accessible.
Never ever share your login info or you will get locked out because your license covers one user only. Plus I’ll find out and kick ya to the curb. Play nicely cos I cannot afford the immense time and cost to do this for you.
Plus it’s against the law.
IF you want more photos and stories, you gotta help pay for the electricity, hardware/software, and time and skills I’ve invested in.
Or I’ll just focus on teaching and creating new art and photos (which would make ME very happy!). But no one will ever see more of my classic, rare, beloved truly unique history of the earliest days and nights of punk, 1976-80, LA POV.
Thank you and have fun!
Read Member Rules for how to contact me and other vital info. Thank you.
One reason I have NOT posted more stories and photos is because some people are mean and rude and liars.
(“Some people give me the creeps,” from “We’re Desperate,” X.)
So I created this PRIVATE SAFE SPACE for us.
I plan on having some live sessions, as well as recorded audio and video.
It’s vital that we treat each other, and especially me, with respect. I should not have to say this, but it’s crazy that mean liars defame my archive and I!
Ok, so let’s have effin’ fun cos we sure need it.
ONLY 1976-80 Bands, Parties, Events, People
I photographed starting with the Ramones first West coast Tour, August 1976 to the Clash 16 Tons Tour in England, June 1980. ONLY.
See my list: Bands, Parties, Venues, People 1976-80.
I did not photograph much hardcore punk cos I hated the mindless violence.
I needed FUN, interesting people in creative, colorful clothes, and songs with lyrics that resonated with me and music that had a beat and you can dance to it. Not thrashing each other in the mosh pit.
Sadly, some of my fave negs and slides were stolen by a woman in the music industry supposedly trying to help me.
I’ve lots scanned, but not all large images. So we’ll deal with hundreds that are available.
Plus stories you’ve never heard or only heard from others. I always said punk is like the 6 blind men and the elephant.
Everyone has their own memories. But I wasn’t drunk and I do have photos. Plus I’ve interviewed many who also didn’t get stoned out of their minds every night.
You’ll feel as if you were there, with the creative people who changed world culture. Fun, historical insights into artists, writers, producers, fans and more.
NOW is your chance to see and hear more than you ever imagined!
All True Tall Tales with My Photos to Prove It!
I created a form that makes it easy to contact me.
Doing this Club takes more time than anyone realizes! I simply cannot be expected to see all comments, all messages on all the various social media out there. I have a life beyond punk!
Thanks for being here. YOU are special!
Questions? Suggestions? Write Jenny Lens.
Clash are in Rock Hall of Fame. I was so honored so many of my photos in this fine book! Plus a special credit. Lots of photographers in this book and they chose to give ME “A Very Special Thank You”! Wow!
Rhino Records (and other record companies) used tons of my images for their punk releases. One of my most famous of my fave band, X. March, 1980.
My acclaimed book, “Punk Pioneers” from major art publisher, Rizzoli/Universe. So many copies were stolen from Los Angeles Library downtown LA branch. So they moved it to the Reference Department. Cannot check it out! Now that’s punk.
My Punk Pioneers cover, Debbie Harry, Blondie’s LA debut, the Whisky, Feb 1977. (in Rock Hall of Fame)
One of many magazine listings. This when Punk Pioneers was published. I’ve been interviewed many times through the years.The Ramones: Their First West Coast Tours
Hear behind the scenes stories behind published photos (famous and rarely seen). The images above were used, sadly, for their obits.
Shepard Fairey used my images for his iconic Dee Dee Ramone poster. Hear how I took these photos!
I’ll be telling more stories. Members get to tell me what YOU want to know.
My photo graced Spin Magazine‘s obit when Dee Dee Ramone passed away. Dee Dee was one of THE sweetest people I ever met. We hung together during the Ramones first West Coast tour, August 1976. (Dee Dee is in Rock Hall of Fame)
My photo graced Spin Magazine‘s obit when Joey Ramone passed away. I was asked to drive Joey, Arturo Vega (who designed Ramones graphics and merch) and Tomata du Plenty (lead singer of the Screamers, not yet performing) to Little Tokyo in LA. I saw this Kamen Rider standing on the sidewalk. I asked Joey to pose. Good times. Ramones second West Coast tour, Feb 1977. (Joey is in Rock Hall of Fame)
My photo graced Spin Magazine‘s opening image for last Johnny Ramone interview. I photographed him in San Francisco during the first Ramones West Coast tour, August 1976. (Johnny is in Rock Hall of Fame)
I photographed Joey Ramone in “a seedy hotel off Van Ness” in San Francisco during the Ramones first West Coast tour, August, 1976. (Joey is in Rock Hall of Fame)
This photo was supposed to be in the Clash Official Book. Oops, I forgot to send it in. Sometimes I get depressed. hard doing this all alone, in debt. But The Clash! were AMAZING live! 16 Tons Tour, England, June 1980. Clash (They are in Rock Hall of Fame.)
HUGE honor when MY photo of legendary icon, Alice Bag, was used in a travelling Smithsonian exhibit!! WOW!
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. (Patti Smith Group is in Rock Hall of Fame)
Iggy Pop told me my photos were as good as his photographer. He asked me where I’d been. I said, “Earning art degrees.” He smiled and nodded. I learned from artists. (Iggy is in Rock Hall of Fame)“What can you say about Jenny? She is the premiere visual documenter of Southern California punk rock in its vital, earliest era from 1976-1980. Support her, buy her work, keep her archive going – it’s essential!!”
~ David O. Jones, the best chronicler and interviewer of early punk. Awesome bassist too.
Just a few of my cool punk pals, backstage, the Whisky, March 5, 1978. All became famous for performing, writing, hair stylist and one Oscar nominated Art Director!
My early Go-Go’s photo and many more in recent Showtime documentary on the Go-Go’s. Plus Under the Big Black Sun, Belinda’s memoir, Lips Unsealed, and more books. Another image on The View too! March 1980. (Go-Go’s are in Rock Hall of Fame.)
MY PHOTO of LA’s Screamers used for Metropolitan Museum of Art FASHION GALA! Punk: From Chaos to Couture! Centerfold of their hard cover exhibit catalog! May 28, 1977.
My Joan Jett photos were shown onstage when she was inducted into Rock Hall of Fame. Here’s just one in her solo book. Joan always had her own sense of style. With Johnny Rotten, Whisky, March 9, 1978. (Both are in Rock Hall of Fame)
Dueling Guitars, Joan Jett and Lita Ford, the Runaways, Whisky, August 27, 1977. One of my most popular, beloved and world famous photos. (Joan is in Rock Hall of Fame)
I love this Blondie at American Bandstand image because you rarely see behind the scenes photos. These fashions might look every day normal. But June 4, 1979, people did not dress like Blondie! All the members were fashion-forward. (Blondie are in Rock Hall of Fame)“How to Look Punk” in 1977 Hollywood on Lethal Amounts gallery and site magazine.
The following taken from their now removed article, which included many of my photos and quotes from various sources:
“How To Look Punk” exclusively features photos by Jenny Lens, the premier photographer of the first wave of Los Angeles punk rock.
Lens, who shot from 1976-1980, knew how important it was to document the revolutionary fashions that were taking Hollywood Blvd by storm. She was there from literally beginning to end, and her work is the most crucial link in preserving the visual history and fashions of this era.
“I often photographed people based on their creative clothes, dancing, love of partying and posing, in a time when this was rare. The fans who migrated to the Hollywood shows often were colorful, vintage clothes from thrift stores or something they created themselves.” — Jenny Lens, an excerpt from her website, Punk Pioneers.
More fabulous photos of 1977 Hollywood punk style can be found in a lecture posted on YouTube by Jenny Lens, accompanied by a commentary slideshow. Mandatory viewing for anyone thirsty for knowledge about where this fashion came from and the characters that put it on the map.
Buy Museum Quality, Archival Photos, Punk Collage Prints, 12×18, and cool 78 Mini-Print Portfolio and more at PunkPioneers.com
Signed, Unsigned, 8 x 10, 11 x 14, 16 x 20 and some can be larger. See Print FAQs about paper, shipping and other questions people often ask me.Be like the major stars and international collectors from all every strata of society who collect my photos. Great gifts too! No watermarks on prints.
See and Buy Photo Prints. Dive in and explore my other site, PunkPioneers.com. If questions, drop me a line.
Jenny Lens In Action
I’ve always been camera shy, but so glad there’s a few images of myself! I painted my face as if I were Fauve (“Wild Beast”) Matisse on acid.
I made most of my jewelry and some of my clothes. Hollywood punks were a rough crowd. Amazing I got out alive! Gotta be made of strong stuff to survive. But it takes money and time and energy to do all I did then and continue to do.
100% DIY.
There’s more on my About Jenny Lens page.
But … IF you want to hear and read True Tall Tales with Photos (and some vids), you’ll become a Member of the Punk Pioneers Podcast and Photos Club NOW!
You’ll be glad you took that wonderful step to great adventures!!
Mary Rat, Jenny Lens, Hellin Killer. We were at the farewell party for Farrah Faucet-Minors aka “She Had to Leave Los Angeles,” X. September 17, 1977. My hair was naturally curly. That is my Jewfro. Not permed. The woman X sang about in “Los Angeles” named me”Jenny Lens.” True fact.
Gabi Berlin took this lovely photo of me on top left, 1977. Polaroid in pink kimono, spring 1980, Melanie Nissen took photo of Robbie “Posh Boy” Fields and I making out in the closet at the Screamers Wilton Hilton party, January 1978. I think photo with star in my hair at Masque Benefit, Feb 25 and 25, 1978. I made my dress, then sewed fabric Xeroxes of my photos onto dress.
Divine and I at Fiorucci’s Beverly Hills store. I also photographed ANDY WARHOL!! I was so stunned I could hardly take photos. June 1978.… the following email is why I have spent all my time, money, energy, focus and put up with more shit and less income than most anyone realizes or believes me… because I get so many lovely emails. THIS especially touched my heart deeply …
Thanks so much Jenny! You are the coolest!!!
I just bought an 11×14 🙂 Thank you so much for sending me that link. And wow I didn’t realize that’s Jeffrey Lee Pierce in the background! It’s such a wonderful photo.
I love this photo in particular for so many reasons. I remember when I was first looking through your body of work, I came across this image of Lorna and it just immediately sort of arrested me and before I could even really see what I was looking at, I just saw this image of this lone figure completely frozen but radiating from the center of the frame…the flash from your camera, the white sweatshirt, her blonde curls, this incredible backdrop of a big peavey amp and a velvet curtain and a wall covered with these spray paint polka dots and tags…
I was like WOW (!), its like one of those early renaissance paintings of “the musician” but in 70’s Los Angeles. There’s just so much to look at.
The space in particular I find so incredible. The carpet covered in stains and cigarette butts, a crumpled napkin… that little glass bottle on the amp.
Also just seeing Lorna standing there with this beautiful black bass I’m just reminded of all the things I’ve read and heard about this time of like the first-wave LA punk scene that to me sounded like a really open sort of forum where anyone was welcome…didn’t really matter what you looked like or what your gender or sexual preference was, it was just like everything and anything goes!
And it seems to me like it was so safe and celebrated and respected to experiment and to take risks and to just totally fail in public even though a fail was probably just as cool as a hit!
And thats so cool to me and so special and I don’t know…just makes me nostalgic….it’s hard to imagine a scene and space nowadays where this sort of energy is happening.
I’m sure it is happening somewhere but regardless, these photos you took and this one in particular I just take as a reminder of the spirit and attitude of you and all your friends during this time!
You guys made and did so much! You guys were and still are the coolest….hands down.
And so exciting to hear about the punk pioneers podcast and membership! That sounds fantastic, I cant wait to tune into that 🙂 So cool you’re doing that. I will spread the word to friends!
Thanks so much Professor Lens! 🙂