About

I’ve worked on this site for several years. I have tons of articles I’ve written, bookmarked websites, watched as others thrived while I was too distracted to focus on this. I’m creating this site as much for myself as others. I practice what I preach. I don’t recommend any program, books, site, DVD, person, etc unless I have FIRST-HAND experience. I’m not going to post or link or recommend something because I can make money. No way.

I’m known around the world due to my classic, rare, iconic punk rock photos. But I can’t live in the past, nor spend all my time working on my photos. I’m equally passionate about this site and its contents. If you want to know more about me, read on.

I was born in LA, and grew up in a medical family. I started studying health and nutrition as a young teen. I always struggled with my weight, and was repeatedly put on various drugs and diets, to no avail. I came across Dr. Ann Wigmore’s “Recipes for Life” around 1980. I had fled from my wild, wild, punk rock photo life. This book was way ahead of its time. It was hard to find supplies, equipment and food Dr. Wigmore recommended, but I tried.

Flash forward 20 years, summer 2001. Again I investigated Raw Foods. This time, I lost 30 pounds in 30 days. I had no idea I’d lose any weight! I was at the time in a woman’s life when losing weight is considered almost impossible. I lost about 65 pounds, kept 50 off for 9 years. I bounced on and off in Raw Foods. I finally decided it was time to focus and create the health I deserved.

YOGA: my college room-mate took a photo of me, holding Richard Hittleman’s “Yoga for Weight Loss, 28 day program,” around 1972. Again I tried it on and off. I finally decided that Yoga is sooo wonderful that I would make it part of my every day life.

PLUS I’ve been a computer trainer/teacher at major training centers and colleges/universities. I’ve written for the tech community.

EDUCATION:

Prior to punk:

BA in Art, CSUN (cum laude, Dean’s List);
MFA in Design, Cal Arts (scholarship, no grades given, the highest education level for a studio artist);
Never studied photography, however …

AFTER punk:

Certificate in Computer Graphics, UCLA Extension, 3.8 GPA (waaaay back in 1989, when computer graphics were just beginning. I knew I needed those early tools to share my photo archive);
Legal Secretaries Cert, UCLA Extension;
ABA Paralegal Cert, UCLA Extension;
Studied digital electronics at Moorpark College (Dean’s List);
Numerous seminars in Computer Graphics, Raw Foods and Yoga.
About 24 years of formal education.
PLUS I’ve been a computer trainer/teacher at major training centers and colleges/universities. I’ve written for the tech community.

Now for my Photo Archive, which needs updating:

“Jenny Lens Punk Archive, Photo Publication History, short list”

For those who place importance on the Jenny Lens Punk Archive official published history, (and to prove that I AM THE MOST PUBLISHED EARLY LA PUNK PHOTOGRAPHER), here’s a brief tour . . .

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

Often people tell me about a picture disc, a poster, a book with my photos, a skateboard, clothing, or some kind of 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 Exhibits.

PS My ART Education? Scroll down for that story . . .

Special Project: OFFICIAL Ramone Calendar, 2009, Pyramid Posters, ALL MY photos.

Books:

Sparks, 2010
Lowside of the Road, Tom Waits, by Barney Hoskyns, 2009.
The Encyclopedia of Punk. OK, let’s make this perfectly clear. I have about 24 photos in this piece of shit book which couldn’t bother to credit the photographers except listed at the end. They could credit everyone else on the busy pages. AND it’s the point of view of some asshole who thinks he’s the expert of punk. It’s a GREAT photo book, but the photos don’t match the stories in time frame. Whatever, it’s a GREAT honor cos I have more photos than anyone but one guy who shot a lot of hardcore punk. Cos we all know punk is all about hardcore, right??? (being sarcastic, in case I’m too subtle here). 2008
“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.
“Punk 365,” Holly George-Warren, Abrams, Fall, 2007. 24 of MY PHOTOS!!
“Live at the Masque: Nightmare in Punk Alley,” Brendan Mullen and Roger Gastman, Gingko Press. 2007. 33 photos!
“Bomp!: Saving the World One Record at a Time,” Suzy Shaw and Mick Farren, Ammo. 2007.
“Punk,” Federico Guglielmi, from Giunti, a major Italian publisher, 2007.
“We Got the Neutron Bomb,” Three Rivers Press, 2001. More of my photos than any other photographer.
“Lexicon Devil,” Adam Parfrey, Feral House, 2002. More of my photos than any other photographer.
“Fucked-Up and Photocopied: Instant Art of the Punk Rock Movement,” Brian Ray, Gingko Press, 1999.
“Forming: The Early Days of LA Punk,” Smart Art Press catalog for Forming, punk photo/art exhibit, Track 16, April 1999.
“Let’s Spend the Night Together,” Pamela des Barres, Chicago Review Press. Iggy Pop and Pleasant Gehman, back cover. 2007.
“Chris Spedding: Reluctant Guitar Hero.” Cover photo and several interior photos. Kimberly J Bright, iUniverse, Inc. September, 2006.
“Babel,” Patti Smith, Putnam. Back cover credited to my former name, Jenny Stern. ISBN: 399-12102-1. 1978.
“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.
“Legend of a Rock Star, the Last Testament of Dee Dee Ramone,” Dee Dee Ramone, Thunder’s Mouth Press. Pg 191. December, 2002.
“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.
“Loca Motion: The Travels of Chicana and Latina Popular Culture,” Michelle Habell-Pallan, NYU Press. 2005.
“Cinderella’s Big Score,” (about punk and indie women musicians) Maria Raha, Avalon. 2004.
“Punk Like Me,” Gun Club/Bag drummer, Terry Graham’s outrageous memoir.
“California Hardcore.” Ok, no photos, but I’m mentioned, although it’s not true what they wrote, but at least I’m in it!!
And more . . .

Exhibits:

Grammy Museum, December, 2008. MY X photo in the Songs of Conscience exhibit.
Santa Monica Pico Art Walk, Sept 27, 2008.
LAX art, Sept 7, 2008, 2640 S La Cienga, LA laxart.org.
SMC 50th, Anniversary, My March 3, 1980 Clash photo displayed August 2008.
Germs photo art show, pg 63, David Ratcliff, team gallery, NY, 2008 .
Strange Beasts, Emily the Strange collaboration, 111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco, press release, September, 2007.
Gift for Screamers, RAID Gallery, The Brewery, LA, raidprojects.com, Craig Leonard. 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.
Eastside Studios LA, December 1, 2006 – January 27, 2007.
“It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Root Division, San Francisco, September 9, 2006 .
Don’t Knock the Rock, REDCAT, July 2006. Displayed hundreds pho classic photos in an ongoing digital presentation, chronologically with captions.
Gallery Revisited, February 2006, 3204 Sunset, Silverlake.
Shepard Fairey gallery show and resulting limited edition t-shirt. This t-shirt was later seen on Christian Siriano on Project Runaway. “I Do Adore,” exhibit, Subliminal Projects, December, 2005. Tshirt released December 2006.
Project: Vice, October 2005.
The Hive, May 2005.
“Forming,” Track 16, April, 1999.

Documentaries/DVDs:

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.
“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.
“Punk: Attitude,” IFC. Only woman interviewed, with 8 men, in LA section and provided 45 of 67 photos. 2005.
“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.
“It’s Alive!” Ramones documentary, 122 photos! 2007.
“Too Tough to Die,” Ramones documentary directed by Mandy Stein, Rhino Films. 2006.
“End of the Century,” Ramones documentary. 2005.
“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.
“Ghost on the Highway,” directed by Kurt Voss,Gun Club documentary. 2006.
“Germs: Media Blitz.” They scanned photos from “Lexicon Devil,” Adam Parfrey, Feral House, 2004.
Behind the Music: Go-Go’s.
Total Spin: Go-Go’s.
Lifetime Intimate Portrayal: Go-Go Belinda.And more . . .

Personal Appearances in:

Jenny Lens whipping Tomata and dancing with Darby Crash, the Masque, December 16, 1977.
“Decline of Western Civilization” (for a few seconds I fill the frames while dancing to X’s “Nausea.”
“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).
“Rage – 20 Years of Punk Rock, West Coast Style (2001).” Masque, Screamers, Germs footage, 12/16/77.
“Never Mind the Sex Pistols, Here’s the Bollocks,” Masque, Screamers, Germs footage, 12/16/77.
“Screamers Target Video.” September, 1978.

Benefits/Fund-Raisers:

“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 limted edition Jenny Lens t-shirt, designed by Shepard Fairey/Obey Giant LLC.
Ramones 30th anniversary, Sept, 2004 (photos projected during sets and on display).
Simi Valley Free Dental Clinic Media, iconic shot of Cherie Currie.

Recent magazines:

Guitar, December 2009, Richard Lloyd, pg 90.
Blender, April 2009, Ron Asheton, pg 38, who called me “Jen Lensman”! Thanks RJ Smith for fucking it up, after I worked so hard for you.
GQ, March 2009, X live Stardust Ballroom, pg 135.
Punk Rock Confidential, Summer 2008, book review.
Juxtapoz, photo issue, May 2008, 60, Clash double page.
Guitar Legends, the Rolling Stones, pg 18.
Spin, Germs, Weirdos, X, Bags and others (6 total), PLUS Darby Crash, online “The Spirit of ’77,” October, 2007. 7 of my punk photos! MY Darby Crash, Germs, opens their online coverage! Pages 54, Debbie on knees, pg 57, black and white fashion, pg 58, Darby cigarette in Masque, 90, Avengers backstage Whisky, Dils, Billy Zoom England, Weirdos, Whisky, pg 92.
Swindle’s second ICON issue, Blondie, Fall, 2007.
Swindle, four Germs photos (including Table of Contents), Fall, 2007. ALL vintage Germs photos are mine.
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.
Garage Magazine, Jenny Lens photo spread, Spring, 2007.
Spin, Germs, 2006.
URB Cover blurb with 8 interior pages, July 2006.
Rolling Stone, Italy, Darby Crash, Germs, 2006.
MOJO, July, 2005.
Swindle’s first ICON issue, Exene Cervenka/X, 2006.
Razorcake, Screamers, pg 59, August/September 2005.
URB, Gang of Four, pg 70, July/August 2005.
Punk Rock Confidential, Cover story, pg 47, 6 pages, Winter 2005.
Spin, Johnny last interview, pg 80, November 2004.
Spin, Dee Dee Ramone obit Sept 2002.
Spin, Runaways, pg 119, Joan fist in air, live, Joan and Lita in hallway, Kim and Cherie, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium backstage, December 2001.
Spin, Joey and Kamen Rider, Joey’s obituary, pg 37, July 2001.
Spin, 25 years of punk, contributor’s page: “I’d studied a lot of art movements and I knew that punk needed to be documented, so I started shooting. I still listen that old punk stuff. My favorite band is definitely X.” pg 32. pg 100, Darby Masque, Joan and Lita, color fashion Pat screaming, b/w fashion, Darby Mohawk color. May 2001.
Out, Joan gun kitchen, pg 85, April 2000.
Rock City, January 24, 2002 re Neutron Bomb.
Nightlife, Screamers, Issue 16, vol 32.
Glue, X, March/April 1999.
Request, Darby Crash, pg 43, August 1995.
Details, California’s Screaming, starting on page 119, Darby Masque, Screamers bench, black/white fashion, Terry and Belinda Go-Go, Pat screaming, Bags live, December 1994.
Raygun, Darby, hallway too, October, 1993.

This is just the tip of the iceberg and off the top of my head. More below . . .

Record companies 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, the only one working to resurrect 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!

Education FYI:

I earned several art degrees/certificates: BA in Art, CSUN and a MFA in Design, CalArts, both with high honors, PRIOR to punk, plus a 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).

But I NEVER studied Photography. 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. 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 photo archive.