Mumps

[77 Mumps Wh Color]

I shot this in a secret, rarely used back hallway upstairs in the Whisky backstage area. Did the Mumps have style or what?

Lance Loud and Jenny Lens

Ah, what a lovely shot. Taken at Gary Valentine's Birthday Party. Gary, an original member of Blondie, left to form his own band, The Know. I wanted a shot of Lance, so he stood behind me and totally swept me off my feet. I wore Matisse Fauve [wild beast] eye colors and had a beautiful black feather fan. All that are left are the memories and this shot I keep framed on my desk.

[77-05-27-29 Wh 01-31 Mumps ]
May 27-29, 1977, Whisky

Kristian knocked over his stool and Lance is keeping healthy with some scissors move, with his back on the floor. Kevin Kiely, bassist in his hockey leg pads, performs on his knees as Kristian resumes keyboard duties, also on his knees. It was up to Rob du Prey, guitar on the right and Paul Rutner, on drums to be the straight men to the others. Wait, according to the Mumps website, all but one were gay, so I'm not telling!

77-05-27-29 Mumps Wh 06-06
May 27-29, 1977, Whisky

Just another day hanging out with the Mumps, but Lance is such a drag! Rumor had it Van Halen were managed by the owner or manager of the Whisky. So we were subjected to ignoring Van Halen while seeing so many punk bands. David Lee Roth was a lot of fun, whereas Eddie Van Halen was so snotty to us.

77-11 Mumps Wh 18-29 Stairs
November 1977, Whisky backstage

Barely making it upstairs after another exhausting and energetic performance. Back story: I ran up the stairs, ahead of the band and started shooting. Nothing was planned nor spoken, they just collapsed and performed in front of my camera. They were born performers.

Seeing that stairs brings back so many memories . . . notice all the walls covered with graffiti. I deliberately did not crop pix so you see how we defaced, I mean, decorated, the walls. Not like many modern clubs, with designers adding these touches! As Pleasant told me, a night out meant grabbing markers and spray paint!

From Kristian:
     "Hi Jenny! Just wanted to thank you for the fabulous pictures of the Mumps you posted. That one of us struggling up the stairs really made me smile! Just fantastic -- and I love your captions."

77-05-27-29 Mumps Wh 08-42
May 27-29, 1977, Whisky

Darcy Diamond, journalist and one of the wittiest women who ever walked the earth. Darcy was one of the earliest female writers on punk scene, having arrived during glitter's heyday. She is now a pre-school teacher in Los Feliz. Those lucky little children!

I'm waiting for Darcy to dig up her early articles and interviews and to write her memoirs! She and I had some wild times, hanging out in her apartment or at shows and parties. She never dressed or behaved outrageously like I did. Her gift is language, both what she says and how she says it. We both lived south of Sunset, she on Larabee, and I lived at 1021 Palm, now replaced by a huge, mostly empty office building while Brad Elterman lived south on Doheny.

We all lived a stone's throw from the Whisky and Roxy. Where the living was cheap and easy and safe. I could walk home, stoned outta my mind, singing and dancing, carrying expensive camera equipment, barely wearing anything, at 2 or 3 in the morning on the deserted Sunset Strip.