What they all have in common: energetic, vibrant, powerful, strong, brilliant, wise, sensitive, caring, sharing, funny, hard-working and not so coincidentally, all avidly involved in punk. I either met them in those early heady punk days or if too young, they immersed themselves so deeply, they could have been one of us.

The are all actively creating art, music, writing, interior design, theatre, movies and lives vital and important to our culture.

 
Photographers Jenny Lens and Brad Elterman, Rodney Bingenheimer on right
at Brad's HUGELY successful debut one-man show, 1/19/05 in front of his iconic shot of the
great Mohammed Ali circa 1978. Hey, not bad after so many years of shooting!
[thanks to David Keeler and John Van Hamersveld for the photos at the Don O’Melveny Gallery]

Brad Elterman, along with the very-missed late Richard Creamer, befriended me when I first started shooting rock with the Ramones, August 1976 and continued to do 'til I got out in 1980. They constantly advised me on ways to be paid because the record industry, managers and magazine publishers always took advantage of me. I couldn't shoot "straight" performers like they could. I was in it only for punk rock, but their concern always warmed my heart.

Brad was one of the most important photographers, especially during the 1970's, and is vastly under-rated. He managed to be everywhere and recorded the entire scope of entertainers, whether in punk or country, movies or hard rock. He always rushed to the airport to get his photos distributed internationally, somehow knew who to shoot and where, and was always the total professional, while being courteous and kind. This was before cell phones, the internet, pagers, etc. He didn't have an assistant but ran a successful one-man business.

I can't begin to express how Brad's friendship has sustained me through the years. An ardent supporter, constantly encouraging me, steeped in a vast knowledge of modern art and photography, a pioneer in the online photojournalism business and a man of ethics and integrity. Who also took amazing photos of celebrities as well as rock performers.

Former California Governor Pete Wilson paid a visit to the exhibition on Thursday, January 27. "I saw him outside the gallery and invited him in," said Elterman. "We chatted about the photo I took in 1978 at the Los Angeles Forum with then-Mayor Tom Bradley, his wife with Mohammad Ali and Dr. Jerry Buss, owner of the Lakers. The photo is a real Los Angeles iconic image and one of my favorites.”

The exhibition was extended by popular demand due to its success. Attending the January 19th opening night reception were Kenny G and wife Lyndie, Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols (the hottest rock DJ in the nation), punk photographer/archivist Jenny Lens, actor/singer Michael Des Barres, lead singer Cherie Curie of the Runaways, the Mayor of the Sunset Strip, Rodney Bingenheimer, and former teen idol, Leif Garrett. Brad was the first to photograph Nicolette Sheridan, currently on the hit TV show, “Desperate Housewives.” Garrett was Sheridan’s first boyfriend and Brad’s shot of the couple, focusing on Sheridan in a then-rare string bikini, is a classic.

Michael Pilmer

In 1977, Michael was 10 and saw my classic shot of Blondie's Debbie Harry on the floor. He "realized rock was not just long-haired dudes." Man, it was a hot blonde on the floor, legs spread and a glimpse of a white panty (considered shocking in its day, how times have changed!!). After Blondie, he saw my Devo shots and now works with Mark Mothersbaugh (Devo Obsesso and Beautiful Mutants tour). He recently told me he is a HUGE Klaus Nomi fan. I insisted he meet with Kristian Hoffman, responsible for so much of Klaus' career, from songs to his stage presentation. They met at the beginning of this year, right after Michael caught "The Nomi Song." [don't miss it!!] Around 1992 I contacted him for free software, not knowing him or how my photos changed his life. We immediately became great and forever and ever friends.

Check out his "Implied Regurgitation" site at http://www.ithrewup.com/index.html. He is so funny! Be part of the project!

He'd come into town, sometimes with JB, and I'd pull out photos and tell outrageous stories. When my marriage fell apart, he left a phone message that began "Sweet Jenny, . . ." full of concern about me. He created the first iteration of my website, adding wonderful touches, such as designing the top nav bar on all the pages. I couldn't recognize the cool script typeface for my name until it dawned on me it was my signature! He scanned it from the back of the Blondie print I gave him recently – the one that changed his life. He breathed life into my basic ideas and layout. I forced myself to learn Dreamweaver and recreated it all from scratch as part of that learning process.

I look forward to collaborating on designs for merchandise and other projects with him. He wants "to find his bliss with my photos." How cool is that? He sent another photo to be posted, but I didn't like it. I kept sending him thoughts: send me a cool photo to post. When I opened this shot I screamed "OH FUCK!," knowing that is the PERFECT photo. Is he irreverent or what? We have so much fun and he is so supportive. A creative dude with tons of energy and projects. Just wish he lived in LA cos our fun times are too short and fast.

Read the great article about him published in his hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina.

A man who truly respects us, with an amazing eye for details others overlook, dedicated to the truth, with a phenomenal memory and fascinating story teller! He and David Travis video-taped and he audio-taped so many of us, with such dedicated passion. He's analyzed all the transcripts and early material and is always objective. He relates the facts, not from a limited point-of-view, like too many archivists/writers. The most accurate and thorough archivist of the LA scene and punk as a whole, since its earliest days til now. His book on the first five LA punk bands -- Germs, Screamers, Weirdos, Zeroes and Dils -- will be published this year, after investing more than a decade in research. I owe him photos for the book. Anything for him.

Mark was very generous with his website knowledge and helped me greatly. An artist with lofty ideals, never compromising and beneath his quiet exterior is a man enraged at the increasing injustices, which fuel his evocative art. He turned me onto a Day of the Dead event a few years ago, a cherished memory. That is the first time that he, his girlfriend Jeannine and I really connected.

I wanted to digitally project my punk photos at the Autry this past June. The Dickies and others were playing outdoors, Mark exhibited his work indoors, but I was so pissed off at the Autry I wanted to back out. I was begging to show my work and they were dragging their heels. Mark told me to hang in there because my work "deserved to be seen." The voice of reason. I was told after the event the biggest complaint was more of my photos should have been shown. Have to thank Mark for convincing me to move forward. And that I projected them against a wall that said "The Mary Pickford Research Center."

Mary Pickford was America's FIRST movie star, at one time the most powerful woman in Hollywood and highest paid woman in America. A wonderful role-model. Read my interview with Alice Bag. I compare the women in early punk to be on par with the first women in the movies. Women were in many ways more influential than men, until men re-wrote the history of films. Mark and I want to explore the untapped contributions of women in punk and subsequent legacy. We've only begun to collaborate and I'm looking forward to more!!

Brad Dunning

Brad hung out with Pleasant, Kid Congo, Brian Grillo, Kristian and the late Joseph Fleury and many other creative punks. When the Mumps played the Whisky, I'd drop to the floor and wrap my arms around either Brad or Joseph's leg. Both tall and leggy, I just loved them (still sighing after all these years). And they just laughed at silly me. Brad created the logo for "Lobotomy" and created a fanzine I just found in my drawer, "Contempo Trend." A painter, a graphic artist and a very successful interior designer with a quiet demeanor and wicked sense of humor. Read why Johnny Ramone is his neighbor in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. He mailed me a DVD of the Screamers in San Francisco because I'm in the audience. Ah, but there's footage where I'm very wild at the Screamers at the Masque show, but that's another story. He is thoughtful and kind, and always put up with my silliness. Oh, all my friends have that in common!

     
Valentine's Day/Eve Party, Screamers' Wilton Hilton, 1980

Kid Congo [Brian Tristan] half woman, half man; Craig Lee [RIP] of the Bags in his black fringed blue cowboy costume in the far back; Christian from the Extremes on accordian, and Brad Dunning on clarinet. Brad with accordian on a lonely green bed. My favorite party shots of all time. The Screamers gave parties that will never be equaled because they invited people who put a lot of thought and creativity into who they were, before, during and after the party. And could they party! Display a variety of instruments and everyone plays. Who cares if you're a musician or not? Anything was possible around the Screamers.

Mystery shots, circa 1978. The Screamers recorded something! We think Geza X was the producer/engineer. I sent jpgs of the two strips of negs to Brad Dunning on left, Kid Congo aka Brian Tristan, and a real Screamer, Paul Roessler. Brad wrote the best response: "I've lost my mind. Don't remember this at all." No Brad, your mind is fine. None of us remember this!

How the hell can we all FORGET a SCREAMERS RECORDING?? I've gone on record, in the press, yapping about how the Screamers never recorded anything! That's Chloe on the right and the session also included Chase Holiday, who never talks to me, Styles and the late Gorilla Rose. Tomata is gone, Tommy Gear always gave me the silent treatment and KK's email bounced back. OK, readers, any clues??

Brian Grillo

I don't remember Brian from the Masque days (hmm, the only place I drank, got down and crazy and rarely shot). He was always so sweet and talked to me when I'd run into him at the few events I attended, like the Forming opening when some of my photos were on display in 1999. He called in Spring 2004, said he was releasing a CD and asked me to photograph him. No one from the past ever asks me to take photos, so I was shocked. I usually immediately say no because I don't have a professional camera. He said he sang a cut with Exene on "Sinnerman" and "it was his dream to work with his icons." He "wanted a photo with my name on it." My mouth dropped, and of course I said Yes. Me, an "icon?"

He is a loyal friend, with integrity, talent to burn (also a painter), very active, always growing and gaining new skills. A real survivor and inspiration. I wish I'd seen him in "Lockup" on Geffen Records with Tom Morello (later in "Rage Against the Machine") and "Extra Fancy" (on Atlantic Records). Iggy INVITED Extra Fancy to OPEN for him after hearing "Sell Your Love," his favorite cut on Iggy's tribute, "Kill City."

I will never forget seeing him at Lance Loud's AIDS fund-raiser at the Parlour Club, May 2004. My back hurt so much -- it was before I started seeing wonderful Dr. Don Trepany, a phenomenal chiropractor. I'd been dancing and selling tickets at the door and raffle-tickets on the floor, bouncing around as usual, but then laid down on the dance floor, a first for me, cos I was in so much back pain. But when he mentioned my name from the stage, I had to get up and dance. What a friend, to praise me and I don't even remember him. But I will never forget him, his kindness and admiration for my photos.

Brian is a HIV-positive survivor. I only mention it because he never talks about it, other than having to deal with clinics and paperwork. We still are surrounded by HIV and AIDS. Support the LA AIDS Project.