The Masque, October 15, 1977, page 1 [go to 2]

Page 1: the Masque, October 15, 1977
Page 2 and 3: the Masque, November 23, 1977
Pages 4, 5, 6: the Masque, January 17, 1977
Pages 7, 8: color shots

The Masque was NOT the birthplace of LA or OC punk. This website, other websites, early fanzines/newspapers/magazines and other documents display plenty of evidence punk was vibrant, creative, alive and strong BEFORE the Masque. Parties at the Screamers, Slash benefits, Bomp Records and such venues as the Orpheum, Larchmont Hall etc meant we were ready for the Masque to provide a place to rehearse, play and party. The RAMONES STARTED LA punk.

Look through this carefully. Rather than show the most important bands and people of the day, which is also open to controversy, these photos are shown in the order I shot them.

I rarely shot at the Masque. It was filthy and the stage -- when there was a stage -- was low to the ground, making it hard to take good live shots. I was surprised I got so close to the stage for the shots on this site, but I can't imagine getting these shots for the Bags, Screamers or Weirdos when pandemonium was d'rigeur. I shot people from a distance to show the various nooks and crannies because the Masque was an usual space, not rectangular and very unique. I've cropped these photos because they are so small and I want the focus on the people, but the prints will give equal focus to the Masque itself. The Masque was a tangle of ever changing walls, wires, pipes, trash, drapes, signs, graffiti -- a very complex area of several rooms that led into each other, giving us various areas to party, rehearse, sleep, stand, have sex, whatever.

I sometimes followed Pleasant's advice and bought a bottle of gin, shared it and left my camera elsewhere. Otherwise I never drank, too fattening and impossible to shoot when tipsy. Someday you'll see live footage when I kept whipping and grabbing Tomata du Plenty while the Screamers performed on December 16, 1977. Then I got up and danced with Darby Crash, Pleasant and Connie Clarksville, hair stylist to many punks. Alice Bag posted a short clip, and it's in "Punk: Attittude," "Rage" and "Never Mind the Sex Pistols." One of my finest moments and you better believe I am proud of it!! I had no idea that moment would become part of early LA punk history. I didn't even know we were being filmed. I was too tipsy, having too much fun and just being wild me.

I remember the Screamers played there surrounded by what looked like barbed-wire. Or was that a dream? I had to watch where I stepped, as I always wore Birkenstock sandals and the floor was sticky and wet. Beer or piss? And forget about going to the bathroom or sitting down. I bought a bottle of gin before going there after Iggy played Santa Monica Civic and I couldn't get in, although I saw him backstage. Hmm, that was after we fucked, Pleasant fucked him before me, and I remember it being in early Fall, 1977. Why didn't I write dates in my date books?

Two other reasons I didn't shoot at or hang out at the Masque as much as I would have loved to do so was simple: I spent many evenings turning into mornings in my closet darkroom, developing film and making prints cos I didn't have money to pay a lab. A dude named Michael Romero turned me onto the Masque. He'd call at 2 in the morning telling me to get over there. But I was in my darkroom. If I spent more time there, many photos that were published and helped put LA punk on the map would never have been published. The other reason was my need to photograph the whole scene, so I shot at the Whisky, Starwood and other venues in addition to the Masque. Otherwise I wouldn't have amazing photos of New York and Brit punk bands and I would have missed some memorable shows.

Life requires balancing what we want to do and what we need to do. I needed to document as much of the scene as I could. I worked by myself and it was hard work and for no money. A true labor of love. But the LA scene was far more than the Masque, as you will see in this website.

The Masque was just one piece of the puzzle. And thank goodness for it! It was truly fun. Can you imagine anyone, including underage kids, drinking after-hours in a public place? Where anything goes, which meant also lots of drugs and sex down there. Ah, if the walls could talk, you'd hear loud fast music, smell booze, piss and sex and feel so ALIVE!

PS Michael Romero came up to me at the opening or closing of "Forming" in 1999. I stupidly didn't get his number. So if anyone knows where he is, tell him to write me!! He must have some stories!