Punk Icons and Gay Community

Collage of Punk Icons for the Gay Community. 26 photos especially posted for YOU!

These images and personalities were chosen because they are iconic symbols and inspirations for many in the gay community. Terrible, false rumor we LA punks were homophobic. THIRTY years ago today, December 8, 1980, Darby Crash, singer/songwriter of the Germs, killed himself. He often perpetuated that myth. I’ve worked harder than anyone to set the record straight. I need your help. SO please read, enjoy, then HELP me to detail this. More photos and text, but ONLY with your help! Pls use buttons on sidebar to donate or buy limited edition, custom prints, before I stop selling them!

26 photos beneath this text … I shot many men and a few women who were gay. Some were closeted, but most of us were in the know. Gay, straight, bi, male, female, Jewish, Christian, atheist, white, Latino, Asian, African-American, rich, poor, skinny, fat, we didn’t give a freakin’ whatever. We came together because of similar interests in music, art, philosophy and more. We CELEBRATED INDIVIDUALITY. Look however you wanted to look! Wear bell bottoms or peg legs, long or short hair … that’s WHY I took so many photos. We were CREATIVE INDIVIDUALS.

However, mainstream press focused on DISCO. BUT PUNK became the MOST influential music of the last quarter of the last century. Space and time prohibits me going into further detail. I merely want to celebrate these enduring musical and visual influential icons. And to THANK the gay community, eps those wonderfully talented, accepting, warm GAY men who have been so supportive of my work. This is for YOU!!

The ONLY reason I don’t have time to detail, in more text and photos, is LACK OF MONEY. SO PLEASE, buy some prints or donate. Every penny counts! Prices are ONLY accurate on: Bands list and Prices. Some older pages, with different layout, are incorrect. Takes time to update this!!

THE MORE YOU SUPPORT MY WORK, the more photos and text I can share! Otherwise, this all dies when I die. I ain’t getting younger! Been working on this since 1976!! Thank you!

[77-02-09-02-12-blondvewh]
Debbie Harry in bridal dress and veil, Blondie’s LA debut, Whisky, Feb 1977

[77-02-16-07-14-blondflrwh]
My infamous shot of Debbie Harry, Blondie’s LA debut, Whisky floor, Feb 1977.

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Debbie Harry, Whisky backstage, April 14, 1977.

[77-04-15-01c-iggytveye]
Iggy Pop, TV Eye, one of Iggy’s fave shots, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium,
(Bowie supported him on piano), April 15, 1977.

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Iggy Pop, used on poster in Rock Book of Top Posters, one of his fave shots, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium,
(Bowie supported him on piano), April 15, 1977.

[77-07-30-35c-iggyportrait]
Iggy Pop, in his Malibu beachfront rented house, summer 1977. I took rare photos of him as he painted.
I might have ONLY record of those paintings.

[77-08-21-05c-fashplezgun]
Punk fashion shot, NO stylists, just a few friends I invited to a private photo shoot: Alice Bag,
Belinda Carlisle before the Go-Go’s, Hellin Killer and Pleasant Gehman, North Hollywood, August 21, 1977.

[77-08-21-12c-fashplezwhip]
Punk fashion shot, NO stylists, just a few friends just a few friends I invited to a private photo shoot: Alice Bag,
Belinda Carlisle before the Go-Go’s, Hellin Killer and Pleasant Gehman, North Hollywood, August 21, 1977.

[77-08-27-1-35-joanlitawh]
Dueling Guitars, Joan Jett and Lita Ford, the Runaways, Whisky, August 27, 1977

[77-11-23-3-34-darbymasque]
ICONIC image of Darby Crash, the Germs, the Masque, November 23, 1977.

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Sex Pistols final debut American show, Johnny Rotten and Steve Jones, aka Jonesy,
Winterland, San Francisco, January 14, 1978.

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Sex Pistols final debut American show, Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious in his last show,
Winterland, San Francisco, January 14, 1978.

[78-01-14-43c-sexpistols]
Sex Pistols final debut American show, Sid Vicious (his last Pistols show), Johnny Rotten and Steve Jones, aka Jonesy, Winterland, San Francisco, January 14, 1978

[78-02-24-01c-alicebagelvimb]
Alice Bag, iconic, fiery lead singer of the Bags, now a Latina/Chicana goddess. Masque Benefit, Elk’s Lodge, Feb. 24, 1978. THIS PHOTO IN NEW SMITHSONIAN TRAVELING EXHIBIT, American Sabor. We had a VIBRANT Latino presence in our early, small punk scene. AND I DOCUMENTED it!

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Belinda Carlisle, pre-Go-Go’s, Masque Benefit, Elk’s Lodge, Feb. 24, 1978.

[78-02-24-germs08c-darbymb]
Darby Crash, Germs, Masque Benefit, Elk’s Lodge, Feb 24, 1978.

[78-03-09-01c-johnnyjoan]
Johnny Rotten and Joan Jett, Whisky, March 9, 1978.
This and other versions used in many bootlegs. Seen in Rolling Stone.

[78-12-00-27-darbyhellin]
Darby Crash, the Germs and Hellin Killer, December 1978.

[79-03-18-1-26a-helindarby]
Hellin Kiler and Darby Crash, the Masque, March 18, 1978, press conference at Elk’s Massacre. The St. Patrick’s Day Elk’s Lodge show was brutally and violently ended by LA police. The cops attacked the peaceful punks.

[79-11-26-2-18-iggyglenm]
Iggy Pop and Glen Matlock, the Sex Pistols original bassist, San Francisco, November 26, 1978.

[80-01-00-29c-gogosswpose]
Go-Go’s posing for me, Starwood backstage, January 1980.
Left to right: Jane Weidlin, Gina Shock,
Charlotte Caffey, Margot Go-Go and Belinda Carlisle.
2nd version in Belinda’s memoir, Lips Unsealed . ONLY MY 3 COLOR shots were on back, with my 7 photos inside.
MINE were the ONLY early punk photos!!
When MTV and VH1 created Go-Go’s docs, MY photos filled the first half hour of the hour show!!
I shot them PRE Go-Go’s!!

[80-03-15-01-17-xexbildjdec]
Billy Zoom, Exene Cervenka, DJ Bonebrake, filming of Decline of Western Civilization, Club 88, West LA, March 1980. Rhino cropped and used Exene for CD/cassette cover of “We’re Desperate,” their first DIY punk series.

[80-03-15-08c-xexenejohndec]
Exene and John Doe, X. THIS IS THE BEST photo capturing true essence of X, and of Exene and John. I can’t look at this without swooning. If you look closely while X sings Nausea, you will SEE me swooning to them,
during filming of Decline of Western Civilization, Club 88, West LA, March 1980.
Used by Rhino for X release and CD #3 of No Thanks, their comprehensive punk 4 CD set.

[80-03-15-16c-exenekneeldec]
Classic, iconic photo of Exene Cervenka, lead singer/songwriter, X, during filming of Decline of Western Civilization, Club 88, West LA, March 1980. Seen on cover of Live at Masque CD, Swindle mag’s Icon issue, and more. Currently on cover of new “Kids in the Black Hole.” DO NOT buy it, buy PUNK PIONEERS,my book instead!!

[80-07-30c-darbymohawk]
Darby Crash, the Germs, after our return from England, summer 1980.