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Often people tell me about a picture disc, a poster, a book with my photos, a 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.

But 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 . . .

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 . . .

Books:

1. “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.
2. “Punk 365,” Holly George-Warren, Abrams, Fall, 2007.
3. “Live at the Masque: Nightmare in Punk Alley,” Brendan Mullen and Roger Gastman, Gingko Press. 2007.
4. “Bomp!: Saving the World One Record at a Time,” Suzy Shaw and Mick Farren, Ammo. 2007.
5. “Punk,” Federico Guglielmi, from Giunti, a major Italian publisher, 2007.
6. “We Got the Neutron Bomb,” Three Rivers Press, 2001. More of my photos than any other photographer.
7. “Lexicon Devil,” Adam Parfrey, Feral House, 2002. More of my photos than any other photographer.
8. “Fucked-Up and Photocopied: Instant Art of the Punk Rock Movement,” Brian Ray, Gingko Press, 1999.
9. “Forming: The Early Days of LA Punk,” Smart Art Press catalog for Forming, punk photo/art exhibit, Track 16, April 1999.
10. “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” Pamela des Barres, Chicago Review Press. Iggy Pop and Pleasant Gehman, back cover. 2007.
11. “Chris Spedding: Reluctant Guitar Hero.” Cover photo and several interior photos. Kimberly J Bright, iUniverse, Inc. September, 2006.
12. “Babel,” Patti Smith, Putnam. Back cover credited to my former name, Jenny Stern. ISBN: 399-12102-1. 1978.
13. “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.
14. “Legend of a Rock Star, the Last Testament of Dee Dee Ramone,” Dee Dee Ramone, Thunder’s Mouth Press. Pg 191. December, 2002.
15. “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.
16. “Loca Motion: The Travels of Chicana and Latina Popular Culture,” Michelle Habell-Pallan, NYU Press. 2005.
17. “Cinderella’s Big Score,” (about punk and indie women musicians) Maria Raha, Avalon. 2004.
18. “Punk Like Me,” Gun Club/Bag drummer, Terry Graham’s outrageous memoir.
19. “California Hardcore.” Ok, no photos, but I’m mentioned, although it’s not true what they wrote, but at least I’m in it!!
20. And more . . .

Documentaries/DVDs:

1. 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.
2. “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.
3. “Punk: Attitude,” IFC. Only woman interviewed, with 8 men, in LA section and provided 45 of 67 photos. 2005.
4. “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.
5. “It’s Alive!” Ramones documentary, 122 photos! 2007.
6. “Too Tough to Die,” Ramones documentary directed by Mandy Stein, Rhino Films. 2006.
7. “End of the Century,” Ramones documentary. 2005.
8. “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.
9. “Ghost on the Highway,” directed by Kurt Voss,Gun Club documentary. 2006.
10. “Germs: Media Blitz.” They scanned photos from “Lexicon Devil,” Adam Parfrey, Feral House, 2004.
11. Behind the Music: Go-Go’s.
12. Total Spin: Go-Go’s.
13. Lifetime Intimate Portrayal: Go-Go Belinda.
    And more . . .

Personal Appearances in:

1. Jenny Lens whipping Tomata and dancing with Darby Crash, the Masque, December 16, 1977.
2. “Decline of Western Civilization” (for a few seconds I fill the frames while dancing to X’s “Nausea.”
3. “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).
4. “Rage - 20 Years of Punk Rock, West Coast Style (2001).” Masque, Screamers, Germs footage, 12/16/77.
5. “Never Mind the Sex Pistols, Here’s the Bollocks,” Masque, Screamers, Germs footage, 12/16/77.
6. “Screamers Target Video.” September, 1978.

Benefits/Fund-Raisers:

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

Recent magazines:

1. Spin, Germs, Weirdos, X, Bags and others (6 total), PLUS Darby Crash, online “The Spirit of ‘77″October, 2007.
2. Swindle’s second ICON issue, Blondie, Fall, 2007.
3. Swindle, four Germs photos (including Table of Contents), Fall, 2007. ALL vintage Germs photos are mine.
4. 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.
5. Garage Magazine, Jenny Lens photo spread, Spring, 2007.
6. Spin, Germs, 2006.
7. URB, July 2006 cover blurb and 8 interior pages.
8. Rolling Stone, Italy, Darby Crash, Germs, 2006.
9. MOJO, July, 2005.
10. Swindle’s first ICON issue, Exene Cervenka/X, 2006.
11. Punk Rock Confidential cover story, 2006.
12. Razorcake, 2005.
13. Details
14. Rock City
15. 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!

A Partial List of Recent CDs with my Photos (1993 - to Present)

1993	(MIA): The Complete Anthology (Slash and 2001 Rhino reissue)	The Germs
1993	D.I.Y.: We’re Desperate (1976-79) front and back covers, inside	Various Artists
1993	D.I.Y.: Anarchy in the UK: UK Punk I (1976-77), Rhino	Various Artists
1993	D.I.Y.: Shake It Up: American Power Pop II (1978-80), Rhino, COVER SHOT.	Various Artists
1993	D.I.Y.: The Modern World: UK Punk II (1977-78), Rhino	Various Artists
1993	Faster & Louder: Hardcore Punk, Vol. 1, Rhino	Various Artists
1993	Faster & Louder: Hardcore Punk, Vol. 2, Rhino	Various Artists
1994	Live from the Masque 1978, Vol. 1	Various Artists
1996	Just Can’t Get Enough: New Wave Christmas, Rhino	Various Artists
1996	Live From the Masque, Vol. 1: Forming MY COVER PHOTO and many more.	Various Artists
1996	Live From the Masque, Vol. 2: We We Can Can Do Do What We Wanna Do MY COVER PHOTO and many more.	Various Artists
1996	Live From the Masque, Vol. 3: Dicks Fight blanks Hate MY COVER PHOTO and many more.	Various Artists
1997	Beyond & Back: The X Anthology, Elektra	X
1997	Just Can’t Get Enough: New Wave Women, Rhino	Various Artists
1999	Hey! Ho! Let’s Go, The Anthology, Ramones, Rhino	Ramones
2002	Loud, Fast Ramones: Their Toughest Hits, Rhino	The Ramones
2003	No Thanks! The ’70s Punk Rebellion, Rhino	Various Artists
2005	Children of Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the Second Psychedelic Era - 1976-1996, Rhino	Various Artists
2005	How I Saved the World	Mumps
2005	Screamers, pink bootleg cover shot and interior shots.	Screamers

Earlier Recordings/Releases:
Dickies back cover of “Sounds of Silence.”
20/20, Bomp.
Simpletones, Post Boy.
Extremes.
Germs, Slash release.
Johnny Rotten and Joan Jett picture disc (bootlegged, I’ve never seen it).

Japan:
Rolling Stones, for "Coming Home" soundtrack.
Crystal Gayle.

Ramones bootleg cover.
Ramones, Mumps and Screamers fan club flyers.

Publications, starting in 1976:
— Fanzines which predated Slash, like New York Rocker, Back Door Man and Lisa Fancher’s Street Life, then Pleasant’s Lobotomy, Search and Destroy (San Francisco) and Twisted (Seattle)
— Magazines like Bomp, Creem (the most important rock mag of its day), Rolling Stone, Hit Parader and Rock Scene (both from rock writer Lisa Robinson), People, Playboy and Oui (part of the Playboy empire),
— Music industry mags like Billboard, Cashbox, Radio and Records, Phonograph and Record World.
— British mags like Sounds, New Musical Express, Melody Maker and Trouser Press.
— National papers like Village Voice and Women’s Wear Daily.
— International like Rock Show (very important Japanese magazine), Goro (also Japan), Frezeit (Germany), Music Express (Dutch), Conecto (Mexico), I Wanna Be Your Dog (French).

Exhibits:
I’ve turned down more one women shows than most people are offered due to cost. See Exhibits link for upcoming shows. Although I have art degrees (BA Art, CSUN and MFA Design, Cal Arts, computer graphics cert from UCLA Ext, ABA paralegal cert from UCLA Ext, and various courses that add up to 12 years of college and tons of college loans still paying off), I have made no attempt at grants nor exhibits. Now I wish I had time to pursue this!

1. Strange Beasts, Emily the Strange collaboration,, 111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco, press release, September, 2007.
2. “Gift for the Screamers,” RAID Gallery, The Brewery, LA. 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.
3. Eastside Studios LA, December 1, 2006 - January 27, 2007.
4. “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Root Division, San Francisco, September 9, 2006 .
5. “I Do Adore,” Subliminal Projects, December, 2005.
6. Subliminal Projects was created by artists Shepard Fairey and Blaze Blouin in 1995, as an artist collective.
7. “Project: Vice,” October 2005.
8. “The Hive,” May 2005.
9. “Forming,” Track 16, April, 1999.

Education FYI: I earned a 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), plus a few more years in college, 11 or 12 total, a few more professional certificates, plus years of computer classes at major conferences, plus I taught computer programs at various colleges/universities/training centers/conferences.

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 photos.

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