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"Another person who was massively
talented, and is sitting on a goldmine of historic photos, is
Jenny Lens. She was out every night, she shot EVERYONE. Great
live shots and also candid stuff at parties. She should do a
book - or a few. She has plenty of material! Pleasant
Gehman" http://alicebag.com/pleasant_gehman_interview.htmlFrom
from Peter Case of the Plimsouls, Nerves and solo career:
"Thanks a lot for showing me these shots the other day...they're
really great!...I'm impressed by your archives.
Thanks again for the shots, showing 'em, shootin' em! It really
is a piece of history you've got there. best Peter"
Alice Bag's "Women in LA Punk" Interview Section:
"I had the good fortune to have as
my first interview Ms. Jenny Lens, the
legendary punk photographer who shot some of the most iconic
images of Patti Smith, The Ramones, The Screamers and so many
others. I've considered Jenny a friend for well over
twenty years now and believe me when I say that the
stories she shares in her interview are not even the tip of
the iceberg.
She is one of the unsung heroines of the
movement. Enjoy! Alice." http://alicebag.com/jennylensinterview.html
Responses to my Inteview
for Alice Bag:
November 19, 2004
Jenny -
First of all, adjectives: this is beautiful, poignant,
true. Like all my favorite writing what you share here
is honest, born of experience – both painful and
joyful — and intelligent. It’s wonderful
to read, and important to get out into the world. It’s your
own perspective on the LA punk experience and it’s better
than 99% of what I’ve seen in print on the subject. Not
that writing is a competitive pursuit, I’m just trying to
say that I like it more and I think you did a better job
than most of the writers who’ve written on the subject matter.
My faves to date are, have to agree with Jade on this one, Craig
Lee in Hardcore California, Shredder in HC California (and everything
else he writes!), Pleasant Gehman in the liner notes to
the LA installment of the Rhino DIY series and
the Germs MIA, [I have photos in both] and . . . well
that might be it really. I always like Al Flipside’s writing,
too. Of course Kick Boy is still LA punk’s ultimate
scribe as far as I’m concerned. [no one can match
Kick Boy!! jenny]
David Jones
What a wonderful
exciting fun filled interview. Your enthusiasm is completely contagious,
and you brought back so many memories to me of my own punk adventures!
And how great of Alice to include it in her website.
Bush may have me weeping, but you guys have me laughing and excited
— which is remarkable for a coot like me! Thanks! And thanks
for the sweet mention of me and my music — finally
someone put me in the company of all those bands I adore!
I can’t wait for the huge glossy coffee table book
some on is obviously going to have to make of your legacy
— the most important photographer of the punk era!
XOX Kristian, www.kristianhoffman.com
Thank you both for the
insightful interview... I’ve passed it
on to a few people. Jenny, you are so full of surprises...
someday you are going to have to write that book. I’ll
never be able to look at Iggy Pop the same way again!
Mark Vallen, www.art-for-a-change.com
Thank you for forwarding
your thoughtful interview...really great
stuff... Another thing that we [you and I] had in common...hatred
of Farrah F.M. [Farrah Faucet Minor, "she had to leave Los
Angeles . . ."]. She tortured me constantly because I refered
to her as a Dumb Blonde Groupie in a piece I wrote...what white
trash . . . like you, the day she left town was one of the happiest
in my life. I was at the Whiskey the night she picked that fight
with the Dictator’s girlfriend...what a piece of work...I
NEVER understood what K.K. saw in her.....
Alice looks amazing!
Thanks for the mention...also Natasha was one of my group of friends...we
actually brought her into the scene.
[I loved shooting red-headed Natasha, always so sweet and quiet.
jenny]
Jade Zebest aka Sue Langland, creator of early fanzine "Generation
X." AWESOME INTERVIEW!!!!!!
Jacqui Knapp,www.knapptime.com
Random Emails:
Hi Jenny,
I was just back on your site checking out
Masque and X pics-amazing. I was too young for the masque but
I did go there once for a one off show with the mau-maus, must
have been early 1979, I was in a teenage daze. I used to love
X too. Those masque pics look amazing, I
want to see them large and the details and all the faces.
I'll have to wait for your show. More later,Patrick
Hi Jenny,
I found your name on a photograph in the Ramones Anthology double
CD, it's a live shot of the Ramones on stage and I think it
encapsulates in one shot what all live music (not just but especially)
the Ramones is all about. Mark
Hey Jenny,
It was great to meet you. That's great, I think you should really
do a show. It's a great opportunity to make some money so think
prints, large and small all different prices. Make a lot of
affordable stuff too. Put your photos
on merch like coffee mugs and mouse pads etc. see you
around. D [artist plasticfucker]
Dear Jenny - Hiya - I am a freelance writer
and musician living in San Francisco, who just recently discovered
your fantastic online resource of photos and anecdotes from
back in the punk-rock days. I was a teenager at that time, living
in the Maryland suburbs outside WDC, but
I clearly remember your definitive photos in mags like Creem
and on book covers even now. (All together now: 'I remember
you...ooh-ooh...') Fantastic, fascinating,
memory-rattling stuff indeed.
Wow thanks jenny,
what great pictures, I think at least half those people
are dead, thank you.
Bruce Barf, Masque MC
Please add me to your e-mail update list.
Thanks, I could stand to relive my youth
:).
Thanks, Maureen, Universal Studios
First of all let me just say you are (in
my opinion) the greatest photographer
ever. You have captured my favorite thing in the whole world
and trapped it in time. Thank god you were there to take pictures,
because its basically all gone and those pictures are the only
place it still exists. When I saw the pictures of the
masque on your website I almost had an aneurysm. Never
before have I seen this much of a glimpse into what happened.
That basement is one of the most beautiful things I have ever
seen, and those pictures are from when it actually was going
on wich makes them fucking transcendental. Anyways, I
would like to buy a print of damn near every picture you have
of the masque, some 11x14, some 16x20, I dont have alot of money
so I would buy them one by one(if thats possible) over time.
Joel
I haven't had a chance to thoroughly check out your site yet,
but what I have seen is great.
Thanks for the site, Bill
Love your website!
looking forward to seeing photos of X & The Go-Go's that
you took!!! Jeff in Ohio
Hi Jenny, I love the
old picture of me with that fantastic green sharkskin suit.
Thanks and hope you are well, Paul [Mumps]
It was great to meet you at the project:
gallery last Friday. I sent your website addy to a bunch of
friends...needless to say they were all blown away. Like
I said, I've seen many of your photos
over the years. Thanks again, and looking
forward to seeing your work in all its full frame glory!
Best, Daniel
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