Punk Turns 30

jimmy8A , originally uploaded by Cool Auntie . I saw Cheetah Chrome the other day in Nashville. I was so happy he and his family came to my photo exhibit opening. We took some pix but I'm traveling so they're not yet developed. You'll see them next week. But it brings me back to my beloved Dead Boys. Here's Jimmy Zero, whose pop sensibility balanced Cheetah's punk fury. This is Jimmy Zero today... still in Cleveland, and happy to be there - rocking still and being the godfather figure to young bands who are looking for a producer or songwriter from the golden age to mentor them. Cheetah's in Nashville, also still playing on his own and with Rocket From the Tombs. The remaining Dead Boys will be in NYC at the end of the summer for a blow out at CBGB, and yours truly will be doing a show of CBGB's all-stars somewhere in the city as well. So what are we gonna do.... as the punk genre proves its staying power some 30+ years on? Let us keep p...

Jeffrey Lee Pierce, 1980 , originally uploaded by Theresa K . This innocent and shy fellow is indeed the master of dark, chaotic punk blues madness, Gun Club founder, Jeffrey Lee Pierce. I noticed today that this portrait of Jeffrey, that is also posted on my website of male rock portraits, The Female Gaze, received a ton of visits from around the world. I just wanted to share this image of Jeffrey with you again... I guess there is a demand. This photo was taken backstage at the Whisky A Go Go around 1979/80. It was a B-Girls show and everyone in LA was there. There are even some backstage photos from this night in the book, "Platinum Blonde" by Cathay Che - it is the biography of Deborah Harry. Its been published in the US and UK and is available in paperback too, if you are interested in the story of Debbie and Blondie. When I get back to NYC from my travels, I'll dig up some B-Girls photos for you, and much more Blondie too. buy this photo

Lance & the Crocodile Tears dance , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Lance Loud seen here doing his "Crocodile Tears" dance. His arms are the jaws of the Crocodile. This was shot in 1977 at the Starwood in West Hollywood, a club that is no longer in existence. In its places is a strip mall (same unfortunate fate for the Tropicana Motel ). I'm absolutely loving the fact there is a Mumps DVD! If you missed the excitement that was Mumps - and chances are if you're under 40, you did, then by all means, run to your nearest record store and pick up "How I Saved the World" for a treasure trove of Mumps gems, including a DVD! I was just checking out the new Mumps website -- where you can coincidentally see a couple of my pix-- and I have to encourage you to visit that as well. So many memories ... There's a lovely color photo of Kristian Hoffman with Lance's sister, Michelle Loud in Brother Studios, which as all music fans knows i...

Thank you Nashville, indeed. Thank you Grimey's and Mike Grimes and Doyle Davis, and thank you The Basement and a big thank you to the Reigning Sound, and Greg Cartwright, who have indulged my passion for their music all year long, including their show on my birthday in Cleveland, the Horizontal Action Blackout in Chicago where we warmed the merch table together and now in Nashville, where they helped me celebrate something once again. Thank you Nashville Scene for the nice words about my work. Thanks for printing my fave image of Dee Dee and Stiv. I just wanted to say that if you aren't in Nashville and can't make it to Grimey's to see the photos, and if you want to buy one, quite a lot of the photos that are hanging up at Grimey's right now are also available in my Online Store. Including the one below: Thanks to Dave's friend Catherine's friend from Louisville for asking... I am reminded that yes, you can get these color pix at consumer pric...

billnolan , originally uploaded by Cool Auntie . This guy is Bill Nolan. He's one of the owners of the Ding Dong Lounge in New York City. Its on Columbus Avenue, between 105 and 106 Streets in a neighborhood called Manhattan Valley. Bill and his biz partner, Steve Naidich love music, love punk rock and put their money where their mouths are -- since the bar opened four years ago, they've hosted a bevy of pure punk rock shows in the intimate, dark space - a space where rock n roll simply belongs. Its the kind of place that downtown NYC used to be like, before gentrification started the domino effect of NYC losing its beloved rock n roll hang-outs. More on that later... The Ding Dong Lounge has hosted some of the finest purveyors of punk: The Lyres, DMZ, Real Kids, Lazy Cowgirls, Cosmic Psychos, Demolition Dollrods, The Raunch Hands, Cheater Slicks, Kid Congo Powers, Wetback, The Bamboo Kids, and most recently, The Saints. But while rock n roll is thriving uptow...

Stiv Icon , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Last night after my photo show opening in Nashville, as a group of us were waiting to hear The Reigning Sound perform, the conversation came around to The Dead Boys. Because I realy have no critical distance where they are concerned, I really have no idea just how far and wide and deep their influence is. I wish Cheetah Chrome had been around at that hour to hear it - he was by earlier in the day with his baby, Rogan. The Dead Boys were an everyman's band. A bunch of bonafide, scruffy punks from a "no future" town in the Rust Belt - Youngstown, OH. They burst out of there with their love for music, ranging from garage to glam, and like the New York Dolls, smeared a sneer and dirt all over the glam and rocked it like there was no tomorrow. The remaining Dead Boys will be getting together to pay tribute to CBGB at the end of August - at CBGB. The venue that gave the world its most influential rock n roll of...

Bob Dylan 1974 , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Bob Dylan in a classic sunglasses indoors shot... sat behind me at a concert at the Forum in LA in 1974... What is he doing here with all these punk rockers? Without guys like Dylan, who kicked down cultural doors because they could.... because they had to, none of the renegade, outlaw, iconoclastic music we know and love today would be possible. Especially punk rock. Dylan gave us a whole new poetry, and by his doing so, made it safe for the likes of Joe Strummer and Billy Bragg (both of whom evoke the Woody Guthrie "music-as-agitprop" agenda and brandish an anti fascist message on their guitars...a la Woody) I am unveiling an 18x24 poster print of this shot at The Basement in Nashville tonight... site of the big rock n roll dance party after my Punk Turns 30 photo opening at Grimey's. If you are in Nashville, you should not miss the rock show. Its the Reigning Sound, my favorite band... and opening...

Jett Idol , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Billy Idol, the hardest working man in show biz today, will be appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Thursday night. That's tomorrow, June 23. The show airs at 12:05 AM (technically, that's Friday morning - BUT in the Central Time Zone, the show is on at 11:05 PM.. meaning its still Thursday) on the ABC television network. If you can't be home or stay up for this, set your Tivo, VCR or what have you. Billy's fans and the nice people who run his website have been so supportive of this site with all their links and spreading of the punk word. THANKS! For you - more Billy:

Jeffrey Lee Pierce, 1980 , originally uploaded by Theresa K . As I've been putting together the photos that will be exhibited at Grimey's in Nashville this Friday, June 24.. I've noticed a naturally occuring Portrait Gallery. Here's the almost-innocent-looking Jeffrey Lee Pierce, which you can see at Grimey's if you're in Nashville this weekend, and here's the beautiful Patricia Morrison of The Bags and Gun Club as well as Sisters of Mercy and The Damned, with whom she now plays along side her husband, Dave Vanian, the man who I think made Goth safe for punks. Otherwise, how could you have ever seen Stiv Bators do this: Considering Stiv, he would have done it without any encouragement from the Damned. Did I ever share this funny story about when Stiv and I were in this habit of having an early dinner at the London Tex-Mex restaurant Cafe Pacifico? This was during the mid-80's when Stiv and I were roommates with Michael Monroe of Hanoi...

bass29 , originally uploaded by Cool Auntie . Last night, I was out at Trash Bar in Brooklyn to see a great line up of current garage-punk bands. Sad to say, I missed The Demands, fronted by my friend Jahna, who was definitely living up to the Lust part of the band's "Lust Mayhem and really loud guitars" motto. I was instead across the street at a computer-user-friendly cafe, trying to connect to the web with my new wireless connection so that Carol Schumacher of the Tough and Lovely could check her email. Her man, Jim plays in the New Bomb Turks who are now on tour in Europe. That's the band fronted by my neighbor, Eric Davidson. The band hails from Columbus, OH, as does the Tough and Lovely. I did see Ghetto Ways, who I missed when they opened for the Dirtbombs a month ago. They are all fierce with attitude - most of it comedic, and more importantly, play fast and loud. The Tough and Lovely turned out a searing R&B inflected set of the re...

Plimsouls-jump , originally uploaded by Cool Auntie . Great News! The Plimsouls will be touring this summer! Peter Case, Eddie Munoz, Dave Pahoa, all original members will tour with a new drummer. Back in the day, the Plimsouls put on a show that was equal parts Little Richard fervor and your favorite late night radio show playing oldies, chestnuts and obsure treasures. Peter has never stopped working. He's a solo artist as well as a producer and you will be hearing a lot from him this year. If you ever wondered why people bother with hearing music in the crowded, often-smoky night clubs ... catch the Plimsouls live and learn why. This band is unstoppable. And then they give you more.

tkDH3 , originally uploaded by Cool Auntie . Blondie's Debbie Harry had quite a back-story. She rose up from modest beginnings and the struggles of low-paying jobs and dues-paying gigs to become an internationally renown and respected performer and icon with staying power. She inspired loads of women during the 70s and 80s to front bands and proudly assert themselves in all their rock chick glory. Other women chose the "muse" route. The character of "Penny Lane" in Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous reminds us of Sabel Starr. Of course, "Penny" is likely an amalgam, but she has a lot of Sabel's personal idiosyncracies. Here she is with Stiv Bators. I've noticed that a lot of readers come to this site via Google searches for Sabel Starr. I guess I'll have to print more photos of her for you. Like "Penny Lane," Sabel was a scene maker and muse to many musicians. She probably had her heart broken as many times as she...

I'm repeating this colorful pic of Dee Dee Ramone and Stiv Bators because I've received so many notes from readers saying how much they love and miss Dee Dee. Me too. So - no story, no nothing. Two dead boys. One Dead Boy, one Dead Boy's best pal. Rest in peace? Rock on!

Dee Dee Ramone. I just loved him. He was a handful of trouble, but he captured the spirit of something wild. I'm glad he was still around when the Ramones got inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. Dee Dee wrote some great songs and I'm glad the establishment figured that out while he was still alive. This image of Dee Dee will be in my upcoming exhibit at Grimey's in Nashville. We'll be having an opening party, shindig, beer bust (or "reception" for you proper art heads)from 6-8 PM on Friday, June 24. When the store closes, the party will move downstairs to The Basement where there will be more photos in poster size and a rock show featuring the Reigning Sound and Nashville's own Clutters. See you in Music City.

You drive me ape, you big gorilla! This is Leonard of the Dickies, and that's Stan Lee's back toward you. This photo was taken on my birthday in 1978 - April 14. The Dickies opened for The Jam at the now-defunct Starwood, which was located on the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. and Crescent Heights in West Hollywood, CA. Leonard is on crutches because some night earlier in the week, he leaped from the balcony of the Starwood on to the stage and broke his leg or his foot or both. I've also got shots of him in a wheelchair. No, Leonard was not deterred from his wacky and chaotic antics by this injury. The Dickies were like cartoon characters and put on a silly show at full speed. Leonard has one of those voices that sounds like he sucked on a helium balloon. Well, he can do one of those voices at any rate. The Eyes opened the bill. Charlotte Caffey, who would later be a Go-Go was in the Eyes and she and Leonard were an item too! There are so many Dickies stories...

Billy Idol in Hollywood , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Billy Idol recorded two great albums with Generation X but the masses discovered him with a solo record and single - "Hot in the City." When I saw Billy perform at NYC's Beacon Theatre last month, he introduced this as a song he wrote while living here. It is summer though the Summer Soltice has not yet occurred. NYC is hot as can be... and humid. I just thought it was a fitting way to describe the day. This photo of Billy was taken during his first trip to LA. This is the newstand on Cahuenga Blvd. where you can buy foreign magazines and newspapers. The girls clearly knew Billy was "somebody" but I'm probably going to put money on them not knowing a thing about Generation X, or that Billy would be a big pop star in a few years. In many ways, Billy's first trip to LA reminded me of the Beatles movie A Hard Day's Night, the girls, the promotional appearances, the older En...

Stiv Plugged in , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Stiv Bators was an important artist early on in the punk years. The Dead Boys totally personified what a lot of the UK punk ethos was about - escaping the "no future" hometown, busting out and having your say your way. The Dead Boys also projected an outlaw, devil may care and total miscreant persona. Their album titles "Young, Loud and Snotty" and "We Have Come for Your Children" just about say it all without explanation. The poses they struck for the camera are cemented in a collective memory of punk rock, young as it is... those poses also personify the Sex Pistols coda, "and we don't care" so much more than any other images from early on. This photo is from Stiv's solo years, and was taken during the recording for "Disconnected." Bomp has used it for years as Stiv's PR and promo picture. Come to one of my exhibits and see it all blown up!

Tom Potter , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Tom Potter, late of Bantam Rooster, Dirtbombs, and Detroit City Council is another one of those "most valuable player" types. Though lumped into the Detroit garage scene, this guitar playing noise-maker fits fluidly into any sort of musical landscape. Bantam Rooster was a noisy guitar and drums outfit, totally punky - two people, no bass (sound familiar?)... and Potter's musical contributions to the Dirtbombs on fuzz baritone were outshined only by his hysterical stage presence (a true bad boy!!). As Detroit City Council's frontman, he had the wherewithall to actually have Black men in his Detroit funk band....one of my favorite off the wall Tom Potter contributions is on Troy Gregory's solo album, "Sybil" on the track "Lice Cots and Rabies Shots." Punk doesn't have to be vintage to be great. Tom Potter was a child when punk emerged, but it must have sunk in while he was gro...

Yeah - I'm having another photo exhibit. This time, I'm splitting up the photos between a record store and a nightclub, all at the same address. If you're in Nashville, you can stop by Grimey's on June 24 and anytime after that for a little while and check out my vintage punk photos. Also, in their venue, The Basement, I'm leaving some poster prints of vintage punks as a permanent installation. The reason I like to show at record stores is that people who buy records actually know who the subjects of my photos are! Same with nightclubs. This weekend would be a great weekend to buy records. Go cash that check you got on Friday and pick up some of the great records that were released this week and buy them from the vendors who are listed over there under the Buy Records link on the right. Don't you just wonder what records Howlin' Pelle and Greg Cartwright bought here? If they were shopping this weekend, they might pick up The Dirtbombs "If Y...

Dee Dee & Stiv , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Two Dead Boys. I miss them, Dee Dee Ramone and Stiv Bators. Back in 1979/80, The Ramones took us around as support for one of their many tours - Stiv & crew, which often included me at that point in time. The Wanderers opened for the Ramones at the Palladium (it too is gone. In its footprint is a dorm for NYU students). At the time, I was totally in awe of the Ramones, still... even though I'd seen them a million times. Joey was always taller than I remembered, Johnny more business-like, but Dee Dee was the friendly one - at least to me. That smile and those cheekbones! I thought he was so incredibly photogenic. He's the Ramone I photographed the most - though not on stage that much. Here, Dee Dee was in LA when Stiv was. Stiv was recording "Disconnected" when this photo was taken. The band for this show was the band that had previously toured with Stiv as the Dead Boys, although only...

Idol shopping , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Billy Idol is not just back - it's like he never left! I saw Billy live recently and boy did he look and sound great. Had the crowd on its feet for the duration of his long, hit-filled set. As I promised weeks ago, here's the first of uncovered vintage photos of Billy from his first trip to Los Angeles. It was 1978, and probably May of that month. In between promoting the Generation X record for Chrysalis, Billy fit in some sight-seeing and shopping. Here he is on Hollywood Blvd. A big shout out to everyone who visits Billy Idol dot com. Thanks a bunch for visiting this website and coming back. More photos of Billy 78 are coming! If you live in the Nashville area, stop by Grimey's New and Preloved Music to see some of these photos up close. Stick around for the show in the Basement that night because my favorite current band, The Reigning Sound, will be playing. Songwriter Greg Cartwright has a real pun...

Johnny Ramone , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Were you wondering if I was just a total Joey fan? No... I love all The Ramones, including Arturo Vega, the man behind the "look," who you never see, but whose work you know you love. Here's Johnny, and his Mosrite guitar and comic book character t-shirt. Absolutely iconic Johnny Ramone. Don't know what more I can say, except this pic is from February 16, 1977, Whisky A Go Go. Just enjoy the photo! Online Store Update I've uploaded a couple new images to the Online Store -- They are of Dee Dee Ramone alone, and Dee Dee with Stiv Bators. I sold out of these images recently at shows where I was selling them - but now, you'll be able to get them - until October 1, at any rate. They're Talking About Punk Turns 30 Out there! I caught this on Google - some banter about this site. Its the Punk77.uk board. Seems like some Brit does not think the Ramones are all that! tsk tsk... check it out: ...

David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain are "Funky But Chic" here in 1978. The NY Dolls had called it a day and David was on his own. Sylvain joined him on his eponymous solo album and on the tours that supported it. The band that played on David's solo albums included New York rockers Thomas Trask, Johnny Rao, and the late Frankie LaRocka. They played a fair share of Dolls material live, and carried the torch that kept the punk flame burning. I trace punk's roots directly to the New York Dolls and their execution of rock n roll. It was a little bit glam and a lot garage with bad-ass attitude and a clear love of the seminal bad-asses who came before.... like Bo Diddley. The NY Dolls version of his "Pills" combines the best white boy trash with the already iconic trash version of rock that Bo had been brewing up ever since he picked up that square guitar. Outlaws and misfits all.... I think you can draw the line from guys like Bo Diddley through the NY Dolls...

Iggy-Green , originally uploaded by Cool Auntie . Thirty-six years after busting out of Ann Arbor, MI with the Stooges, Iggy is gonna release a comprehensive compilation record with all the tracks you love in one set. There will also be a DVD. Have you seen Iggy live? Of course, you're looking at a photo I took, so you know I did. I feel fortunate to have photographic souvenirs from those shows I saw. Back in 1977, no one stopped you from bringing a camera into a concert. I had seats in the third row for this concert at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. David Bowie was in Iggy's band (on keyboards), along with Soupy Sale's sons, Hunt and Tony. The Sales men are from Michigan too. Have you ever tried to stand on a folding chair when a crowd is moving in waves around you? Wonder anything was in focus. Actually, a lot of the pix I took when I saw Iggy in San Francisco the night before were kinda blurry. This summer, fans in Europe can see the live phen...

The Pizazz , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Some of the best music and scenes are happening under the radar. You always knew that. It doesn't have to have national attention to be good. These fresh faces are The Pizzaz from Detroit. I saw them at Small's in Hamtramck this past January. They reminded me of the Modern Lovers or Talking Heads. It occured to me that I should send their demo to Jerry Harrison, but thought that might be too obvious. On the opposite end of the spectrum, a band carrying on with the blatant sexuality of The Slits and the early punk version of the Go Go's (the ones we saw before they were signed and dolled up) are The Demands, which used to be two gals and two guys, as pictured here: Now, they're three, with Jahna (in the red t-shirt) fronting this band that boasts of lust, mayhem and really loud guitars. That's pretty punk... Do you remember the British pub rock scene that preceded the onslaught of great punk record...