Punk Turns 30

There's a new read in town that will, pardon the pun, which is intended - SLAKE your cultural thirst. It's called SLAKE. From their website, here's a little bit about them: This summer, a fresh voice takes root in Los Angeles with the debut of SLAKE , a new quarterly journal co-founded by former L.A. Weekly editors Laurie Ochoa and Joe Donnelly. SLAKE is devoted to the endangered art of deeply reported narrative journalism and the kind of polished essay, memoir, fiction, poetry and portrait writing that is disappearing in a world of instant takes and unfiltered opinion. SLAKE marks a return to storytelling. Designed with an artist’s eye and published in a full-color, perfect-bound format, SLAKE sets a new template for the next generation of print publications — collectible, not disposable; destined for the bedside table instead of the recycling bin; and so seductive in its looks and content that readers will find it irresistible. Online, SLAKE stories will be...

Every time I get ready to take Punk Turns 30 on the road, I go through this process of trying to figure out what images people want to see in person. This shot of the Cramps has been a favorite of both friends and strangers for almost 30 years, and those of you in cities where we will be showing for the first time (Oxford, MS, for instance) will get your chance to see this up close and personal. Its definitely one of my 'Greatest Hits.' Punk Turns 30's first tour date is October 25 in Oxford, MS at the One Night Stand at the Ole Miss Motel event, organized by the artist, Erin Abbott, who created this cool parking lot party/one-night art show and is taking that phenomenon on the road herself! This is a link to the story of the first One Night Stand. To take advantage of the motel setting, Punk Turns 30 will be showing a collection of photos taken in the World Famous Tropicana Motel, the favorite of all the indie and punk rock bands that came through Los Angeles while t...

Pleasant and I read all the UK music weeklies and fanzines and its no secret that she was rather taken with Billy Idol and we both were fascinated by the Bromley Contingent for their notoriety based on nothing more than their own personalities....not unlike our friends Lance Loud and Kristian Hoffman of Mumps. Thanks to the very first reality television ever, PBS's "An American Family," Lance Loud was famous simply for being Lance Loud. In this photo, taken in the alley/drive way/parking lot in between the main structure and bungalows of the erstwhile Tropicana Motel on Santa Monica Blvd., Pleasant and Mumps Kevin Kiely and Rob duPrey posed in their own version of those NME and Melody Maker photos of the Bromley Contingent. Mumps were spending months in Los Angeles to make a record and look for a deal. They were recording nights at the Beach Boys studio in Santa Monica - Brothers Studio. What a swank place! Gold records all over the walls and all the usual...