Punk Turns 30

David Quinton & Thom Wilson , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Two men who came away from the Stiv Bators experience both unscathed and successful are David "Quiton" Steinberg and Thom Wilson. Here they are behind the control board during the recording of "Disconnected." After years of Stiv-inspired shenanigans, David went to law school and is now a much-in-demand entertainment lawyer in Canada. I don't know if its payback, or if its his way of giving back. David was always the sensible one, even though he was just 18 when he was in a band with Stiv. Thom Wilson, who produced "Disconnected" has produced Madonna, the Offspring and recently, Abba. Yes.... after punk, you can do just about anything. Anything you want!

no war30 , originally uploaded by Cool Auntie . Saturday morning, crack of dawn the morning after a rock show night... a sure sign you're getting old is that you wake up early or at least on time to get things done. Just when I thought I was the only one awake, an email from Margaret & Wayne Kramer is delivered. The MC5, the Detroit proto-punk-as-agitprop rock band born in the '60s, is playing a free show in Central Park today. Margaret and Wayne sent a reminder and a nice note that there are guest passes. That means possibly a bleacher seat, and better, shelter from the bright sunlight!! Another sign you're getting old: you want to sit down at general admission shows. Not the Five though! Those guys, Wayne Kramer, Mike Davis, and Dennis Thompson are in better fighting shape than kids half their age. The MC5's modus operandi, in addition to kicking out the jams, was to agitate. Not unlike Woody Guthrie before them, or The Clash many years later. Like religion,...

Iggy-Green , originally uploaded by Cool Auntie . We are saddened to learn of the death of Art Collins, who among many other things, managed Iggy Pop. (pictured above) I met Art when he was the head honcho of Rolling Stones Records during the band's 1982 tour. He treated me kindly and with respect even though I was a smart ass 25 year old who boldly said the band sucked if it did. What Art really did was help keep our punk godfather, Iggy going when nothing was going on. Among other things, he arranged for Iggy's music to be used in film and television, providing a very much needed income for Mr. Osterberg during a down time. It also helped put him back on the map and now he's back, bigger and more respected than ever. Art never clamored for the spotlight. He just worked hard. He was one of the last honest men. I will miss him. Hits Magazine wrote this today: ONE OF THE GOOD ONES IS GONE: We’re greatly saddened to report that longtime music industry pro Art...

John Nash , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Well, how else was I gonna get your attention without a strange title like that? This is Johnny Na$hinal, who does double duty in Detroit's glam punk space rock psycho bubble gum no-way-to-describe-them Witches and the outrageous Electric Six. (You know their hit song, "Gay Bar.") Photo taken while the Witches recorded "Thriller" at the gritty Ghetto Recorders in Detroit. This man can play anything on guitar. He can sound like Jimmy Page or Chris Spedding, Steve Jones or Johnny Ramone, but mostly Na$h plays the right guitar for the moment and the song. You can download the Witches album, "Thriller" directly from their website for a donation of your choice. If this technology was available in the 70s... just think of what we could have had! A lot of cool regional bands could have garnered worldwideweb attention. Anyway, we have it now. I highly recommend the album. Head Witch, Troy Greg...

Debbie Harry - X-Offender , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Not that I keep an eye on my statistics...but I do! Seems that this photo of Debbie Harry is the new favorite photo of people who come on down to check out the archive. If you like it, you can buy this photo by clicking over to the online store. Folks in Memphis this coming September who are going to Goner Fest will get a chance to see this "in the flesh" or at least in the gelatin silver.... Try to stay cool today. Today in NYC, it is supposed to be hotter than hell.

DJ Ribeye Neil , originally uploaded by Theresa K . The other night, I went to see a couple bands... the first band was rocking, smokin and punk'd out. The second band was quite a mismatch for this gig and they were hampered by being unable to hear themselves in the monitors. In fact, during the second band's set, just about everyone inside went outside - to smoke, to hang out, to not hear the band. It was a bummer. For the band; for the audience. After this band's set, the DJ saved the night from being one where you go home disappointed. His first song after this set of mismatches? "Holiday in the Sun" by the Sex Pistols. That drum beat and guitar riff at the beginning was like a musical defibrillator. From then on, it was 1977-78 punk rock all the way, with some good old soul thrown in for an earthy groove now and again as well as the pop refreshment of Blondie and the Pretenders in the mix. Who was this magical life saving DJ? Neil O'Brien, ...

Stiv Bators Live , originally uploaded by Theresa K . So, in honor of Sir Mick turning 62 years old (hey... we can count, Mick!), I thought I would tell you a story about the first time Stiv Bators encountered Mick. Don't you think they have a lot in common? They are the wiry lead singers of bands that defined a generation. They have a reputation for being bad boys as well as ladies men and both can claim having had some kind of relationship with Bebe Buell. The Dead Boys covered "Tell Me," a Jagger-Richards composition on their second album, "We Have Come For Your Children." While Jimmy Zero tells this story way better than I ever could, I'm going to tell you anyway. When you see Jimmy, make sure to ask him about this, because he will make you laugh. New York City, some posh event, a movie premier or record release party - and both the Dead Boys and Mick Jagger are in attendance. Even among professional musicians, Mick has many fans, and ...

west side market, cleveland, ohio , originally uploaded by Theresa K . This is inside the West Side Market in Cleveland, the oldest such market in the USA, I believe (the kind with many vendor stalls ranging from bakery goods to fresh veggies, etc). I snapped this obviously because the bakery's got my name, and its next to Jim's Meats. Inside joke. The participants got it, but you don't have to. Anyway... this gives me an opportunity to tell you about food and my next exhibit all in one fell swoop... My next exhibit is at the Goner Records store in Memphis, TN during their Goner Fest II, which takes place from September 22 - 25, 2005. There will be a Photo Reception in the store (2152 Young Ave.) on Friday, September 23 at 6 PM with a hot dog cookout. When Goner Records founder Eric Oblivian sent me that info, I was pretty excited to be feted with hot dogs. In the pantheon of my favorite foods, hot dogs are. Eric and I just traded emails about hot dogs, and ...

Stiv in the studio , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Stiv Bators in a quiet moment, in the vocal booth at a studio in Sun Valley ("where's the sun?" they always asked; every day) recording his solo album, "Disconnected." Despite the chaos and mayhem Stiv, The Dead Boys, or any of this bands displayed onstage, they did stop the madness momentarily to commit sounds to tape, for your ultimate vinyl listening pleasure. Not that any recording session with Stiv & crew was calm or boring business as usual... there were always hijinx. Just one look comparing my studio photo for a record cover, versus David Arnoff's unique candid shot, you can tell there was never a dull moment: The image on the left is one of my shots. Greg Shaw asked me to bring all my studio stuff (lights, backdrops) into the recording studio and take some suitable album cover shots. And I did. We basically moved into the studio anyway. We got a lot of great pictures during ...

I get enough email asking about any upcoming dates for the sporadic Plimsouls reunion. More than anyone, I'd love another chance to see this great live band play together again. Best response I've ever been able to give is: "All I know is what Peter Case tells me." Actually, you really need to check out Peter Case's blog because you can find out all kinds of things and read his words at the same time. I go way back with Peter and the 'Souls. I even think I got my job at Island Records because of my friendship with Peter, since Danny Holloway, the guy who hired me at Island was involved in producing and helping direct the band's career very early on. I had great fun taking pictures of the Plimsouls and traveling to see them, usually in San Francisco. Its great to see your hometown bands in another city, just to watch them turn it out for a bunch of people you don't know and see that audience go just as wild as the hometown crowd. Versions of t...

I just read in Yahoo News, and you can too - go here, that veteran photographer Gary Leonard is going to do a cool stunt by creating a photo he'll call a "Great Day in LA" -- paying home to a shot by the late, great Art Kane, who shot one called "A Great Day in Harlem." A few words about that.... cool idea! I know we photographers back in the day, did always shoot some "class" pictures on the street and whatever -- I ran across some negatives of such things from Chinatown where I captured whoever was playing at both Madame Wong's and the Hong Kong Cafe. I also took a lot of group, hanging out and backstage "class pictures," at the Whisky (which was sort of my mission while working there), Madame Wong's West and the streets. Once I stop moving long enough to spend some time in a darkroom, I'll runb with this inspiration and show off some "class pictures." This one of Belinda Carlisle backstage at the Whisky, you h...

Dee Dee & Stiv - your fave? , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Everyone seems to love seeing Dee Dee Ramone and Stiv Bators in color, so here it is again. This is one of the photos you can buy here in the online store. There is no doubt in my mind that if both Dee Dee and Stiv were around today, they'd be world-class ambassadors in the fight to save CBGB from the encroaching gentrification of the Lower East Side / East Village of NYC. It was at CBGB that Youngstown's finest, The Dead Boys honed their act and rose to notoriety. With only Tommy Ramone from the original line-up remaining, and the original Dead Boys except for Jeff Magnum living elsewhere, who is going to carry on the tradition and memory of one of rock n roll's most colorful and exciting periods? If CBGB is grazed to make way for yet another condo complex with a nail salon on the ground floor, New York City will have lost an important part of its local color and flavor. It seems to...

jimmy-david16A , originally uploaded by Cool Auntie . Not enough good things can be said about my friend, Dead Boy, Jimmy Zero. Yeah, he was the guy who injected a little pop into the band. He harmonized and he played part of a great guitar team with Cheetah Chrome, who was my favorite troublemaker until recently, when he became my favorite rock n roll dad. Jimmy Zero still lives in Cleveland. He makes the scene, supports local bands, gives advice and does produce music. He continues to write songs and he made a beautiful contribution to the Greg Shaw memorial tribute album with some of the other musicians who worked with both Stiv Bators and Greg Shaw. This photo was taken during those vocal sessions - in Youngstown, Ohio in March, when winter just wouldn't leave. In the soft focus foreground is David "Quinton" Steinberg who played drums in both the Dead Boys (post Blitz ) and in Stiv's solo band on tour and on the secret pop gem record of the 80s...

Stiv LIVE , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Stiv won't be there but his spirit will. And so will Johnny, Joey and Dee Dee. Actually, the remaining Dead Boys will be on hand for: CBGB Benefit Show Dates CBGB announced a bunch of the the benefit show dates - all at CBGB: 8/2 RANA 8/5 BUSH TETRAS 8/9 APHASIA, SHORTIE 8/10 AGAINST ME, THE EXIT, WORLD INFERNO FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY 8/12 MISFITS 8/13 VANS WARPED TOUR AFTER PARTY 8/14 GORILLA BISCUITS, BLACK TRAIN JACK 8/15 RAW POWER 8/20 THE VANDALS 8/24 BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION/NIKKI SIXX & TRACII GUNS 8/26 DEAD BOYS, FLIPPER, PETER AND THE TEST TUBE BABIES, ADRENALIN O.D. , FURIOUS GEORGE 8/27 DEAD BOYS, ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE, SFA, NIHILISTICS 8/28 SHAM 69, FLIPPER, CHEETAH CHROME & THE BLACK ANGELS 8/29 SHAM 69, THE RADICTS Also confirmed to play are: CONFLICT, VERBAL ABUSE, MDC, TODAY IS THE DAY, CIRCLE OF DEAD CHILDREN, ADOLYNE, SICK OF IT ALL, FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS, CIRCLE JERKS, ADOLESCENT...

Darby Crash 1977 , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Thanks to a post from Dr. Frank on the Suicide Girls blog, thousands of viewers came to look at the picture and story about The Germs posted below. Well, thanks for dropping by! For your pleasure, all my new readers, is a photo of Darby Crash while he was still Bobby Pyn and the Germs first started rehearsing. Come back again! By the way, you can buy this photo in the online store, or see it up close and personal in NYC at NYCD, 173 West 81st St, at Amsterdam. You can also see portraits of several rock n roll men from then and now at my sister photoblog, The Female Gaze.

GERMS , originally uploaded by Theresa K . So, I've been hearing about it forever, but it seems that there will be a movie about The Germs. Its being made in LA right now! Seems the filmmakers are casting extras from submissions they asked for via My Space. Its a parallel to how the Germs got to record the B side of "Forming," when they "auditioned" for the Cheech and Chong movie, "Up in Smoke," which was filmed partly at the Roxy on the Sunset Strip. Determined to make something out of the otherwise cattle call oriented day, Darby enlisted me and my pals to sneak in his cassette recorder, nab a table up by the stage and participate in his performance art. I had the tape recorder hidden on my lap, the table hiding it, and sat with Marcy Blaustein and Kid Congo who were in eye contact with Darby so that the peanut butter I slipped in could be then slipped to him so he could spread it all over himself. It was a beautiful chaotic debacle. ...

Black Randy and Stan Lee , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Back in the day, back in LA, I never once missed a show by the Dickies, but I've been working non-stop and missed them here and now. That's guitarist, Stan Lee in this photo with Black Randy, hanging out on the Sunset Strip around 1977. If anyone caught their NYC show at the Continental, drop a line or a comment and share your thoughts. Right now, I'm preparing for two upcoming exhibits in the South, so I'll be digging up new old images very soon. But I wanted to take this opportunity to remind you that if you're digging these photos and want one, I have an online store where you can buy this photo and a few others - you have your choice of sizes and can crop them if you want. Also, if you live in NYC, you can visit some of your favorite punk pictures in person at NYCD on the Upper West Side - 171 W. 81st Street near Amsterdam Avenue. There's some good eats up there, so make an afternoon...

The Dickies are at it again! They are on the road and this week, they are on the East Coast. The dates below all feature as opening band, New Jersey’s own version of The Clash, THE RATCHETS. I know The Ratchets probably hate that comparison, however…they do have the power, fury, energy and pop of the Strummer/Jones combination. They recently opened a show I helped promote - The Saints at the Ding Dong Lounge and they held their own. Word from people who’ve seen the recent Dickies dates is that they are just as crazy as ever, and playing your favorite Dickies toons – from “You Drive Me Ape You Big Gorilla” to “Gigantor.” Thursday July 14th - THE KHYBER 56 S. 2nd St., Philadelphia, PA 19019 Friday July 15th - THE CONTINENTAL 25 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10003 Saturday July 16th - STERLING THEATRE Allentown, PA Sunday July 17th - OTTOBAR 2549 North Howard St., Baltimore, MD 2121

3 guys in a trailer park , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Mike Watt here on the left, circa 2004, with Evan Foster(Boss Martians) and Michael Kastelic (Cynics). I made the mistake the other day of admitting to a man that I just didn't get the Minutemen. Then I heard his eloquent explanation of the beauty of their music. I think I still don't get it but, I totally do get all that the Minutemen influenced. That's not so bad, then, is it? I always thought the Minutemen and whole SST and Epitaph thing was a dude movement. You know, there are chick flicks? Well, in my world, there's dude music. The Who had a period that I considered dude music, and they lost me during that time. I think its the Who period that Billy Idol likes best if you go by his choice of covering of "Who Are You" on his current tour. See, dude music. Anyway.... all that aside. . . you should keep your eyes peeled for that Minutemen documentary. Its quite good.

Plimsouls-above , originally uploaded by Cool Auntie . All I know is what I read on Peter Case's website, but for you lucky punks in LA, The Plimsouls are playing two dates later this week: July 14 at the Malibu Inn July 15 at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Orange County The Plimsouls were just about the best live band back in the day, and I'm sure they're still blowing the roof off in that Little Richard/Jerry Lee Lewis fashion - full throttle. For those of you who love the Plimsouls as much as I do, please keep tabs on Peter Case via that website. PS happy birthday mandy moon!xoxoxo

Mick & Kim , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Call this photo a summer rerun, or, a look back on a day nearly a year ago.. This nifty shot is contained in a great CD booklet for a great new record by the Dirtbombs from Detroit. Mick Colllins, one of my all time fave singers is pictured here with Kim Fowley. You know who he is! Run, do not walk, to your local record store and buy their new double CD, "If You Don't Already Have a Look." Its on In the Red Records, so it should be easily available anywhere you shop. Its a collection of rarities, b-sides, singles and a bunch of non-album tracks and includes that great Cheater Slicks cover done most faithfully. I always place the Dirtbombs in the punk category because of Mick Collins's pedigree as a member of the Gories, who kind of revitalized it all back in the 90s. I don't know why he's not a superstar in the eyes of the mainstream. There's just no one else quite up to his chops as a l...

New Lou Reeds, from Cleveland , originally uploaded by Theresa K . See this band tonight or tomorrow in NYC - The New Lou Reeds. Sunday at Trash Bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and Monday night at the Knitting Factory (8 pm). My favorite non- Beatle British songwriter, Ian Hunter proclaimed that “Cleveland Rocks.” I agree with him in so many ways. From the power pop days of the Choir and Raspberries to the frat-garage-rock of the McCoy’s and the fact that their “Hang on Sloopy” is the State’s Official Rock n Roll song… Cleveland has been rocking. In the 70s, Cleveland gave the world one of my favorite bands, The Dead Boys. Ohio itself unleashed the unique rock n roll of bands like Devo, The Pretenders, Pere Ubu, Guided by Voices, Blue Ash, James Gang, Rocket From the Tombs, Hammer Damage, Rubber City Rebels and so many more. In the 80s and 90s, post-punk, new wave and re-energized rock bands like Death of Samantha, New Bomb Turks, Craw, Cobra Verde, The Breeders, Br...

Iggy-Green , originally uploaded by Cool Auntie . Iggy, 1977, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. I just learned yesterday that this concert was the first concert In the Red Records main man Larry Hardy attended. Cool! (FYI, my first concert was the Lovin' Spoonful in Anaheim, CA in 1968) Learning that leads me on two paths - first... I keep finding out and/or meeting people whom I may have stood next to a million times in the past, but never met them til now. Just thought that was peculiar, but happens all the time. Second - Your first music memories and how they influenced you. I first met and bonded with Darby Crash in that age-old tradition of camping out for tickets to big rock shows. Glam rockers Bowie and Queen formed the bond for us. Darby Crash, 1977 Not long after we attended those shows, Paul, who was calling himself Bobby Pyn changed his punk name again to Darby Crash, emulated or paid homage to Iggy, and the cult of the Germs was born. Iggy made saf...

Clem & Syl , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Well, he's not Ringo, but he's punk rock's MVP: Clem Burke in a repeat photo. Yeah - that's Syl Sylvain of the NY Dolls with him. Today is Ringo's birthday, so you're getting a photo of my fave punk drummer. Clem hits hard, fast and accurately. He's got both the British Invasion pop sensibility as well as the furious energy of punk. Not to slight anyone else, because there are a lot of great drummers in punk rock. Tommy Ramone! Not just a drummer, but a production visionary. Though a classic rocker, and sadly no longer with us, Keith Moon embodied a punk rock spirit; Topper Headon from the Clash is high on my list and so is Chris Whitten, who did his best work with Julian Cope, but has played many genres in bands such as The Waterboys, Dire Straits, Paul McCartney - so there's the Ringo connection! - and is in the music video for decidedly unpunk Don Henley's single "A...

Darby Crash 1977 , originally uploaded by Theresa K . It took a lot longer that it should have, and once it got airborne, the plane still had to veer around the storms, but I am back in NYC and just now, I finished hanging up some vintage punk photos at NYCD, one of my favorite places to buy music. If you're in NY, why not visit the Upper West Side (173 West 81st St., just east of Amsterdam) and drop in on Sal & Tony at NYCD, buy some records and check out prints of: Darby Crash, Patricia Morrison, Stiv Bators, Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone, Joey Ramone, Blondie, The Cramps, The Dickies, Joan Jett & Billy Idol, and of course, Jeffrey Lee Pierce. All the photos are available for sale at consumer prices. Many of these photos are also available in the Online Store on my associated website for sales.

Joey1 , originally uploaded by Cool Auntie . The Ramones brought NYC punk to London in a gig that brought out all the hipsters and scene makers and launched a thousand ships... so to speak. Here are departed Ramones, Dee Dee, Johnny and Joey

Johnny Ramone , originally uploaded by Theresa K . Hey Nashville.... if this image of Johnny Ramone grabs ya, you only have two more days to see it in person before he comes down and travels to the next exhibit. There are also only two more Johnny prints left. And prints of Billy Idol are going fast, too. Its been quite a lot of fun going to visit my prints every couple of days at Grimeys and meeting other Dead Boys fans. Grimey got in a few more copies of the Dead Boys Live at CBGB/77 DVD's... I highly recommend this. Its a great snapshot of them. When I get back to NYC, I'm going to restore and scan a bunch of color pix for ya. Until then, enjoy this hot hot summer, eat some hot dogs and wear sunscreen and a hat when you go outside.

Debbie Harry - X-Offender , originally uploaded by Theresa K . July 1 - it's Debbie Harry's birthday. Happy birthday to the blonde bombshell and my fave thrift-shopping companion. buy these photos