Punk Turns 30

The Jam outside the erstwhile Starwood Club, April 14, 1978 In a wonderful and comprehensive article that is the result of having spent a year with Paul Weller , the Modfather told England's Uncut magazine about a "daft PR stunt" perpetrated by the band's US record label to "introduce" them to America. I don't know if this London bus stunt was pulled in other cities.... but it was certainly memorable - to Weller as "daft" and to me as much fun for it was my birthday and I felt as though it was part of my own party. I was surprised at what Paul Weller remembered from 30 years ago (I have pictures to goose my memory; I guess he does too - having been photographed so much) - like The Dickies opening for the Jam at the Starwood. So, this led me to recall some other PR stunts pulled by record companies to promote their punk rock bands. The Jam headline over Johnny Cougar at the Whisky a Go Go in October 1977. Highlighted is the future Kid Congo ...

When people ask me what my day job is, I often jokingly say, "I am a professional punk rocker," and I say that because I spend a bit of time each day bringing you the memories of a punk rock day gone by. Such as this particular date from my past... October 6, 1977. My day job back then was being a college student, but I worked part time at the Whisky a Go Go... even back then, I was a professional punk rocker! On this date in punk rock history, The Germs, The Dickies and The Zippers played the Whisky a Go Go. That's Darby Crash pictured above, now immortalized by Hollywood actor Shane West in Rodger Grossman's labor of love, the motion picture entitled What We Do Is Secret, which is making its way across American movie screens as you read this. Leonard Graves Phillips of the Dickies Even back then, six months into their existence, The Germs were an LA punk rock force to be reckoned with. However, a band traveling to LA from the UK for the first time grabbed ev...

The Starwood was located on the corner of Santa Monica Blvd and Crescent Heights in West Hollywood, California. The photo above is familiar to many readers of Punk Turns 30 -- it was taken 30 years ago on April 14 in the parking lot of the Starwood. One of the most rollicking birthday parties I've ever had was the day and night that The Jam headlined the club. That's me above - fairly naive, just entering my 20's, feeling, however that I knew it all - or at least plenty... sure, my friends and I had a lock on the local punk rock scene. We were the Lobotomy Fanzine crew, after all! There came a point when bands wanted to know us as much as we wanted to know them... But what I didn't understand... not even when I read in the papers when the Starwood eventually closed in 1982... was the high level of real low-down-dirty sex and drugs and rock n roll that went on behind the scenes at this club. Pleasant , pictured above with Blondie's Debbie Harry , and I were am...

Joey Ramone & Georgia Satellite Rick Richards, NYC 1988 Tonight, I am expecting local hero and life-long friend Rick Richards to come down and join the fun at the Star Bar. Punk Turns 30's Unguarded Moments exhibit opened in the downstairs lounge last night. Great turn out and I especially like it when photographers come to the shows and we talk shop about film stock! I want to give a big public THANK YOU shout out to Eric Holder of ISP-Music for sponsoring the snacks for our reception last night. The egg rolls were a big hit! Just like in old skool punk rock days, a lotta broke-ass band kids had dinner at happy hour... Although I am careful not to say "happy hour" in Atlanta, as I understand that phenomenon is illegal (WTF???) Anyway - come on by again, ATL, to the Star Bar just about an hour before the music starts and hang with us. Small Face Ian McLagan and Bryan Malone and Mark McMurtry of the Forty-Fives Bryan Malone of the Forty Fives, Burmese Crush ...

Paul Weller The Jam played their first show in Los Angeles at the Whisky A Go Go. Do you know who opened the show? It was his birthday, this guy called "Johnny Cougar." Uh Huh. Yes, well, I had to write that because Uh Huh is the name of a Mellencamp album - the one where "Johnny Cougar" reverted back to his real name... Back in those days - well, actually, its still kind of an industry standard thing... both artists recorded for labels in the Polygram family. So, the label saved a bit of money on their ticket buy and killed two press birds with one stone by having these new artists play the same night at the same club. Not really a good match this time. Bruce Foxton Punk rock shows were happening with greater frequency at the Whisky and other venues around town. In fact, there was a punk rock show just about every night somewhere in Los Angeles by Autumn 1977. Just the previous two nights at the Whisky, The Zippers, Germs and Dickies played. Darby Cra...

Most days I think that apart from Eddie Baranek, I am the only person I know who LOVES The Jam and everything each of them has done since. But I'm happy to say that I am wrong! While reading the Goner Board, as I do all day long whilst my computer processes things, or my scanner is doing its thing, I read this post about a live Jam show download-able in its entirety at the Sailor Jerry blog. So I went there and downloaded all the tunes. I highly recommend you do too! I was also most impressed by the vintage in-concert photo of the band and the depth and breadth of the blog itself. I guess its time to take the plunge and get that mobile phone web access so I can read stuff like this while traversing this great big country by train, which I'm getting ready to do in just a few weeks. I don't know what else to say about the Jam that I haven't already said! But here is a recap: One ) They are a Power trio - all a band needs to be, really. Two) They draw from Exemplary...

Bruce Foxton of the Jam looks up at the Starwood marquee as photographers David Arnoff and Judy Lesta look on. I remember this show vividly, and I always will - because its my birthdate, and who doesn't remember when one of their fave bands plays a show on your birthday AND sings a chorus of "Happy Birthday" to you at their record-company-sponsored party? Unforgettable stuff. This was me in 1978. Photo taken with my camera by my dear departed friend, Randy Kaye, who together with Pleasant created Lobotomy. On this date, we were covering the Jam on their second visit to America and were outrageously delighted that our friends, The Dickies and The Eyes were also on the bill. I'm still surprised that I had the wherewithall to take these photos of the Dickies and of Charlotte Caffey from The Eyes backstage before they went on...because the Jam threw a fantastic party before the show! The Jam let me shoot their soundcheck. They gave everyone a photo opportu...