Punk Pioneers

The photographs of Jenny Lens—many unseen, and many more well-known but seldom credited—are poignant reminiscences of a rude and rowdy moment in punk rock history. From 1976 to 1980, Lens took early shots of groups that would go on to be legendary: the Germs, the Go-Gos, Blondie, the Ramones, the Damned, the Clash, Iggy Pop, and many more. Punk Pioneers chronicles the music scene as it raged from stadium and glam rock to punk, steadfastly archiving early pioneers, followers, writers, fans, and performers at shows, backstage, and at parties. Lens reveals untold stories with rare and candid images: Joey Ramone poolside before a show in San Francisco; Debbie Harry tearing off her wedding dress on stage in L.A.; Iggy Pop painting on a whim in the Hollywood Hills. This book stands alone as a record of punk legend, capturing the energy and brilliance, passion and frustration, and most importantly the fight for music and art that embodied the punk movement. Featuring a foreword by renowned photographer Glen E. Friedman, this is one of the most important and most beautiful collections of photography of the least documented era in punk.

The photographs of Jenny Lens—many unseen, and many more well-known but seldom credited—are poignant reminiscences of a rude and rowdy moment in punk rock history. From 1976 to 1980, Lens took early shots of groups that would go on to be legendary: the Germs, the Go-Gos, Blondie, the Ramones, the Damned, the Clash, Iggy Pop, and many more. Punk Pioneers chronicles the music scene as it raged from stadium and glam rock to punk, steadfastly archiving early pioneers, followers, writers, fans, and performers at shows, backstage, and at parties. Lens reveals untold stories with rare and candid images: Joey Ramone poolside before a show in San Francisco; Debbie Harry tearing off her wedding dress on stage in L.A.; Iggy Pop painting on a whim in the Hollywood Hills. This book stands alone as a record of punk legend, capturing the energy and brilliance, passion and frustration, and most importantly the fight for music and art that embodied the punk movement. Featuring a foreword by renowned photographer Glen E. Friedman, this is one of the most important and most beautiful collections of photography of the least documented era in punk.

Jenny Lens earned a BA in Art from California State University and MFA in Design from Cal Arts. Her iconic and often uncredited shots are rarely exhibited, but are in demand more than ever. Her photos have been published internationally since 1976 in legendary fanzines such as Slash, Flipside, and Back Door Man, in mainstream magazines Creem, Rolling Stone, Spin, and NME, Melody Maker, and MOJO in England, and have been featured in documentaries including American Hardcore, Punk: Attitude, and Ramones Too Tough to Die.