Check Out Jenny Lens’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Lens.

Hi Jenny, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am the most published early punk rock photographer, 1976-80, first gen, west coast. Patti Smith anointed me “the girl with the camera eye. ” She pointed to me from the stage during her show at the Roxy, West Hollywood, November 15, 1976.

I created a membership site, punkpioneers.com, after years of fans begging me to post more photos and tell more True Tall Tales. I also sell prints and license my photos because the past is always present.

PunkPioneers.com – My Club is the best way to hear my narrated videos and see carefully organized, and mostly never seen photos with my famous images. I dive into topics rarely discussed from the POV of someone at Ground Zero. I was as involved as anyone else. I walked the walk!

John Denney, singer/songwriter of the Weirdos, one of LA’s early beloved bands, told me I was as important AS ANY of the Bands as he thanked me!Exene, X, said I took better photos than another very famous LA photographer.

Recently, unexpected accolades from performers who barely paid any attention to my hard work back in the day. They can finally see more of my archive online. In one place. With my credit, so often discarded online, in print, in vids.

Adorama Camera, one of THE top photo stores, wrote the most amazing summary of my life and work. I’m one of two women discussed in their “10 Influential Rock Photographers,” https://www.adorama.com/alc/10-influential-rock-photographers/.

Their glowing words describe my work and I better than I. “Her life is pretty fascinating and made up of the three acts usually associated with characters in movies and novels.” (They have no idea!) They’ve dealt with the best photographers since 1974.

Fat Mike and many involved with the Punk Rock Museum (TPRM) in Las Vegas kept telling me “I didn’t know that” when I shared stories behind my photos they exhibited (and those rejected due to space) They didn’t know what I know!

Yet Fat Mike blamed the “video editor” when he posted a vid with only my photos about to be hung in TPRM. NO credit. As usual.

I captured future legendary, iconic musicians (Rock Hall of Fame, Grammy winners, etc) and others involved in this emerging new “cultural revolution” (a phrase I invented and spoke about before I ever read or heard that phrase).

Whenever I choose photos for something, I always choose rare, behind-the-scenes photos. While writing this, I came across a screenshot a typical fan posted about my Joan Jett and Lita Ford “Dueling Guitars” photo:

“you absolutely killed it. thank you for the bravery, dedication and the preservation of some of the greatest things that ever happened.”

I’m still surprised people think I was brave. Yes, I went everywhere by myself, which included some very scary, late at night, dark streets. Hard to see “Blue Velvet” cos the Dennis Hopper character reminded me of people I knew. I was robbed in my home at gunpoint and also a break-in when I was away. And much more, then and now.

Scariest memories arise when dealing with people! Then and now.

I gotta laugh. Creating Art is NOT easy nor safe! If we let our fears hold us back, well, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Dedication with continual growth and hard work is my middle name.

Yes, many fans tell me “but your photo is not just a photo.” Many write similar to “if not for your pictures and stories … I wouldn’t know punk or love and get to see it. Music is my medicine. These people my idols. Thanks Jenny. Truly.”

No one thanked me back then. Rarely paid me. I often had to beg for photo passes. Argue with security who prevented me from using that pass.

I never expected people would constantly actually thank me. We never know the kind of impact our art will engender.

I’ve come across quotes about me. Every time they saw me, they saw my camera. Not my face. Terry Graham, in his fab book, “Punk Like Me,” claimed he had no idea what I looked like! A lot of my color photos are in his book, which he saw when he visited 20 years ago. So yeah, he’s seen my face. Gotta love his humor and his book.

I also focus on early punk topics:

Visuals: fashions, fanzines, flyers and more. We changed how images and text look. Not just music.

Women, particularly in LA, did everything the men did, and often better.

Gay men and a few Lesbians. (Some I won’t discuss by name because I’m not sure if they are publicly out.)

Minorities: Jews. We were very active in the creation of punk, more than most realize. I created a list decades ago because I was so surprised I was surrounded by Jews. I have no Jewdar. I only knew anti-Semitism early on (sadly, much scarier now). It’s true, so many Jews in show biz! Gives me big smiles writing this.

Being in SoCal, many Hispanic/Chicano, as my Latino friends and colleagues were known then and still use, were centrally involved. The most beloved, and my dear pals, Alice Bag and KC Powers, wrote FAB autobios. Plus the very talented showman, El Vez aka Robert Lopez, formerly of the Zeros, like Alice and KC, are so active now. Plus many more. Please Google these fine performers and people. I took photos and have True Tall Tales to tell…

Politics: usually liberal in our songs. Thankfully politics didn’t tear us apart back then.

ANGER united us!

Sex n Drugs n Rock n Roll (our lifestyles, for real!). Not all got out alive nor lived long lives. But oh, for a brief moment, we lived as we wished. Many lives on the edge. I was a rare survivor, barely pulled myself back from oblivion. I had this work to do, so I had to persevere.

I share stories that enchant and illuminate. My photos often disprove rumors and false interpretations that others state as face. Plus rarely told insider info behind my photos.

My iconic photos of future Rock Hall of Famers and ferocious women trailblazers include Debbie Harry, Joan Jett, Exene Cervenka, Alice Bag and the woman again and always in the news, Patti Smith, stand amongst the best of the best. The performers told me! And the fans, always the fans who keep me going.

“Dueling Guitars” and the “Screamers on Bus Bench” are my most popular and beloved photos. I never used stylists, art directors nor planned anything. Pure spontaneity, like ALL my photos.

My Exene squatting during Decline filming, as well as many equally beloved photos, are considered “iconic” by Shep Fairey and many others.

Punk was nothing without serious reflections and deep dives into human relationships. Combining high energy, passionate lyrics, thrilling live shows (no two were ever the same from the same band) and so much more. 1970s rock music was stagnant, predictable and boring til punk!

We started with Patti’s intoxicating poetry that alerted us the times were a’changing with “Horses.”

Then THE band that galvanized everyone: the Ramones. Their first release thrust us into a new world. Fast. Exciting. Pop Culture. Anger. Politics. And fun. So much fun! And some sexy, intense, fun men!

(Although I was never a groupie and never used sex to get ahead. Stupid fool! The ops I missed. IF I knew then what I knew later… but I managed to still take amazing photos. So there’s that.)

X’s “Los Angeles” and “Wild Gift”; the Clash’s first release; Blondie’s always enchanting blend of pop culture with newest beats and their their vivid storytelling talents; the Screamers predictions with “122 Hours of Fear,” “Peer Pressure” and “Magazine Love,” and more.

My live photos captured the raw energy of the Clash, Ramones and others. Or the quiet of Television and intellectual Talking Heads.The drama and noir lyricism of X. Quiet poetry of Television and intellectual Talking Heads.

The nihilism of the Sex Pistols and destructive animal magnetism of the Germs. I took incredible Darby Crash photos with many stories! The Germs are so popular yet their charm eluded me.

The fun Sham 69. Scandalous photos of Sir Bob Geldof and I when the Boomtown Rats first came to LA. I laugh, but other women would be screaming #MeToo. Hey, it’s rock n roll. Geldof was a charmer with prophetic songs: the stunning early version of I Don’t Like Mondays.

I knew nothing about rock music nor photography nor publishing nor anything about this developing, fascinating, enduring era.

I FELT it. I envisioned my work being used decades later.

I manifested what I believed in by constantly learning and doing. Nothing passive about what we were doing. No staring at screens. We went into the world and changed it! Even if YOU and others don’t realize it.

This is not a competition about best anything. Just doing my own thing. I always marched to the beat of my crazy heart and vivid creative imagination.

I am also a lifelong student in cultural history from 1850s to 1930s. Then rock n roll, 1950s-1980.

I merely wanted people “to see what I’m seeing, stand in my shoes, and enjoy the fun we were having.” I can envision standing backstage at the Whisky. I constantly repeated that mantra to myself as I excitedly took photos of now iconic, legendary people.

I always said punk was like a comet. We see comets flying over our skies rarely and briefly. Comets light up the sky, and then fade from view. Each art or musical revolution will never be repeated. No one will invent Impressionism again, nor Cubism nor Mozart’s whatever.

All those comets will influence what comes after it.

My art is fragments of that punk comet that appeared late 1975. Lit up the sky so bright that everything was possible. 1978 began to dim its brilliance. January 1978 is remembered for the Sex Pistols imploding due to their controversial manager. Three days, our beloved, quite illegal underground Masque was closed. By 1980, everything changed.

It’s the history of the world. Nothing is static. Physics proves change is the only constant.

We can experience that bright, once in a lifetime comet via my photos and words in my Punk Pioneers Archive. Punkpioneers.com.

In the process of working on my archive AND thankful comments, I’ve fallen in love with my photos. The wonderful, wild times we created are so alive in my work!

Because I felt so alive at that moment. So many are blown away by my ability to express the FUN not usually associated with punk. Only proves the media and some people rather push violence than creativity.

I always tell people to pursue their dreams. You never know what’s around the corner.

Our victories as creatives, as entrepreneurs, as humans, often happen for a moment. But can last a lifetime.

I was turned on and energized by the intelligent, wise and knowledgeable inventiveness of so many creatives around me. (The many totally adorable, sexy men added to the fun. On and offstage!)

I wanted my photos of these remarkable people to inspire others. And to capture the FUN! That’s what art and life is all about. Art that feeds our souls and resonates with our hearts.

I keep writing about FUN because that’s the number one point that fans and writers always pick up on with my words, written or verbal.

If this were not fun, I’d have bailed. Too much work, too many mean people, not enough money and way too many sacrifices. But so worth it cos it was and is FUN!

My deep dive into early punk began the cold January, 1976 night, outside the Roxy, WeHo. As I stood in line for to see Patti Smith, I made a vow to become part of this emerging punk scene. I listed all the things I cannot do. I never even thought of taking photos!

Always keeping an open mind and willingness to learn and grow, no matter how difficult, is the key to everything I do.

I’ve been studying art history and movie history since I was 14. At 26, I picked up my camera I owned to photograph my art. My weavings, wood designs, jewelry, and more high-end crafts were exhibited in museums and galleries.

I wanted to get out into the world. Do something creative that’s exciting. Away from the elitist, snobby art world, which I’ve always abhorred.

I was terribly insecure and lacked self-esteem. I was beaten physically by my mentally ill father. As a wee child til I was 14. Verbally abused, but far worse by my mother.

At 48, I finally cut my ties with my mother. Decades of verbal torture took its toll. Verbal abuse was far more damaging and lasting. Breaking from her was so liberating!

Abuse was a very common theme amongst early punks. Especially in LA.

I was easily hurt, gullible and vulnerable all my life. I was particularly preyed upon by others who got off being mean. Even those I immortalized.

Abuse never ends. Always inspires me to turn to art, reading, movies, science: anything to get away from real life. And most of all, to add meaning not only to my life, but others.

I do my best to be aware of many cultural influences and trends. So many only refer to whatever is on the latest social media. Knowing historical culture, no matter the media, is so vital for creatives.

My focus is always in the past because so much inspiration! I learn so much that excites me and spills into my art. Uplifts me and keeps me going.

But I was not wise to the world when I found punk.

I was truly Jenny in Punkland, an updated Alice in Wonderland. I fell down a wild, wonderful rabbit hole full of great memories, photos, people and most of all, the most amazing live music ever!

I knew people would want and need to see visual documentation. I just never realized the burden would fall on me.

I’ve spent nearly 50 years taking, preserving and sharing my photos. Forced to live a life of debt and hard work, sacrificing to constantly acquire hardware, software and always updating my skills (with lots of swearing) to share my work.

I wanted so very much to inspire people by taking action. Support the bands, write about them and buy their records. Pick up an instrument, write songs, take photos, start a fanzine, do anything, something!

I was then and am constantly inspired by what others do. Early punk had NO support and so many critics! It was HARD back then! We were hassled by everyone. Our music was ignored. My photos often not published or could not get a photo pass because magazines had photos. NOT my classic photos. Too often my photos remembered longer and more fondly than those photo used in the magazines.

My art always inspires me, as I constantly discover more and more of my photos. Justifying my memories that I captured unique images.

I experience what a grateful fan who purchased some of my photos wrote: “I felt like Howard Carter opening the tomb of treasures.”

Carter discovered King Tut’s tomb. Coincidentally, some of my punk pals worked temp jobs during King Tut’s LACMA exhibit. Someone gave me a ticket. I don’t remember the exhibit cos not into it.

I remember a lot of punk, especially because my photos captured so much! And unlike others who claim to be the experts, I never got drunk! I couldn’t drink and take photos. I took photos of some who now demonize and defame me, but they are drunk in my photos. Hmm …

Every photo speaks so loudly, if one knows how to listen to visuals. When you see all the photos at one event, then photos from the next night, and next week, a definite pattern and long long details behind my many True Tall Tales emerge!

“But I have promises to keep, and miles before I sleep,” Robert Frost.

Final thoughts: please don’t tell me to make merch. Real people must sign off to allow their images or logos to be used on merch! Tees. Phone cases. Shower curtains. Pillows. Whatever.

I know the laws regarding merch. I’ve written and spoken to people. Offered good royalties. Never heard back. Some died without saying ok.

Next, Adorama Camera wrote it’s “unfortunate” I only published one book. “Punk Pioneers” was a hellish ordeal. I’d have to be paid a ton of money, provided even faster hardware AND FINAL EDIT to even think about creating another book.

Yes, books are longer lasting than online. Yes, I own and read more art and movie and political history books and bios than many real world bookstores.

But …

Good quality photo books are expensive to create (time and hardware costs). Expensive for fans. Always lacking a photo here and there that someone will criticize me for omitting. Can’t put thousands of images and stories in one book.

RE !! I love using !! I’m known for my enthusiastic energy. Fast talking, fast thinking, fast typing. I own my !!! Proudly.

I love making my own art and writing.

I won’t let AI steal my “!!!” More in the next section about AI.

I appreciate AI within certain digital tools. Not to make AI Slop or falsify my TRUE photos.

MY art is mine, it belongs to ME! No matter who may own my copyright (I’ve sold a few to pay rent), I will ALWAYS be the creator. Even when my credit omitted.

WHY would I turn writing or creating art over to someone or something else?

Creating and studying art and writing keeps me alive. To inspire others. What’s not to love?

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Gosh, everything has been a struggle!

Let’s focus on now, this week, tonight. Tech is buggy.

Adobe: Lightroom issues that persist for years and years. My fave program, not the app, the full-fledged LR Classic, is so buggy I’m always screaming at it. Latest Photoshop upgrade still exhibits old issues (type is ridiculously cumbersome).

Adobe won’t listen.

I upgraded to Photoshop 2026 less than two weeks ago. Last night I easily updated photos posted here, and others. A major ongoing project deals with renaming files, so they are always consistent. I make so many variations in size and content with same image. Remembering what I named it long ago is problematic. Makes it hard to do a search too.

Tonight I encountered an issue never seen since using Pshop since version 1, in 1990. Duplicating text from one image to another results in … nothing. I see it in the layer, but the “Normal” Blending Mode is Greyed out. I can’t select the layer! I can’t see the text in the document itself.

Same problem with an image. At least I could see the image in the document, but not select it. We select layers to modify, move, edit, delete them.

WHAAAAAT? I can’t use Templates I created to duplicate photo credits or duplicate images into my Templates? WHAT? Getting help from Adobe is impossible cos they never believe me!

Then I screamed in shock when my computer screen went black. I lost whatever I was updating in this Interview.

Now I’m back to typing in Scrivener, a wonderful program for writers. Saves as you type. Whatta concept! Makes it so easy to see various documents in one screen.

Few ever heard of nor use either Adobe Lightroom or Literature & Latte’s Scrivener. I cannot do my work without either!

NOW my external drive refuses to mount. And my other large drive is wonky. I was waiting for Black Friday to buy another large drive. Then send the largest drive in for warranty repair. Now I have to log into Backblaze, a great, affordable online backup service, to find and retrieve what I saved on the MIA drive to put onto other drives. And I was going to back up today but focused on this and forgot.

Great, I need to launch a Black Friday sale and resurrect my Punk Club ASAP! And this is how I’ve spent the last two weeks since my main drive doesn’t respond to Apple’s Disk Utility for a routine checkup. Barely slept and now this will keep me up nights.

I was supposed to set up a new email system. And a fan wants to see Weirdos and Nerves photos. Good ideas, but …

THIS is why it’s hard to meet deadline and fulfill promises all too often.

And you wanna know about my struggles?

Do not think for one minute AI to the rescue. AI delivers far less than promised.

AI is far more trouble than it’s worth. High costs soon to be apparent and appalling to many. Hardware fails. Software changes and rarely deals with existing issues. Upgrades are constant and always about new things. Companies large and small refuse to listen to users who beg companies to listen to them.

Ok, back to the past:

Very few with power in the record and publishing industries liked, approved, understood or wanted punk outside of a “small circle of friends” and a few wise, enlightened souls.

X sang “Unheard Music” which summed up our struggles. Magazines made money via ads promoting new releases. Musicians signed to big companies got most of the press. Only few determined, scrappy fanzines enthusiastically printed my photos. Sometimes with credit. Rarely with payment.

I was insecure with poor social skills. I didn’t know one thing about photography, rock music, music industry, publishing world, anything! I only knew fine art and crafts, an art world full of yarns, cloth, wood, metal, beads, yadda yadda.

I was a loud, enthusiastic and abused Jewish woman, alienated from traditional Jews in so many way. My over-the-top high intelligence, endless creativity, with tons of education didn’t make up for my lack of common sense and business sense. I rebelled against turning my passion for punk and photography into a business.

I never had fun in my life til punk! I focused on doing whatever I felt like doing and taking photos. I unwisely mailed way too many slides, now lost to history. And prints never returned.

Since then, people have stolen my actual negatives and slides, after lying they would help me. I’ve been defamed by people formerly close to me. People whose reputations have been enhanced for decades thanks to my photos. MY photos they try to pass off as theirs while defaming me! Payment never paid. Credit never given.

Photos bootlegged so often that people think I’m rich and famous. Shocks them when I tell them the truth.

Art isn’t easy! But I can’t live without making art. I get too bored otherwise.

I was and remain moody and fiercely independent. Not easy in this world. But not impossible either.

Struggles:

Tech issues consume the most time, energy, while constantly stressing me and taking most of my money.

Dealing with people is often a struggle.

I break my promises too often not due to laziness on my part. My life quickly ebbing away. I’m 75! Yikes, if only tech delivered on its promises and companies listened and responded to their users.

My constant struggle is learning to accept the reality this is our modern lives and not let it get me so upset. Good in theory. But try manifesting calmness when deadlines are always fast approaching. Hmm…

But hey, I’m still here!

“Good times and bum times, I’ve seen them all. But I’m still here!”

(Google Stephen Sondheim’s song from Follies. I’m one of the very few who saw the original, historical musical in LA with mostly original cast! Few can say that.)

Punk. Sondheim. Joni. Faure, Debussy, Shostakovich, Rimsky-Korsakov. Great soundtracks to my life. Great books. Old movies. Lots of Art! And friends and fans, who, with my photos and art, keep me alive.

But the stress … soon I can kick back. Or more likely, try to figure out what to solve first: my hard drive or Photoshop issue?

I still cannot complain. I’m still here. For years, I always said no one is dragging me onto a train and exiling me to a death camp. The ONE thought that always reminds me to be grateful.

I pray, hope, have faith and envision that’s still true in these divisive and too hateful times.

Life often getting better in so many ways! VoyageLA interviewed me. What’s not to love about these kind and astute people? My best to all.

May your journeys keeps you creative, fulfilled, and always moving forward.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I cannot separate my work from my person. I cannot talk about nor think nor write about who I am without discussing my work. It’s an issue most people who read my posts, emails or hear me talk or know me would agree upon.

My work is my life is my art is my life.

What matters most to you? Why?
First, learn stuff, all the time! Do not assume you can fake it til you make it without knowing who or what came before you. We are limited by not knowing some tips and tricks using the app or software (they are different).

STUDY CULTURE! Starting with music!

It’s tragically pathetic people don’t listen to music from the 50s til 70s. Or only hear new or AI music that’s algorithms impersonally spoon feed to too many.

We punks knew music that came before our time. Going back to early 20th century.

We knew movies, books, fashions, music from movies or Broadway or the street. We knew culture!

How can you be truly creative if you don’t know HOW to do something or WHAT preceded your era?

Next, learn HOW to do what you want to do. We all can wing it, but the more we know, the more we can DO.
DO NOT rely on AI! It’s a tool, like a paintbrush or camera. AI can help improve photos re color correction, better tonal value (bringing out highlights and shadows), making images larger and things like that.

But AI IS NOT INTELLIGENT! It merely REPEATS STOLEN INFO! AI STEALS Images and Text! So it merely spits out plastic looking images, weird people and animals, with nothing original in it.

It’s fine, use it if you wish. Sell it as stock art or photos.

But is relying totally on AI to creative something really satisfying? If yes, fine.

But if you really want to be creative, look inside yourself. And study art! Or music or whatever you are into. AND NOT just what you are into. The more you see and absorb, the more to INSPIRE YOU!

Next, what matters is that people DO SOMETHING! Be creative. Anything. Get involved in local, state or federal politics. Help in your community.

Most of all, be kinder to your neighbors! I am stunned people in my Santa Monica courtyard building (and City) are so unfriendly and unhelpful!!

What is going on that people don’t help older folks, or those who don’t drive, or even appreciate or get to know the person living next door?

I was interviewed by someone who asked me if my neighbors realize how exceptionally phenomenal I am? I laughed and told him I didn’t know if better to cry.

Being a good friend and neighbor matter.

Yes, art is the number one thing in my life, always has been and always will be. But I am a good friend to many. Some who love to stab me in the back. I don’t want to change, but being the introvert I am, I retreat.

Just gives me more time to focusing online and with my art.

“What we focus upon, expands.”

“How you do one thing is how you do all things.”

I’ve found those statements to be so inspiring! Keep focusing on what we can do and are doing. Fight the good fight.

Pricing:

• On my site, punkpioneers.com

Contact Info:

• Website: https://punkpioneers.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/punkpioneersjennylens/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennylens/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@punkpioneersjennylenspix
• Other: https://bsky.app/profile/jennylenspunkpix.bsky.social