Eighties punk rock photos from a teenage fan
Give us a little background of where you grew up, what kind of music you listened to before you got into punk and what were some of the first punk shows you attended?
I grew up in Manhattan Beach, CA. It was a typical beach town. I listened to Hendrix, KISS, Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, etc. My first “punk” show was the Clash at the Santa Monica Civic in 1979 with my friend who I have known since kindergarten. I saw 999 at the Roxy but I don’t know if I was still in junior high school or freshman year.
Did you take photos of other things before you got into punk concert photography, or did you dive right in to shooting live shows? Was your focus on documenting the music scene or just taking photos of your favorite bands?
I never really took photos of anything prior to my punk rock photos. My dad took a lot of pictures documenting our trip around Europe. I just started taking photos of bands. I really don’t have a reason I just did.
How old were you when you shot most of these photos?
16-17 years old.
Were you friends with any of these bands or did you become friends, or were you just anonymously shooting photos at concerts?
I became “friends” with Black Flag because I used to “stalk” their HQ in Redondo Beach. I knew of Milo and Bill because they went to my high school. A number of the shows I was just anonymous and worked my way onto the stage.
What was your first photo where you realized, this is good, I’m a punk concert photographer?
The one of Doyle starting at me at the Goleta Show. Also some of my Henry Rollins photos from The Federal Building and Mi Casita. I never thought of myself as a photographer. I was just a kids who took pictures at some gigs…I wish I took more!
What was your go-to venue to see a good punk show back in the early 80s?
There wasn’t one. I only took good photos of Black Flag, The Misfits, Minor Threat, The Circle Jerks, and The Descendents. It turned out to only be a handful of venues.
What is your all time favorite punk photo that you took?
#1 Henry with the guy giving him the finger(Mi Casita). #2 Doyle staring me down (Goleta Valley Community Center) #3 Henry with the American Flag and the Marlboro Man billboard in the back(Federal Building) . My girlfriend thinks that one is my best.
What is your all time favorite punk photo that someone else took, and who shot it?
The guy doing the flip off the balcony at the Starwood. Ed Colver took it…epic shot!
What was the most memorable concert or experience of all time?
The Misfits at Bob’s Place in Watts. I remember being scared to death because we were in the middle of gang turf and they did not like punkers. There were stabbings and fights and a lot of people on angle dust. It was a terrifying night.
My most memorable experience was coming home at 6am after a gig at the Starwood. My ride left and I started to panic and thought “I might have to sleep in an ally”. Fortunately/unfortunately I got a ride from someone who we would get rides from once in a while. He was hammered and wanted to bang this girl so he drove her all the way to Huntington Beach. She bailed on him and we drove back to Manhattan Beach. I thought I was going to die on the way back. He was still buzzed and kept nodding off. When he dropped me off my mom was waiting in her bathrobe and the morning newspaper. I still feel bad about it to this day. She thought I was dead.
What was your camera/flash set up at the time?
I had a Minolta 35mm with a basic flash that you would attach to the top.
Were you aware of photographers like Glen E. Friedman at the time?
Glen Friedman was the man..still is.
Did you continue to take photos in the late 80s and 90s of concerts or did you get into other subjects, or quit photography altogether?
I quit altogether. I went to college and partied like a rock star. I did take pictures at a rehearsal gig for Metallica’s Death Magnetic tour at the Cow Palace in 2008. There were less that 1000 people there so I could get right up to the stage. It was a cool experience.
Have you had any photos on album covers or anything like that?
I just found out about a bootleg Misfits record that has my photo on it. We are currently hunting the person down to who did it. I have had photos in a number of books, documentaries, and a Soundgarden video (I wish I could remember which one).
Do you have any plans to make a book of your photographs or do any photo exhibitions? Or where can people see more of your work?
I am currently working on my book “Punk: Photos From a Fan’s Perspective”. I have completed the first draft and it is coming along great. I think people are going to really like it.
I had two photographs in an a show in July by Fathom Gallery. These two were in the show four days after I was contacted by Frank Coiro of Fathom. The show was called “Punk: A Culture of Attitude”. My solo show was on January 20th called “Punk Photography: A Fan’s Perspective”.
Once the world opens up, we want to take my photos national with exhibits along with a “book tour”. I think it would do really well in SF, DC, NY, and, who knows, maybe London??
Fathom is my publisher and gallery “agent”. They are an Art Gallery, Art Publisher, and an Artists’s Print Studio. I owe everything to Frank and his team there.
My work is at www.fathom-art.com
They are based in West Los Angeles. They are AWESOME!
