I wanted to see the Punk Culture exhibit at the Skirball Cultural Center, because in May 1977, I had traveled from Los Angeles to London to photograph the exciting Punk Rock scene.

I met Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood,

Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols,

Chelsea and the Damned,

Punk rock fans at clubs

Punk boutiques and punk kids on Kings Road.

Read here about my experience.

“Outsiders, Outcasts, Rebels + Weirdos: Punk Culture 1976-86” (May 20–September 6) examines Proto-Punk in New York 1975-77, including Patti Smith and the Ramones, because of their Jewish ancestry, UK Punk 1976-78, LA Punk Venues 1977-1984, such as the Masque in Hollywood and Madame Wong in Chinatown, New Wave 1979-1982, the term was used interchangeably with punk, etc.

The black caption explains that Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren, who was raised by his Sephardic Jewish grandmother, invented the look of UK punk. The Skirball Museum collects art and objects that reflect Jewish life.

In Los Angeles I photographed a punk fashion show at the Hollywood Palladium in 1977.

I would go to the Masque, an underground club where people danced uncontrollably bumping into each other, and ask some of the girls to pose for me.

I befriended Jerry Casale of Devo and the band posed for a photo session in 1980.

By 1981, another fashion and music trend had emerged, the New Romantics. I did a photo essay at Club Lingerie, also founded by Brendan Muller, like the Masque.

The final note from Skirball concludes: Punk is not a sound, it’s an attitude, outside the mainstream.

It’s a useful reminder today, 50 years after the birth of punk, that to rebel against the government is more necessary than ever.

P.S.: Please click on underlined words for more info.