1 post tagged “hebrew school”

OK, so here is the long story about the Ramones album cover. 

One night in 1976 I'm standing on line at CBGBs to see Patti Smith with my Nikkormat around my neck.

A guy in the line in front of me balls up a piece of paper a throws it on the ground

Me: "Hey, don't be such a punk and pick that up"

Him: "But I am a punk

Me: "Pick it up anyway"

It turns out that after dutifully picking up the paper he introduces himself. 

He is John Holstrom THE person who coined the term Punk Rock and THE editor and illustrator of the  Punk Magazine which had just released its first issue. The first issue included this "editorial";

We talk while waiting and at some point he eyes my camera and hands me his card saying "send me your shots of the show, maybe we can do something with them".

About a week later I get a note saying he loves the shots, actually it said "those shots are a real wow. It was the first time I had seen that term but I got the gist.  He further wrote that he will use them in his next issue and would I shoot more for Punk?  

Of course I say yes.  In a little bit I get the next issue.  While he didn't use my shots on the cover, all the inside photos are mine.

A few weeks later John calls me in the middle of the day on a weekday.

Him: "Would I like to shot the cover for the Ramones first album?"

Me: "Yes, yes, yes"

Him: "They need to do it this afternoon"

Me: "But, but... um... I... need to teach Hebrew school... and I'm driving the car pool with 4 other teachers"

Him: "Huh"

Me: "Really, can't we do it tomorrow morning, on the weekend, tonight late?  Can't we?"

Him: "I'll call you back"

Well, he didn't call back, Roberta Baily who was the hostess and coat check girl at CBGBs had a Pentax Spotmatic that someone had left one night. 

She did the shoot and become a world famous rock and roll photographer  I taught my Hebrew school class... the car pool made it on time.