Allan Tannenbaum’s Rare Photos Of Famous Punks In New York City In The 1970s

Allan Tannenbaum’s “punk portfolio” is for sale. From 1973 to ’82, Tannenbaum worked for New York City’s SoHo Weekly News’ as its chief photographer. His work – and nice work if you can get it – took him to such salubrious haunts as CBGB’s, The Palladium, Mudd Club, CBGB’s, and Max’s Kansas City. The faces in the pictures are familiar: Debbie Harry, The Ramones, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Sid Vicious (and police), The Clash, Chrissie Hynde, Nico, John Cale, Talking Heads, Televisions, Patti Smith and more…

 

 

 

Reader James Wilkinson tells us about the above photo: “Late Pretenders’ bassist Pete Farndon is Chrissie Hynde’s ‘friend'”

 

I tried different kinds of jobs like bartending, taxi driving and a merchant marine to support myself. All the time I was taking pictures and looking for work and I finally found what turned out to be the best job in New York City, staff photographer, chief photographer at the Soho Weekly News. An eight-page giveaway when it started, but something that turned into one of the hippest papers. It gave me access and entrée to the art world, the music scene, nightlife, politics and showbiz. It was just an amazing job. So that’s how my passion for photography developed. At one point I went to see the famous art photographer, Ralph Gibson, who’s still a friend. And he told me when I asked him for advice; “The work will show you the way.” And that’s what happened.
– Allan Tannenbaum, La Maison Rebelle (2018)

 

 

Via ArtNet, Flavorwire