Today in Local Punk Rock History (48 years after 11-19-77)
I recently found three online posts that involve me from various stages of my career, which I will post in coming days in chronological order. These events are from 1977, 1983 and 2016 (Ooops! Already posted the 1983 one).
This was inspired by someone’s post from exactly three years ago (11-19-22) that was titled “Today in Punk Rock History”. It commemorates an unfortunate Joey Ramone incident that occurred at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, NJ, on 11-19-77 – 45 years (to the day) prior to that post – and uses my definitive photo of what happened that night (and NO, I was not aware of the usage until I found it recently………….and watermarked it).
Here is the article and its attachments (shouldn’t his title’s last word be “Past” instead of “Post”?) :
By the way, that NBC appearance on Tom Snyder’s “Tomorrow” show was on 9-1-81. Sometime after that, I hand-wrote a letter to Joey (it’s only dated as “9/81”). It’s rather lengthy, so I am not going to enjoy typing it out, but here it is:
Joey,
For the 4th time, I now introduce myself as the photographer who took the Capitol burn shot of you. The 3rd time resulted in your outburst at the “Tomorrow” show. The first two times (Capitol 1978 and Asbury Park), you said nothing about you not wanting it published. What am I supposed to be – a mind-reader? Now it’s published and you’re pissed. I suppose you got equally mad at the magazine’s art person (who picked it out of the 40 or so slides that I gave) and the printer (for the crummy color separations).
You’ve still never said why you feel that way. Sure, it’s not a complimentary picture, but if you will can the ego for a minute, it’s a piece of Ramones history…not a pretty one, but it’s something that happened to you that Ramones fans heard about and can now see the seriousness of it. And unlike Creem, which would have put some terrible caption under it (and you know it), Hit Parader’s was entirely factual. And since when is rock all happy moments?
For your information, Linda Stein was so taken with it, that she told Sire publicity to buy it, but Janis Schacht had no budget and did not.
I’ve shot the band for at least 4 years and was still interested enough to come into the city for a 2nd time that day to catch you on “Tomorrow”. So what do I get for my interest in the band and for doing my job? Eloquent verbiage from Joey Ramone: “Asshole” and threats of murder (!) upon future publication.
Listen, my agency has that shot and may spread it around the world (and the Federal Copyright Law says I can do what I want with it editorially). If you had chosen a more acceptable way to convey your message, I could have pulled it out of circulation, but I won’t lift a finger now after your tantrum, unless better communication is forthcoming. I have to deal every day with the prima donnas of rock (a group I never thought you’d be in) and I’ve never gotten an outburst + threats from any of them.
You must think it’s just business and money to me. The fact that I’m writing this to you should tell you otherwise – if I didn’t give a shit, I wouldn’t bother. The fact that rock mags pay shit and Hit Parader pays ½ of that, should tell you more.
I also gave up my chance to shoot you guys on the panel during the break because I chose to explain my position to one of your people. I also knew enough to walk away from your verbal garbage, because you were about to go on and I still cared enough to not want to affect your performance in a negative way.
And you’ve got a lot of nerve complaining about me! Maybe you’d like to pay me for using one of my shots in “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School” without my permission.
Anyway, I still like the band and the music. You……..I’ll reserve judgment. I’m still open and willing to work with you if you can come up with something a bit more civil. If not, that’s your business. Just remember, future publication depends on future communication by you.
Good Luck,
Bob Leafe
I never heard from him again (gee, what a surprise!), but subsequent shows in ’86 and ’87 were shot without any problems.
NEXT UP: The photographers unite in 1983 to form AMPS (what the hell is THAT?).
Note: As I mentioned above, that post is already out there. If you’re interested in knowing all the crap we had to deal with:
https://iaintjustmusic.bobleafe.com/?p=24925
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