When photographer Ann Summa arrived in Los Angeles in 1978, the cityis punk scene was still fresh and diverse. She saw immediately that the L.A. audience was close-knit, smart, able to recognize punk energies in predecessors as various as Captain Beefheart and Nina Simone, and refusing of the punk stereotype ossification that was shortly to became so entrenched. "Los Angeles" is Ann Summais portrait of the musicians, artists and fans who made the city such a fertile venue during the late 70s and early 80s. Taken between 1978 and 1984, the images mostly revolve around L.A.is first punk generation, with vivid portraits of the Germs, the Screamers, X, the Cramps and Gun Club, among many others. From there, the bookis scope expands to accommodate the cross-pollination that took place between L.A.is punk scene and the fine art community (the audience for artists such as the Kipper Kids, Johanna Went and Laurie Anderson was primarily drawn from the underground music scene), as well as other key cities that helped give birth to punk. Photographed during their first U.S. tours are U.K. groups The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Magazine, The Fall, The Slits, Bow Wow Wow and The Pretenders, among others. Visiting dignitaries from New York include Television, James Chance, Lydia Lunch and Talking Heads. Also included are portraits of several artists who served as inspirations to L.A.is punk community--Captain Beefheart, Iggy Pop, David Bowie and Roxy Music--plus candid shots of unidentified audience members. Edited and with an introduction by Kristine McKenna, "Los Angeles" includes 95 previously unpublished images.
Ann Summa studied photography in Japan, and has worked for such magazines as "Fortune," "People" and "The New York Times."