Susie Horgan needed subjects for her photography class at American University, so she took a job at the Haagen-Dazs store in Georgetown, and started photographing a couple of punks who worked there: Henry Rollins and Ian MacKaye.
Here's a picture from Punk Love, Horgan's book of photos documenting the birth of hardcore. The kid is Bad Brains frontman H.R.'s son. Hope that worked out alright.
Photographer chronicles the early history of punk: article and slideshow [miami.com via tmn]
Related: Is that Chet Baker and the kid he used to get drunk?
Previously: Minimaniac's 80's Orange County punk concert flyer bodysuits
In the audio tour, Capitol of Punk, MacKaye talks about how great the classic hardcore DC open-air venue Fort Reno is--because you can bring the kids.
I grew up in Arlington, VA and went to alot of these shows. It's great to see these photographs. HB Woodlawn (one of the places shown in the slideshow) is the highschool I went to! The music scene in Washington, D.C. was amazing. Groundbreaking. Raw, and real-moment. I am now 34, turning 35 in August. And although I am 23 years older from when I started going to shows, seeing these photos takes me instantly back, and I remember it all. Being 'punk' back then was not 'cool'. Skaters and punks did not have 'Hot Topic' stores in shopping malls. Most of my friends who were punk/skater boys got beaten up or harrassed everyday at school. It wasn't as hip, accessible or mainstream as it is now. And I am not sure if it makes it more kosher back then, or easier to accept now.
What I do know, is that I am so thankful to have been a part of it then. And that the growing zygote in my belly (Due date: May 4th) will be raised listening to Minor Threat, Government Issue, as well as The Shins and current cool stuff. I already got him some Spicoli checkerboard size 2 toddler slip on Vans. Thanks for posting this entry. I am gonna go get me a copy now. You all should also check out Dance of Days: Two Decades of Punk in the Nation's Capital and Banned in D C: Photos and Anecdotes from the Dc Punk Underground .
[thanks, Jasmine. Meanwhile, I had no idea that Haagen-Dasz was so cool. -ed.]
My college girlfriend, S, grew up in DC and worked for Henry R at the G'town HD in high school. We were both photo majors at the Savannah College of Art and Design. She was a huge Minor Threat/Ian Mackaye fan and took me over to Dischord to meet those guys when we traveled back to DC one weekend. Sadly, S is no longer living, so I will have to contact Susie Horgan and see if she knew her and has any good pics.