Beastie Boys Santa Monica December 1991
Steve Olson Lance's October 1983
swept the mass-media, Suicidal
the skate industry leaders of the Eventually, Glen began to shoot
these artists and worked with
time. Governmental types referred the gigs which he and his friends appealed to a large cult following. them to advance their views.
to the no-holds-barred aggro social
Friedman also shot, directed and While Friedman might not agree
stance depicted by Glen's skate
published the influential photo with the specifics of a given
subjects as "irresponsible journal-
book My Rules, one of the first
ism which served as a blueprint
comprehensive books of the early
for teenage civil disobedience."
American hardcore punk scene.
were attending. His passionate
devotion to his subjects led to
eventual widespread dissemina
tion. Proto punks such as Black
Flag received their first general
documentation via Friedman in
SkateBoarder and Action Now.
Music was an integral part of
Glen Friedman's early documen
skateboarding, and hardcore punk
tation of seminal rappers such as
was the choice of most. The potent Glen produced and managed Run DMC, Public Enemy, Ice T.
distilled chaos of the Dogtown Suicidal Tendencies, the first LL Cool J was instrumental in
skate scene meshed perfectly with crossover skate/gang/cult band. advancing the work of these
the unrestrained sounds of the Their multi-ethic urban-oriented artists and revealing them to a
punks. Both activities were at that outlook perfectly mirrored the wider audience. Glen sympathized
point decidedly non-commercial Dogtown environs. Years before with the profoundly political and
and exclusively youth generated. such aberrations as "gang fashion" oftentimes revolutionary bent of
artists' stance he insists on the
right of an individual to be heard.
GEF's political outlook tends to be
open-ended although he can, and
often does, adroitly lecture on such
topics as eco-aware photography,
the politics of vegetarianism,
racism, censorship and discrimi.
nation against youth. In short,
Friedman is politically perceptive.
and gets the shot to back it up.
-CR Stecyk III
61