Anna Summa's "The Beautiful & The Damned"

The Beautiful & The Damned by Kristine McKenna
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ah my youth.  I appreciate it now that I am rotting in old age.  But alas, the memory of what I was is very similar to what I am.    Ann Summa is a photographer who was at the right time (late 1970's to early 1980's) right place (Los Angeles) , and the right subject matter - contemporary punk era rock musicians.   Exene of X is for sure the star of the book, but lurking in the pages are images of the Underrated Screamers, The Alleycats, and various individuals who made up the punk scene in those beautiful days.


And no, I am not in the book, but alas I was in the audience for a lot of the shows that are represented by the likes of John Lydon (Rotten) and others.  Turning the pages of this beautiful designed book I almost fall into the past - but alas the future is bright and the present is not so bad.   I am happy that i was there, but now, equally happy here.


Some in the book are now gone, but not forgotten.  And like the character in the Cornell Woolrich novel who smashes his watch to remember a certain time to stand still ..... this book allows one to visit their past - and for those who don't share this past, at the very least its a group of beautiful portraits caught by the skills of Anna Summa.


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