Glen E. Friedman Explained

Glen E. Friedman
Birth Name:	Glen Ellis Friedman
Birth Date:	March 3, 1962
Birth Place:	North Carolina, United States
Known For:	Photography

Glen Ellis Friedman (born March 3, 1962) is an American photographer^[1] and artist. He became known for his activities within rebellious skateboarding and music cultures. Photographing artists Fugazi,^[2] Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Circle Jerks, Minor Threat, Misfits, Bad Brains, Beastie Boys, Suicidal Tendencies, Slayer, Run-DMC, KRS-One, and Public Enemy, as well as classic skateboarding originators Tony Alva, Jay Adams, Alan Gelfand, Duane Peters, and Stacy Peralta, among others.

Friedman's photography has been published in over a dozen of his books as well as in many other publications, including record covers,^[3] and has been exhibited in art galleries and museums internationally. His work is held in various photography collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.^[4]

Early life

As a pre-teen Friedman rode skateboards in the embanked schoolyards of West Los Angeles along with others who would revolutionize the activity. In late 1976, while he was still in junior high school, Friedman corralled some of his friends, who were beginning to be featured in magazines, into riding in an empty swimming pool so he could make pictures. He showed the results to a freelance SkateBoarder writer, who put Friedman in touch with the editor. SkateBoarder published photographs by Friedman as a full-page subscription advertisement. He soon after became their youngest staff member.

Career

Several years later Friedman began to photograph at punk shows. Black Flag received some of their first media documentation through Friedman's work.^[5] In 1981, he photographed his first record album cover, Adolescents by Adolescents.^[6] As well as many other punk record covers including Minor Threat's Salad Days EP. Friedman's self-published punk zine, My Rules: Photozine (1982), sold 10,000 copies and was the largest selling zine of the era.^[7]

Friedman managed punk band Suicidal Tendencies and in 1983 produced their eponymous debut album.

In 1985, Friedman was introduced to Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons, after creating some memorable Beastie Boys photos, before they were widely known. Friedman began working with them and their newly formed Def Jam Records, promoting Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Ice-T and Run-DMC. He also photographed many of their album covers and publicity materials, including the covers of Public Enemy's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, and Beastie Boys' Check Your Head.^[8] Many of his photographs have become recognized as the subjects' definitive portraits.^[9] In 1987 he relocated back to New York.

Friedman has collaborated with artist Shepard Fairey, many times, including limited edition prints based on Friedman's photographs.^{[10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]}

In 2004, Friedman created the "Liberty Street Protest" at Ground Zero in New York City. Its provocative anti-war sentiment received attention internationally. It was "re-visited" in 2010 in support of Freedom of Religion, and the placement of a mosque a few blocks away from Ground Zero in New York City.^[18]

In 2012, Friedman was inducted as an "Icon" into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame.^{[19] [20]}

Personal life

Friedman is a progressive political activist, shuns intoxicants (straight edge), and follows a vegan diet.^{[21] [22] [23]} He lives in New York City.^[24]

Publications

• My Rules: Photozine. Self-published, 1982.
• Fuck You Heroes: Glen E. Friedman photographs 1976–1991. Self-published / Burning Flags, 1994. . With an introduction by C.R. Stecyk III. A collection of his better-known photographs of skateboarding, punk, and hip hop subcultures spanning 1976 to 1991.
• Fuck You Too: The Extras + More Scrapbook. ConSafos, 1996. Second edition, 2005. . With commentary by C.R. Stecyk III and an afterword by Sam Sifton.
• The Idealist
  • The Idealist: Glen E. Friedman – In My Eyes – 20 Years. ConSafos, 1998. .
  • The Idealist: Glen E. Friedman – In My Eyes – 25 Years (1976–2001). Self-published / Burning Flags, 2003. .
• Dogtown: The Legend of the Z-Boys. Self-published / Burning Flags, 2000. C.R. Stecyk III and Glen E. Friedman. .
  • Dogtown: The Legend of the Z-Boys – Expanded edition. Akashic / Burning Flags, 2019. C.R. Stecyk III and Friedman. .
• Recognize. Self-published / Burning Flags, 2005. . With a preface by Peter Lamborn Wilson.
• Keep Your Eyes Open: The Fugazi Photographs of Glen E. Friedman. Self-published / Burning Flags, 2007. .
  • Akashic / Burning Flags, 2019. Expanded second edition . With an introduction by Ian F. Svenonius.
• My Rules. Rizzoli, 2014. . A different publication than the 1982 publication of the same name.
• Together Forever: The Run-DMC and Beastie Boys Photographs of Glen E. Friedman. Rizzoli, 2019. . With an introduction by Chris Rock.
• What I See: The Black Flag Photographs of Glen E. Friedman. Akashic / Burning Flags, 2022. First edition. . With an introduction by Chuck Dukowski.
• Just a Minor Threat: The Minor Threat Photographs of Glen E. Friedman. Akashic / Burning Flags, 2023. First edition. .

Films with contributions by Friedman

• A Look Back at DogTown and Z-Boys (2021) – director, producer, cinematographer
• Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001) – co-producer and creative consultant
• (2014) – associate producer and creative consultant
• Saving Banksy (2017) – himself
• Obey Giant (2017) – himself

Solo exhibitions

• Fuck You All, Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, 1997; Sydney, 1998; Tokyo, 1998; Rome, 1998; Florence, 1998; Milan, 1998; Berlin, 1999; Stockholm, 1999; Chicago, 1999; Washington, D.C., 2000; Philadelphia, 2000; Stockholm, 2000; Los Angeles, 2002; Antwerp, Belgium, 2007; Krakow, Poland, 2009; Dublin, 2010; San Francisco, 2010;^[25] Canary Islands, Spain, 2014.
• The Idealist, Los Angeles, 2004
• Idealist Propaganda, Subliminal Projects, Los Angeles, 2008 ^[26] Retrospective exhibition.
• My Rules, ATP Gallery at 14 Henrietta St, London, November 21, 2014 – January 18, 2015.^[27]
• The Burning Flags Tour, Barcelona, Spain, 2022; ^[28] Paris, France 2023 ^[29]

Collections

Friedman's work is held in the following public collections:

• Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York.^[30]
• Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, Berkeley, California.^[31]
• Smithsonian Institution, Photographic History Collection, National Museum of American History. Washington D.C.^{[32] [33]}
• Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Houston, Texas.^[34]
• Morgan Library and Museum, New York, New York.^[35]
• Stanford University, Stanford, California.^[36]
• New York Public Library, New York, New York.^[37]
• University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.^[38]
• Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.^[39]
• Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.^[40]
• Wolfsonian-FIU, Miami Beach, Florida.^[33]
• W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts.^[33]

External links

• Burning Flags site dedicated to Glen E. Friedman's Archive and latest information.
• Glen E. Friedman collection at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History (Photographic History collection)

Notes and References

1. News: Documentary Glen E. Friedman on the Golden Eras of Skateboarding, Punk Rock, and Hip Hop. September 16, 2014 . December 10, 2017 . Jeanette . Moses . American Photo .
2. Web site: Glen E Friedman: playing by his own rules. June 12, 2015 . Leonie . Cooper . . November 25, 2014 .
3. News: Beats, punks and stunts: the photography of Glen E Friedman. November 29, 2014 . June 12, 2015 . Killian . Fox . .
4. Web site: Metropolitan Museum of Art . . May 1, 2011.
5. http://www.southern.com/BURNINGFLAGS/introduction.html Fuck You Heroes
6. "The Adolescents", Artistdirect. Accessed June 13, 2015.
7. Web site: There's Something Hard in There: A look inside the 'My Rules' photozine with man behind the lens Glen e. Friedman. March 3, 2012.
8. News: Behind the Cover Photo: On Digging Up a Super-Rare Shot of Adam Yauch. January 1, 2013 . June 12, 2015 . Amy . Kellner . .
9. http://burningflags.com/press/warp.html Warp magazine
10. Web site: Rollins 81 . Shepard . Fairey . Shepard Fairey . May 1, 2011.
11. Web site: Keith Morris Prints . Shepard . Fairey . Shepard Fairey .
12. Web site: Ice-T og (Blue).
13. Web site: Public Enemy. Obey Giant.
14. Web site: Jeff Ho Zephyr (Gold).
15. Web site: Jello Biafra. Obey Giant.
16. Web site: Cornel West Print.
17. Web site: Bad Brains Collaboration Print. Obey Giant.
18. News: Rap mogul's 'paned' plea for tolerance . . Rebecca . Harshbarger . August 25, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100927101618/http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/rap_mogul_paned_plea_for_tolerance_q9RdZHUAMGKdkSE6VVTR5H . September 27, 2010 . mdy-all .
19. News: May 2012. 2012 Skateboarding Hall of Fame Induction. Transworld Business.
20. Web site: Skateboarding Hall of Fame 2012 Inductees. skateboardinghalloffame.org.
21. News: Glen E. Friedman . Herbivore Magazine . Fall 2003 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071012140030/http://www.burningflags.com/press/herbivore.php . October 12, 2007 .
22. Web site: "If it's not your life then get the fuck out" – A Chat with Glen E. Friedman (2010). American Suburb X. November 8, 2010. May 8, 2016.
23. Web site: Vegetarianism in skateboarding (1978 to 2015) . www.christiankoeder.com . 6 May 2024 . en . 23 December 2011.
24. Web site: Official Biography . Glen E. Friedman . May 1, 2011.
25. http://www.photoireland.org/2010/programme/event/fuck-you-all "Photo Ireland Festival"
26. Web site: Idealist Propaganda: The Raw Power of Glen E. Friedman . . Jeff . Weiss . December 14, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090121071703/http://blogs.laweekly.com/play/weiss/the-raw-power-of-glen-e-friedm/ . January 21, 2009 . mdy-all .
27. News: Glen E Friedman's photographs from the births of hip-hop and hardcore punk – in pictures. November 29, 2014 . June 12, 2015 . Killian . Fox . .
28. News: Entrevista a Glen E. Friedman (Burning Flags Tour Barcelona). June 8, 2022 . July 31, 2023 . John . López . Centralzine .
29. News: DE BLACK FLAG AUX BEASTIE BOYS, ILS DISENT TOUS MERCI AUX PHOTOS DE GLEN E. FRIEDMAN. July 20, 2023 . July 31, 2023 . Maxime . Delcourt . .
30. Web site: Glen e. Friedman | Tony Alva, Trespassing in Beverly Hills .
31. Web site: Newly Acquired Glen e. Friedman Photographs Capture the Searing Energy of the Nascent Hardcore and Skateboarding Scenes | BAMPFA. May 2, 2011 .
32. The Smithsonian does not list all collections on-line, but the curator Shannon Perich was reached for confirmation.
33. Web site: Bio | Glen e. Friedman.
34. Web site: Search Results for glen e. Friedman.
35. Web site: Glen e. Friedman selected works 1: Ten photographs. 2013. 894118097 .
36. Book: Glen e. Friedman selected works 1: Ten photographs. 2013.
37. Web site: Wallach Prints and Photos Search Results.
38. http://catalog.library.ucla.edu/vwebv/search?searchCode1=GKEY&searchType=2&searchArg1=ucoclc872685175
39. http://findingaids.library.emory.edu/documents/friedman1341/printable/
40. Web site: Search Results | Cornell University Library Catalog .