Brad Elterman and Joan Jett

When Brad Elterman met Miley Cyrus, the photographer felt as if he’d gone back to his early days on the Sunset Strip, where he’d cut class as a teenager to take a candid shot of David Bowie walking down Fairfax Avenue and followed his runaway muse and friend – Joan Jett – from the Tropicana Motel to the Santa Monica Pier. “When I was taking her picture – It’s interesting. She turns her head a certain way in a certain pose, and she really reminded me of Joan back in the seventies,” he tells Rolling Stone.

It’s a fitting comparison, as Miley’s newest album Plastic Hearts features Joan Jett and the Blackhearts on the track “Bad Karma.” Jett isn’t the only seventies rocker to appear, either, as Billy Idol and Stevie Nicks both feature on the anticipated album. “There are moments just like a throwback to 1976, 1977, when I was there with Miley,” says Elterman. “I mean, It’s forty-plus years ago. It’s so surreal.”

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Cherie Currie of the Runaways

Cherie Currie with her twin sister Marie and Vickie Ronald in 1977.

“David Bowie, Fairfax Ave”, 1976

Even though I was in my teens, I wanted to photograph David Bowie in concert, but my request was denied by the PR at the record company. Bowie and his management were very protective of his image. Something rare back in the Seventies.

A few weeks later, I get a call from a pal that Bowie was back in town and recording nightly at Cherokee Recording Studios on Fairfax Ave. I cut school and got there before the sun came up in the early morning. Right after the sun rose from the east, Bowie emerged from the studio holding the tapes. He was followed by his producer Paul Buckmaster. I had never in my life performed a “paparazzi photo,” and it was an incredible rush as I walked with him for about 30 seconds, documenting the moment. He was so beautifully styled with the cap, red sweater, and the cigarette hanging from his face. He said two words to me, “Good Morning,” and that was it and he was gone. I never saw him again.

Shawn Mendes

Shawn Mendes at the Evil Rock N Roll Cat store in Hollywood for ‘Flaunt’ magazine in 2016.

‘The Ramones Sunset & Alta Loma,’ 1978

I was friends with the Ramones, especially Joey. I photographed them several times and noticed that they had a style to their posing. Sort of like they had been practiced in front of the mirror for years. What is rare about this photograph is that, due to the intense heat that day, they ditched their leather jackets and posed in their tees. A few years ago, I went back to the location with a TV crew and the spot was gone. The city of L.A. widened the street so, today, there are cars driving over this iconic landmark.

The Day I Shook the Hand of Bob Dylan, 1976

In every photographer’s career, there will always be a photograph that will change your career — and possibly your life too. This was the case when I got to meet and photograph Bob Dylan in the dressing room of the Roxy Theatre in 1976.

Ronee Blakley was performing a showcase at the Roxy Theatre on the Sunset Strip. She knew that I adored Dylan and made sure that I was on the guest list. It was not a tip-off but a “Come and Enjoy the Show” invite. Guess who shows up and takes a seat in the VIP section?

After the set, Dylan was escorted backstage and I was right behind him. Ronnee made the legendary introduction. Bob was incredibly friendly, remarking that I looked a bit like him! He even gave me a really limp handshake that was not all that impressive: But hey, it was Dylan! Ronee grabbed him and we did this amazing set of photographs. I was in heaven. Bob set up another group shot of him with a new actor named Robert De Niro and a host of other friends that included musician David Blue, actress/singer Lanie Kazan, actresses Martine Getty, and Sally Kirkland. I did not have a clue who any of these folks were, but I just shot away!

Dani Miller of Surfbort

Dani Miller of Surfbort in New York City.

Debbie Harry’s Early Visits to Los Angeles

Debbie Harry was such an exciting person to photograph. The camera adored her and she loved having her photo being taken — which is a rare match in my industry. Blondie’s first Whiskey A Go Go concert in Los Angeles was a big deal. I was hired by their record company and brilliant manager, Toby Mamis, to do the official photographs. Not that getting backstage to a concert in 1977 was all that difficult, but it always helped when you were taking photos for the band.

Sunflower Bean, 2017

Sunflower Bean photographed for ‘Whitelies’ magazine at Villa Le Reve in Los Angeles.

Gene and Brooke, 1978

Gene Simmons from Kiss and Brooke Shields at the Blondie party at Fiourcci in Beverly Hills.