Front man, ladies’ man, songwriter, journalist, author, and sometimes actor – there are many labels one could assign Richard Hell. But above all, the Kentucky-born polymath is known as the inventor of punk rock, carving out a sound and style in the early 70s with his involvement in several influential, early punk bands including Television, Neon Boys, The Heartbreakers and his own project, Richard Hell & The Voidoids, that informed generations of music to follow. With his spiked hair and DIY torn, sliced and drawn-on shirts, often held together with safety pins, Hell can also be credited for casting some of the most time-honored iconography of punk.

Not one to rest on his laurels, these days you can find Hell toiling away at one thing or another - including an upcoming reading created in collaboration with the British musician and producer Haxan Cloak, who will supply accompanying music. The event takes place as part of the Summer Happenings series at The Broad, a new contemporary art museum in downtown Los Angeles.