The New York Dolls - Glam, Drag And Rock 'N' Roll

The New York Dolls appeared in NYC the cusp of Blondie and the Ramones and the Talking Heads, and their arrogant music and no holds barred stage presence is a legend among fans of hardcore punk and rock 'n'roll.

Known primarily to rock critics and the fringey underbelly of New York rockers, the Dolls formed in the Village in 1971, long before punk or glam or even Kiss. They epitomized everything that was forbidden about rock and then some - the loud snarling, bluesy music, the preening, posturing attitude, the make-up and glittery, tarty, gold llame outfits on guys, no less. Guys who dressed like bottom of the barrel female hookers and played guitar with the same hard, nasty attitude of the Stones or Aerosmith or any band that came before or after. The original incarnation of the Dolls included David Johansen on vocals, Johnny Thunders and Syl Sylvain on guitar, Arthur "Killer" Kane on bass and drummer Andy Murcia.

After amassing notoriety in the New York music scene, the band set forth overseas, for its first tour of England - and it's first causality, as drummer Murcia OD'ed. He was replaced by Jerry Nolan, and the band signed to Mercury records for two classic albums The New York Dolls and Too Much, Too Soon. The self-titled album, released in 1972, contains the signature song Personality Crisis which introduced David Johansen's snarling Mick Jagger/drag queen/decadent rocker persona to an unsuspecting world. With lyrics virtually indistinguishable from comic book fodder, (or merely indistinguishable), and the lethal kitsch of Lookin' For a Kiss. When Johansen announces "When I say I'm in Love, you'd best believe I'm in love, L-U-V" it's funny and sassy enough to knock you out of your chair, even without the Hedwig and the Angry Inch visuals. Their second and last studio album Too Much, Too Soon perpetrated this fusing of Johnny Thunders' sleazy riffs and outrageous storylines, i.e. Bad Detective, the infamous, corny cover of Stranded In The Jungle.

Although the records made a splash among underground rock fans, they failed to chart in mainstream American waters. Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren took over the PR helm for the band after they were dropped from Mercury, but all the original members except for Sylvain and Johansen dropped out, and the band soon faded away. Thunders formed his own band and later died of a drug overdose in 1991. Drummer Jerry Nolan passed away soon afterward. Johansen is now better known as Buster Poindexter and shuns any mention of his beginnings as a New York Doll. Sylvain, however still acknowledges his stint as a Doll and now performs solo.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic