NEW YORK DOLLS
These New York City icons were perhaps the closest thing in spirit and look to punk, before anyone knew what punk was. Combining their love of The Rolling Stones, girl-groups, and glam rock, David Johannsen (vocals) Johnny Thunders (guitar) Arthur Kane (bass) Billy Murcia (drums) and Syl Sylvain (guitar), created something extraordinary and extraordinarily sleazy. Solidifying their live sound with a residency at the Mercer Arts Center, they soon began turning heads especially their glammed up, cross-dressing image. But they were too wild to be picked up, even by the bravest labels. During a trip to England, Billy Murcia became the first Doll's casualty, dying of a drug overdose. Back home, he was replaced by Jerry Nolan, and finally they found a home at Mercury Records. They were put in the studio with king of power pop Todd Rundgren, an unusual combination that seemed to work. Their debut album "New York Dolls" (1973) was a powerful testament to the band featuring the classic "Personality Crisis". The follow up had legendary girl-group producer George "Shadow" Morton in the chair, to add an extra sheen to the group's sound. But both records failed to pierce the top 100, and the band were dropped from the labels roster. Deciding to shift direction, they found new management in London fashion guru Malcolm McLaren, later to manage The Sex Pistols. McLaren began to experiment with the shock tactics he would employ so well with the Pistols, but they back-fired with The Dolls. Dressing them in red leather and presenting them in front of a huge Russian flag, he tried to pass them off as Communists. Neither the public or any record labels were impressed. Disillusioned, and racked with personnel and drug problems the group ground to a halt in 1977. Thunders and Nolan formed the Heartbreakers, but heroin problems dogged their career. They died within months of each other, Thunders of an overdose, Nolan of a stroke. Despite their problems, the Dolls provided a pivotal bridge between the rock of the past and the punks of the future. SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY
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