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The self-destruction of the New York Dolls

Music Mongoose

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The New York dolls don't get enough credit for the influence they had on future bands. They broke all the rules of convention and scared the population of America. This is their fascinating story.

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20 Comments

@worksbydandeprez 9 days ago

In 1973 I made a pilgrimage to Rodney's English Disco, on Sunset. According to the rock magazines, that was where the action was that summer. When I walked in the only people there besides myself were Wild Man Fisher and the NY Dolls. I almost got into a fight with Johnny over a pinball machine. That was the closest to excitement it got at Rodney's that night.

@stevechristie2660 9 days ago

Jerry Nolan was a fantastic drummer.

@buddybear246 9 days ago (edited)

Thank you showing how good the Dolls were. It's just so sad that they've all gone to rock n roll heaven 😢. I absolutely love and adore the New York Dolls, the greatest band that ever lived ❤. New York Dolls rule ❤🎉.

@SpongeLab 9 days ago

One of those great rock bands, Arthur Kane's story is really touching. Go and watch "NEW YORK DOLL - Arthur “Killer” Kane"; it's like Arthur..... Killer

@rickdrais9737 4 days ago

No New York Dolls, no Ramones; no Punk Rock; no Pistols; no Damned; no Clash; period.

@Jipwell 5 days ago

Thanks ever so much for taking my suggestion mate! Was a great watch. All the best

@Marco-he8hz 9 days ago

David Johannsen and Johnny Thunders were described somewhere as "nightmare Mick 'n Keef clones".

@artkincell 9 days ago

Buster Poindexter would like a word.

@DnBclassictunes 9 days ago

TOGWT performence was insane

@PassengersMusic777 9 days ago

I wouldn’t say they ‘barely’ played their instruments. Arthur Killer Kane was solid, his ‘Killer’ nickname did not come from his appearance, but for him known to play ‘killer’ bass lines. Syl was a decent guitarist who bridged old 60s garage rock with punk. Johnny Thunders was probably the most deficient player but found the mark with the Heartbreakers. David Johansen is a true rock chameleon, like David Bowie almost. He did his classic lounge singer persona Buster Poindexter in the 80s. Recently he delved into folk

@edthesecond 9 days ago

David Johansen had several successful careers, as an actor, model, and musician.

@TonyYeatropoulos744 5 days ago

The NYDs are amazing!! I bought the debut in Littleton NH, having no clue what it sounded like. But my buddy, Jim A. was just as intrigued as I was, and convinced me to buy it. We both became instant fans, and that album layed spinning on my turntable for days!!!

@johndrx165 9 days ago

I used to go to out local grocery store which actually sold records back then. Two records always caught my attention because of their covers. One was Steve Miller's The Joker and the second one was The New York Dolls. It fascinated my 14 year old brain and scared me at the same time. I bought it on a whim and love it! I still have that LP, but it is pretty scratched up. I was into Black Sabbath, HEndrix, Zeppelin and Mott the Hoople etc. I do feel they were not given credit because they were too much for the time. Then Glam came and a little later, punk rock. They were pioneers and their live TV performances were great!

@dhorne2525 3 days ago

While there were lots of bands at the time who couldn't play their instruments, the New york Dolls were not one of them. Johnny Thunders, Syl Sylvain and Jerry Nolan could all play and many would consider them pretty darn good players. Not technical players necessarily, but the models for a million who came after them. Not fair to say they couldn't play.

@Bo-hb3eo 3 days ago

I love the Dolls. They were very influential to me back in the day. As a 15 or 16 year old in 1974 driving my 69 Camaro… Didn’t get any better than that. Brownsville Station, the New York Dolls, I still have the eight tracks today. Each one has its own memories.

@precisioncueservice6355 9 days ago

Always loved the Dolls in Detroit. Saw Johnny Thunders, he had stage presence and style on guitar. You can hear them both clearly on the records, Syl played clean.

@ronnieappelman3270 4 days ago

I bought their 1st album as soon as it came out. Played the crap out of it!

@Tommy-p1t7g 5 days ago

How the hell they are not in the rock n roll Hall of Fame is beyond me,

@Vikingson59 5 days ago

I love how people say "they could barely play their instruments" being a musician is similar to being a Dr. you never stop learning and improving, thats why they call it a practicing musician / Dr.

@giles7662 9 days ago (edited)

Alice Cooper predated them for much of what you said apart from the punky Rolling Stones sound. Alice Cooper were 'glamming-up' in 1968 and pretty much wrote the book on destroying the Hippy vibe and shocking the American establishment.

Alice Cooper also invented "The Rock Show".