NEW YORK DOLLS
The New York Dolls are an American hard rock band formed in New York City in 1971. Along with the Velvet Underground and the Stooges, they were one of the first bands in the early punk rock scene. The line-up at this time comprised vocalist David Johansen, guitarist Johnny Thunders, bassist Arthur Kane, guitarist and pianist Sylvain Sylvain, and drummer Jerry Nolan; the latter two had replaced Rick Rivets and Billy Murcia, respectively, in 1972. On stage, the New York Dolls donned an androgynous wardrobe, wearing high heels, eccentric hats, and satin. Nolan described the group at the time as “the Dead End Kids of today”. (More from Wikipedia)
New York Dolls were a more recent proto-punk band that was formed in 1971. Their first two albums, New York Dolls (1973) and Too Much Too Soon (1974) slid in just ahead of the punk rock movement proper. The classic line-up was David Johansen (vocals), Johnny Thunders (guitar), Arthur Kane (bass), Sylvain Sylvain (guitar and piano), and Jerry Nolan (drums).
After New York Dolls broke up in 1977, David Johansen released the well regarded “Animals Medley” and later reinvented himself as Buster Poindexter. Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan left New York Dolls in the spring of 1975 and formed the punk rock band the Heartbreakers with future Voidoids frontman Richard Hell,
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New York Dolls were famous for dressing in makeup, satin outfits, and high heels, quite a counterpoint to their hard-driving rock music. They got the idea from past UARB the Klubs, who cross-dressed back in the 1960’s.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine gives the band their due in his write-up for Allmusic: “The New York Dolls created punk rock before there was a term for it. Building on the Rolling Stones’ dirty rock & roll, Mick Jagger’s androgyny, girl group pop, the Stooges’ anarchic noise, and the glam rock of David Bowie and T. Rex, the New York Dolls created a new form of hard rock that presaged both punk rock and heavy metal. Their drug-fueled, shambolic performances influenced a generation of musicians in New York and London, who all went on to form punk bands. And although they self-destructed quickly, the band’s first two albums remain among the most popular cult records in rock & roll history.”
(December 2016)
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