New York Dolls
New York Dolls, ‘New York Dolls’, 1973. Sex, drugs, rock n roll from Noo Yoik! The debut album that sold zilch but, like the Stooges, MC5 and Velvet Underground, helped influence Punk and saved the world. Guitarist Sylvain Sylvain just died, making singer David Johansen the only member left alive. They looked like Glam Rock transvestites who grew up with proper rock n roll, (like Bo Diddley, whose ‘Pills’ they cover here). Their mission was to make rock sexy and fun again in the face of 20-minute Prog piano solos. They succeeded, not least because they had Johnny Thunders on guitar. (Was there ever a cooler name for a guitar player?) Just the band name and cover got them banned.
Big dumb chords, slashing guitars, riffs, tight but sloppy drums, Cro-Magnon bass, dazed ballads, slouching sax, louche vocals and yelps, hand claps even. Sleazy trash-junky fun. Famously described as ‘mock rock’ they were 4 Real. ‘Jet Boy’ alone secures their place in the Book of Rock. Play LOUD!
New York Dolls
New York Dolls, ‘New York Dolls’, 1973. Sex, drugs, rock n roll from Noo Yoik! The debut album that sold zilch but, like the Stooges, MC5 and Velvet Underground, helped influence Punk and saved the world. Guitarist Sylvain Sylvain just died, making singer David Johansen the only member left alive. They looked like Glam Rock transvestites who grew up with proper rock n roll, (like Bo Diddley, whose ‘Pills’ they cover here). Their mission was to make rock sexy and fun again in the face of 20-minute Prog piano solos. They succeeded, not least because they had Johnny Thunders on guitar. (Was there ever a cooler name for a guitar player?) Just the band name and cover got them banned.
Big dumb chords, slashing guitars, riffs, tight but sloppy drums, Cro-Magnon bass, dazed ballads, slouching sax, louche vocals and yelps, hand claps even. Sleazy trash-junky fun. Famously described as ‘mock rock’ they were 4 Real. ‘Jet Boy’ alone secures their place in the Book of Rock. Play LOUD!