23141 fans
Taking the garage blues and androgynous sexuality of the Rolling Stones and perverting it with the pulsating raw energy of Iggy and the Stooges and MC5, New York Dolls became the prototype punk band, a huge influence on the Sex Pistols, Ramones and Guns N' Roses. Full of cross-dressing flamboyance, outsider rebellion and pulse-racing anarchic spirit, their place in rock'n'roll history is well-established, despite only releasing two cult albums New York Dolls (1973) and Too Much Too Soon (1974). Briefly managed by Malcolm McLaren, the band split in 1977 with their notorious reputation making them pariahs to the mainstream record labels. Guitarist Johnny Thunders went on to become a punk icon with his band The Heartbreakers, while front man David Johansen pursued a solo career. They were reunited in 2004 when Morrissey (formerly head of the band's UK fan club) asked them to play at the Meltdown Festival, and they went on to release the albums One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This (2006) and Cause I Sez So (2009).
Artist biography compiled by BDS/West 10. All rights reserved
