New York Dolls preview
New York Dolls
115 Bourbon St., Merrionette Park
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Reunions are so common in today’s popular music that it has become nearly impossible to surprise anyone anymore. But we’d like to meet the person who predicted the New York Dolls’ comeback.
How could you? Almost everyone is dead. Drugs and booze killed original drummer Billy Murcia in 1972; his replacement, Jerry Nolan, suffered a lethal heart attack in 1991 — the same year founding guitarist Johnny Thunders died from a heroin overdose (did you know: a pre-W.A.S.P. Blackie Lawless played guitar in the Dolls for a few weeks in 1975 after Thunders quit). That left three original members, vocalist David Johansen, guitarist Syl Sylvain (who technically was the second second Dolls guitarist), and bassist Arthur Kane for the band’s fist reunion at the 2004 Meltdown Festival in London. Unfortunately, three became two when Kane suddenly fell ill to Leukemia and died just weeks after the show.
You can’t keep good men dressed as a streetwalking teenage girls down, though. Johansen and Sylvain liked the response the band’s return so much they decided to keep going. Former Hanoi Rocks bassist Sami Yaffa, guitarist Steve Conte, keyboardist Brian Koonin, and drummer Brian Delaney were added and a new record, One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This (Roadrunner), was released earlier this year. While it would take a lot of nerve to call the group who helped draw the blueprint for trashy ’80s glam rock “polished,” One Day is more polished than the Dolls’ two previous efforts, 1973’s self-titled and ’74’s Too Much Too Soon, but then again, so is your 16-year-old cousin’s demo. The record definitely showcases much stronger musicianship as well, maybe because of the addition of Conte, Yaffa, Koonin, and Delaney. Here’s hoping they brought their favorite good luck charms along with that musicianship!
The New York Dolls headline Little Steven’s Garage Concert, which also features the Supersuckers, Chesterfield Kings, and The Charms.
— Trevor Fisher
Click here to listen to “Take A Good Look At My Good Looks.”
Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly
Johansen is an artist/performer no matter what guise he adopts – and Conte is a great guitarist – We can’t live in the past let’s enjoy what we’ve got- ’cause soooo much out there sucks in the “music industry” – the new release is very good – Yay Dolls – Now in regard to hometown treasures – Pezband & Off Broadway are doing a show – and that is fantastic – you are lucky to have them – Cliff is a genius – &, if he’s playing in the Pezband, Tommy Gawenda ROCKS!!!!!!!!
The Dolls weren’t all that good to start with. The best thing they gave us was KISS, who have said that because the Dolls did drag, they opted for make-up.
Hopefully, Cliff will leave the chainsaw at home for the Pezband reunion…
Don’t say nothin’ bad about this cowboy