David Johansen of the New York Dolls Last night (May 20) the New York Dolls kicked off a 5 week tour at the Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA. If you like Rock and Roll you definitely should take time to see these legends if the they roll through your town. The New York Dolls originally formed around 1971 in New York. The original line up consisted more or less of Sylvain Sylvain, Johnny Thunders, David Johansen, Arthur Kane and Billy Murcia. Their strong yet poppy punk rock sound and their visual style influenced so many people from Blondie, the Ramones, Dead Boys, Motley Crue, The Clash, Guns and Roses and many new wave and glam metal groups. You know you see skaters like Jim Greco, TNT and so on sporting Johnny Thunders shirts and stuff so you know they are good. Fast forward to 2009; The band pretty much broke up in 1975, Johnny Thunders formed the Heartbreakers and died in 1991 of an alleged heroine and methadone overdose, Murcia died of suffocation after passing out on drugs and alcohol, Johansen went on to fame as Buster Poindexter, Arthur Kane died of Leukemia in 2004 shortly after a reunion of the existing members of the band. The band now consists of original members David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain plus new members Steve Conti, Sami Yaffaa and Brian Delaney all great musicians. Really the heart and soul of the band is David Johansen whose on stage persona can not be missed and Sylvain Sylvain who still plays a mean guitar. The live show is still very much rock and roll despite having been around a long time. The band has more of a swagger when they perform, no urgency to prove anything to anyone. Johansen is very much a rock star and could really do nothing else in life, except maybe act. When you watch Johansen you get the vibe of watching a legend in the flesh, like Mick Jagger or Rod Stewart. The difference is that you get see them from 5 feet away as they play in smaller clubs and not giant places sponsored by cell phone companies. Of course they played classics like Personality Crisis, Trash. Bad Girl, Looking for a Kiss, Subway Train and so on. They also played stuff from the new release Cause I Said So. It was a great show and check em out when they are in your town! www.nydolls.org
Imagine this guys life; from being hugely influential in the 70’s, watching your band members/friends die off, being huge in the 80’s and getting back together. You think this guy sweats the small stuff?
Sylvain Sylvain and Sami Yaffa 
Rock and Roll, dancing, drinking, good times and fashion 
Sylvain Sylvain and Steve Conti 
Sami, Johansen and Sylvain shredding 
Sylvain Sylvain and David Johansen
Are you feeling Hot, Hot Hot? David Johansen as Buster Poindexter in the 80’s
If you like Rock and Roll then get this record! New York Dolls self titled release, out in August 1973 - freakin 1973! 
These guys blew minds in the 70's and in 2009 you will be hard pressed to find a more fun show 
Johhny Thunders - RIP