New York Dolls - Sunrise in the Valley of the Dolls
» New York Dolls - Hi-Fi, The, VIC - March 26, 2007
In 1971, the New York Dolls invented punk rock.
At least they were a rhythm and blues rock and roll band that was a continuation of the movement started by the MC5 and Iggy Pop. This movement resulted in the coining of the phrase “Punk” and forging the future of rock’n’roll. And they happened to wear high heels and make-up.
Coming after the Velvet Underground and directly before the Sex Pistols (Malcom Maclaren fell in love with them and unsuccessfully tried to managed the band before he “created” the Pistols), the sound of the New York Dolls was responsible for fueling the music of many punk bands and their bold femme-fashion directly influenced the stylings of all glam rock bands to follow.
It has been 36 years since the Dolls first formed and pioneered a form of what we now know as 3 chord punk rock. And 30 years since they broke up. In that time they have lost friends and fellow band members, including the legendary guitarist Johnny Thunders, to drugs and other rock lifestyle related mishaps. In 2004, the three remaining members, front man David Johansen, guitarist Sylvain Sylvain and bassist Arthur “Killer” Kane decided to reform the band on Morrissey’s (a big fan) insistence for the Meltdown Festival. The gig was a resounding success. Unfortunately shortly after, Arthur Kane was unexpectedly diagnosed with leukemia and passed away. David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain decided however to stay together and record a new album. I spoke to Sylvain about the new album and the rebirth of New York Dolls.
Recently released One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This features guitarist Steve Conte, bassist Sami Yaffa (former member of Hannoi Rocks), Keyboardist Brian Koonin and drummer Brian Delaney. But these are not some ring-ins or session musicians. From the very first track, written by Sami Yaffa, we can here the new members’ part in the evolution of New York Dolls.
The core of the group however has remained the same with David Johansen writing most of the lyrics and Sylvain Sylvain most of the music. Sylvain explained n his thick Brooklyn inflexion, how his songs speak to him.
“If you listen to the song it’s going to call out to you. It’s going to tell you “You know what; I need a French horn here” A French horn you say? Have you been drinking? What the hell have you been smoking? But that’s how I write a song.”
And while there a no French horns on the new album, it called for three very special guests, all very important in the history of New York Dolls. Bo Diddley, who greatly influenced the Dolls and whose songs they played back in the day, Iggy Pop, their contemporary and fellow punk pioneer and Michael Stipe who as he told Sylvain, would never have formed REM if it wasn’t for the music of New York Dolls.
According to the management it also called for more “star power” but there were suggested “stars” that Sylvain was insulted by and had to flatly reject. He said one was a very well known singer and would have surely increased record sales but would have been like “inviting the enemy into the camp”. Sylvain was tight lipped about the particulars however so unfortunately we miss out on some juicy goss.
In the 1970’s New York Dolls were one of the most important bands to come out of the US. But unbelievably they never got paid by their record company not a cent. After the 70s Sylvain Sylvain definitely didn’t live the life of a rock and roll legend. He was forced to take shitty jobs such as driving a New York cab, during which he was robbed three times, and even being a private investigator for an insurance company, which evidently he was quite good at. He would often hear bands on the radio getting rich and famous imitating the sound that he helped create and would feel resentment.
“I would be lying if I said it didn’t make me feel bitter” he told me. “If it was for the occasional “Hey, man, I saw you way back when, you guys convinced me to start a band, I wouldn’t have shit”.
New York Dolls never got a gold record and the record company told them that they didn’t sell. However it is interesting to note that for such a financially unsuccessful band, their first two albums only ever went out of print once in over thirty years. And even then it was only for a year or so.
Well now they are definitely back with blowdryers blazing and with their first album in 32 years. And New York Dolls need this record as a group. They undeniably have an important place in history but as Sylvain says; their history is still being written. They feel the need to have a tangible and real expression of the love and adulation they have received and to this band it is record sales.
I think the New York Dolls deserve a little bit of cash for changing the world. Don’t you?
