The New York Dolls are a rock band formed in New York City in 1971. In 2004 the band reformed with three of their original members, two of whom, David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain, continue on today and released a new album in 2006.
The band found little commercial success during their existence, but the New York Dolls prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era and even later; the Dolls' over-the-top crossdressing influenced the look of many new wave and glam metal groups, and their shambling, sloppy but highly energetic playing style set the tone for many later rock and roll bands.
Initially, the group was comprised of singer David Johansen, guitarists Johnny Thunders and Rick Rivets (who was replaced by Sylvain Sylvain after a few months), bass guitarist Arthur "Killer" Kane and drummer Billy Murcia. The original lineup's first performance was on Christmas Eve 1971 at a homeless shelter, the infamous Endicott Hotel.
They got their big break when Rod Stewart invited them to open for him at a London concert. Shortly thereafter, Murcia died of accidental suffocation (after he passed out from drugs and alcohol, groupies put him in a cold bath and forced coffee down his throat). He was succeeded by Jerry Nolan, a friend of the band's, though future Richard Hell and Ramones drummer Marc Bell (Marky Ramone) later claimed he auditioned to take Murcia's place: "Only two people showed up to audition, me and Jerry. They gave it to him because I was doing all the fancy fills."
The band was influenced by vintage rhythm and blues, the early Rolling Stones, classic American girl group songs, and anarchic post-psychedelic bands such as the MC5 and the Stooges, as well as then-current glam rockers such as Marc Bolan. They did it their own way, creating something which critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote "doesn't really sound like anything that came before it. It's hard rock with a self-conscious wit, a celebration of camp and kitsch that retains a menacing, malevolent edge."
Morrissey organized a reunion of the three surviving band members (Johansen, Sylvain, and Kane) for the Meltdown Festival in 2004. It was extremely well-received, producing a live LP and DVD on Morrissey's Attack label, and a film, New York Doll, showing Kane's point of view of the genesis of the reunion contrasted against the backdrop of his conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, future plans were affected when the news came of Arthur Kane's unexpected death on July 13, 2004 from leukemia.
In July 2005, it was announced the two surviving members would tour and produce a new album, titled One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This. Released on July 25, 2006 the album features guitarist Steve Conte, bassist Sami Yaffa (formerly of Hanoi Rocks), drummer Brian Delaney and keyboardist Brian Koonin.
Source: Wikipedia
These are their first two studio demos. The first one was recorded in the summer of 1972 at the Blue Rock Studio in New York City. The second demo was recorded in October of 1972 at Escape Studios in Kent, England. Both of these demos was produced by Marty Thau, and features the original drummer Billy Murcia.
1st Demo: 1. Bad Girl, 2. Looking For a Kiss, 3. Don't Start Me Talking, 4. Don't Mess With Cupid, 5. Human Being, 6. Personality Crisis, 7. Pills, 8. Jet Boy, 9. Frankenstein.
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2nd Demo: 1. Personality Crisis, 2. Looking For a Kiss, 3. Bad Girl,4. Subway Train.
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