• 1971-1976, 2004-

  David JohansenVocals, harmonica

  Sylvain SylvainGuitar, vocals

  Johnny ThundersGuitar, vocals1971-1975

  Arthur "Killer" KaneBass1971-1975, 2004

  Billy MurciaDrums1971-1972

  Jerry NolanDrums1973-1975

  Brian DelaneyDrums2006-

  Kenny AaronsonBass2011-

  Earl SlickGuitar2011-
• The New York Dolls' second drummer, Jerry Nolan, served as eventual Kiss drummer Peter Criss' best man at Criss' wedding on January 31, 1970 (to Lydia Di Leonardo).
• Before scoring a record deal, the New York Dolls created a buzz by playing regularly in the Oscar Wilde Room at the Mercer Arts Center, located in Greenwich Village. The Mercer Arts Center would eventually collapse on August 3, 1973.
• Original drummer Billy Murcia died under mysterious circumstances during the Dolls' first-ever British tour, on November 6, 1972, when he passed out from an overdose. In an attempt to revive him, Murcia was forced to drink coffee, which led to asphyxiation. David Bowie made reference to Murcia's death in his 1973 song, "Time," where he sings, "Time, In Quaaludes and red wine, Demanding Billy Dolls and other friends of mine, Take your time."
• The same year that Todd Rundgren produced the Dolls' self-titled debut album (1973), he also produced two other albums, Grand Funk's We're An American Band and Fanny's Mother's Pride.
• After Johnny Thunders, Arthur Kane, and Jerry Nolan left the Dolls in 1975, David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain soldiered on for a spell with replacement members - and embarked on the group's first-ever tour of Japan. The Dolls would eventually break up a year later.
• Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan would form the Heartbreakers in 1975, and play off and on for the remainder of both musicians' careers (Thunders would die on April 23, 1991, while Nolan would die on January 14, 1992).
• The New York Dolls reunited in 2004, with original members David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain, and Arthur Kane joined by guitarist Steve Conte, keyboardist Brian Koonin, and drummer Gary Powell. One-time president of the Dolls' UK fan club, Morrissey, produced the band's comeback live album/DVD, Morrissey Presents The Return of the New York Dolls: Live From The Royal Festival Hall.
• Arthur Kane died from leukemia on July 13, 2004. Both a documentary (New York Doll) and a book (I, Doll: Life and Death with the New York Dolls) would surface after his passing.
• With their glam look and punk sound, the New York Dolls helped create both punk rock and glam metal. As photographer Bob Gruen explained to Rolling Stone, "Everyone from Joe Strummer, Gene Simmons to Bret Michaels all said they were influenced by the New York Dolls. They each found their own thing about the Dolls. Some people it was the music, some people it was the look, some people it was the attitude. The Dolls had it all."
• Two members of the British band Japan, who had some UK hits in the early '80s, named themselves after members of the New York Dolls. Frontman David Sylvian (born David Batt) is named for Sylvian Sylvian; drummer Steve Jansen (born Steve Batt - David's brother) is named for David Johansen.

Comments: 2

• Mike from Las Vegas, Nv.I can't believe SongFacts only has 1 NY Dolls song ? And no Hanoi Rocks or Lords Of The New Church at all ?
• Mike from Las Vegas, Nv.I saw Johnny Thunders at Fenders in Long Beach, Ca. in 1986. He was good, he did a set of Heartbreakers/Dolls songs. But he was blown away by the opening act, a band not known outside of the L.A. scene yet, they were called Guns n Roses.

More Songfacts:

Izzo (H.O.V.A.)Jay-Z

"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" refers to "Hova," which is what Jay-Z calls his God Name. Jay-Hova, as in Jehovah.

Won't Get Fooled AgainThe Who

"Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who is about a revolution, but it doesn't have a happy ending, since in the end the new regime becomes just like the old one. Pete Townshend thought that whoever was in power was destined to become corrupt.

O.P.P.Naughty by Nature

The Naughty by Nature hit "O.P.P." doesn't have any curse words, but many oversensitive radio stations played a "clean" version with the word "kitten" edited out, surely the first time that word was censured.

Black Hole SunSoundgarden

It has long been speculated that the Soundgarden song "Black Hole Sun" came from the name of a sculpture in Seattle, but according to their frontman Chris Cornell the title came from a phrase he misheard on the news. The band's name did come from a sculpture.

SOSRihanna

A section of verse lyrics in Rihanna's "SOS" is made up of titles from '80s hits - check out the part that starts, "Take me on, I could just die up in your arms tonight."

Run Through the JungleCreedence Clearwater Revival

The CCR song "Run Through the Jungle" is about gun control.

Editor's Picks

Pete AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Pete produced Dwight Yoakam, Michelle Shocked, Meat Puppets, and a very memorable track for Roy Orbison.

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete BlondeSongwriter Interviews

The singer/bassist for Concrete Blonde talks about how her songs come from clairvoyance, and takes us through the making of their hit "Joey."

Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton talk twin guitar harmonies and explain how they create songs in Judas Priest.

Butch VigSongwriter Interviews

The Garbage drummer/songwriter produced the Nirvana album Nevermind, and Smashing Pumpkins' Gish and Siamese Dream.

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.