Guitarists Johnny Thunders and Rick Rivets , bassist Arthur Kane , and drummer Billy Murcia were joined by vocalist David Johansen . With image on high, while kickin' it from the gutter, the Dolls slammed the glam with a punk edge, and a heavy lean on the sixties. With three members succumbing to drug related deaths, and Johansen continuing his Buster Poindexter persona, the Dolls chapter in rock history is all but closed. In 2004, the singer reunited his idols for a show at London's Meltdown Festival, adding an unexpected second act to their career. And although they self-destructed quickly, the band's first two albums remain among the most popular cult records in rock & roll history. Weighed down by a variety of addictions, personality conflicts, and flagging popularity, the New York Dolls broke up in 1976, sending its members spiraling out into the wider music ecosystem.But Sylvain, the self-styled diplomat, managed to keep in touch with almost all of them, from future Heartbreakers Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan, to former frontman Johansen, to bass player Arthur Kane. Dolls guitarist Sylvain Sylvain spoke with Rolling Stone about his encounters with McLaren. The Dolls influenced everyone from the Ramones to Richard Hell if not stylistically then that music could still be fun , anarchic and sleazy. What will happen to all the dead car batteries? General Information. Please crank up his music, light a candle, say a prayer and let's send this beautiful doll on his way.". Navigation. New York Dolls is the debut album by the American hard rock band New York Dolls.It was released on July 27, 1973, by Mercury Records.In the years leading up to the album, the Dolls had developed a local fanbase by playing regularly in lower Manhattan after forming in 1971. "Though he fought it valiantly, yesterday he passed away. In New York, Sylvain had been a member of the group Actress – alongside Arthur Kane, Johnny Thunders and Billy Murcia – before co-founding New York Dolls in 1971. Born Sylvain Mizrahi in Cairo, Egypt, on Valentine's Day 1951, the musician lived in France as a child before moving to New York with his family. ", She added: "While we grieve his loss, we know that he is finally at peace and out of pain. Inspired by the punk scene that was emerging in Lower Manhattan —in particular by the Ramones and the radical visual style and attitude of Richard Hell , then with Television —McLaren began taking a greater interest in The Strand members. Taken from the film 'Born To Lose: The Last Rock & Roll Movie' For the next two years, the duo led a variety of different incarnations of the group, with no success. The New York Dolls are a landmark glam band from, well, New York City, and are a major influence on Punk Rock, New Wave and Alternative Rock, especially bands such as The Ramones, Blondie, Television, and The Smiths.Their look was a major inspiration for Hair Metal.. Guitarists Johnny Thunders and Rick Rivets, bassist Arthur Kane, and drummer Billy Murcia were joined by vocalist David Johansen.Early in 1972, Rivets was replaced by Syl Sylvain and the group began playing regularly in Lower Manhattan, particularly at the Mercer Arts Center. General Information. A fifth studio album, Dancing Backward in High Heels, featuring both Johansen and Sylvain and produced and mixed by Jason Hill, appeared from 429 Records early in 2011. 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