David Johansen has died, the last standing of the New York Dolls. It is a profound milestone in New York punk rock history. It is the end of an era.
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The New York Dolls were one of the most influential and rebellious bands of the early 1970s, laying the foundation for both punk rock and glam rock. Their mix of raw rock ‘n’ roll, gender-bending fashion, and reckless energy made them cult legends, influencing countless bands from The Ramones, Sex Pistols, and Guns N’ Roses to The Smiths and Hanoi Rocks. Though they never achieved mainstream commercial success, their impact on rock history remains undeniable.The Dolls took classic rock and roll influences like The Rolling Stones, The Stooges, The Shangri-Las, and Chuck Berry, but played louder, faster, and with an attitude that was decades ahead of its time. Their look—high heels, teased hair, lipstick, and tight leather pants—blurred the lines between gender, fashion, and rebellion, inspiring future glam and punk artists alike.In 1973, they released their debut album, New York Dolls, produced by Todd Rundgren. It featured:"Personality Crisis""Trash""Jet Boy""Looking for a Kiss"🔥 Too Much Too Soon (1974) – The Dolls Burn Brighter but Fall FasterTheir second album, Too Much Too Soon (1974), was produced by Shadow Morton, known for his work with The Shangri-Las. It featured:"Babylon""Stranded in the Jungle""Chatterbox"🔥 The Breakup & Aftermath (1975-1977) – The Birth of Punk RockIn 1975, Malcolm McLaren (later the manager of The Sex Pistols) briefly tried to reinvent the Dolls, dressing them in communist red outfits and promoting them with an extreme political edge. The experiment failed spectacularly, and the Dolls collapsed soon after.Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan left to form The Heartbreakers, while David Johansen pursued a solo career. Sylvain Sylvain also went solo, and Arthur Kane struggled with alcohol addiction, eventually leaving music behind.While the band faded into obscurity, their influence exploded. The punk movement of 1976-77 adopted the Dolls’ blueprint—raw, aggressive music, DIY attitude, and in-your-face style. Bands like The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, and The Damned all owed a huge debt to the Dolls.This led to a full-fledged comeback, with a new lineup featuring:David Johansen (vocals)Sylvain Sylvain (guitar)Steve Conte (guitar)Sami Yaffa (bass)Brian Delaney (drums)The reunion resulted in three new albums:One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This (2006)'Cause I Sez So (2009)Dancing Backward in High Heels (2011)🔥 The Undeniable Influence of the New York DollsThough their original run was short, the New York Dolls changed the course of rock history. Their sleazy, loud, high-energy rock ‘n’ roll directly inspired:Punk rock (The Ramones, Sex Pistols, The Clash, Dead Boys, The Damned)Glam rock (KISS, Hanoi Rocks, Guns N’ Roses, Poison, Mötley Crüe)Alternative rock (The Smiths, Manic Street Preachers, The Replacements)