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The New York Dolls were an American rock band formed in New York City in 1971, who released two albums, New York Dolls (1973) and Too Much Too Soon (1974), before disbanding in 1976. Its classic lineup consisted of vocalist David Johansen, guitarist Johnny Thunders, bassist Arthur Kane, guitarist and pianist Sylvain Sylvain, and drummer Jerry Nolan; the latter two had replaced Rick Rivets and Billy Murcia, respectively, in 1972. In their appearance, they drew from drag fashion, wearing high heels, hats, satin, makeup, spandex, and dresses.

In 2004, the New York Dolls reunited with a new lineup and later released three more albums. After a British tour with Alice Cooper in 2011, the Dolls disbanded again. By 2025, all original members of the New York Dolls had died: drummer Billy Murcia (1951–1972), guitarist Johnny Thunders (1952–1991), drummer Jerry Nolan (1946–1992), bassist Arthur Kane (1949–2004), guitarist Sylvain Sylvain (1951–2021), and lead singer David Johansen (1950–2025).

Their music and stage presence played a key role in the development of punk rock and later glam punk, with their look inspiring the androgynous appearances of several glam metal bands in the 1980s. They influenced notable artists such as Morrissey, the Sex Pistols, Kiss, Mötley Crüe, Hanoi Rocks, Guns N' Roses, W.A.S.P., the Jesus and Mary Chain, the Undertones, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, David Bowie, Japan, Billy Idol, Terry Chambers, Def Leppard, R.E.M., the Replacements, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Marilyn Manson, the Cramps, the Libertines, and Manic Street Preachers.

History

Formation

Sylvain Sylvain and Billy Murcia, who went to junior high school and high school together, started playing in a band called "the Pox" in 1967. After the frontman quit, Murcia and Sylvain decided to focus on starting their clothing business. Sylvain took a job at A Different Drummer, a men's boutique that was across the street from the New York Doll Hospital, a doll repair shop—Sylvain said that the shop inspired the name for their future band. In 1968, they opened up their clothing shop, Truth and Soul, in Woodstock, New York. In 1970 they formed a band again and recruited Johnny Thunders to join on bass, though Sylvain ended up teaching him to play guitar. Although there was no official name, Thunders and Murcia had informally suggested calling themselves The Dolls. When Sylvain left the band to spend a few months in London, Thunders and Murcia went their separate ways. Thunders was eventually recruited into a band by Kane and Rick Rivets, who had been playing together in the Bronx. At Thunders' suggestion, Murcia replaced the original drummer. The nameless band was eventually retconned Actress. Although they played no live shows, a surfaced 1971 rehearsal tape recorded by the group was later released. By autumn, Thunders had decided that he no longer desired to be the frontman, with David Johansen, a local blues harmonicist who had come to know the band through sharing a mutual friend with Murcia, joining the band. Rick Rivets was replaced by Sylvain Sylvain after a few months who would suggest the name New York Dolls. Their first performance was on Christmas Eve 1971 at a homeless shelter, the Endicott Hotel. After getting a manager and attracting some music industry interest, they got a break when Rod Stewart invited them to open for him at a London concert.

While on a brief tour of England in 1972, Murcia was invited to a party, where he passed out from an overdose. He was put in a bathtub and force-fed coffee in an attempt to revive him. Instead, it resulted in asphyxiation. He was found dead on the morning of November 6, 1972, at the age of 21.

Record deal: 1972–1975

Once back in New York, the Dolls auditioned drummers, including Marc Bell (who would go on to play with Richard Hell, and with the Ramones under the stage name "Marky Ramone"), Peter Criscuola (better known as Peter Criss, the future drummer of Kiss), and Jerry Nolan, a friend of the band. They selected Nolan, and after US Mercury Records' A&R man Paul Nelson signed them, they began sessions for their debut album. In 1972, the band took on Marty Thau as manager.

New York Dolls was produced by singer-songwriter, musician and solo artist Todd Rundgren. In an interview in Creem magazine, Rundgren says he barely touched the recording; everybody was debating how to do the mix. Sales were sluggish, especially in the middle US, and a Stereo Review magazine reviewer in 1973 compared the Dolls' guitar playing to the sound of lawnmowers. America's mass rock audience's reaction to the Dolls was mixed. In a Creem magazine poll, they were elected both best and worst new group of 1973. The Dolls also toured Europe, and, while appearing on UK television, host Bob Harris of the BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test derided the group as "mock rock", comparing them unfavorably to the Rolling Stones.