There is something about Johnny Thunders. I have spent many of my years seeking out every tidbit about him. Separately, I have run into others who have done much the same.
I got into the New York Dolls and so it was only a matter of time, I suppose. But after 1977s LAMF and 1978s So Alone, there’s not much else held in critic acclaim. But that didn’t stop me from picking up the two ROiR cassettes and as the internet opened up sharing, I sought out every recording I could find
What is it about Thunders? I suppose that so what the #rockdocs 2014 Looking for Johnny: The Legend of Johnny Thunders is trying to find out.
The doc does a fairly in depth look at the Dolls career- going light on some of the early years but hitting the highlights and doing good coverage of the final days including the stint in the band by Pure Hell’s drummer Spider Sanders.
Even as someone obsessed with the Dolls, I learned stuff.
The doc has the right mix of important people. Of course, many are no longer with us. Dolls guitarist Sylvain Sylvain is probably as expert as anyone, as was Thunders friend famed photographer Bob Gruen. Sylvain has passed away now as has Dolls manager Marty Thau, and Heartbreaker sidekicks Walter Lure and Billy Rath. Thunders compadre Jerry Nolan has long gone but two significant others are interviewed. Thunders biographer Nina Antona is here as are musicians who played or toured with Thunders.
Malcolm McLaren who was famously the Dolla manager in their final days is present via interview footage. And of course, most of all, Thunders himself is telling his story via archive interviews.
The Thunders story isn’t often told, as it’s such a mess post So Alone. But here it is - a life and career where success is constantly being snatched away by Johnny’s penchant for self destruction.
The Heartbeakers hit the London scene as talented veterans led by Thunders and Nolan. Their playing heads and shoulders over the young punk crowd. Unfortunately, the LAMF album is sabotaged by crappy recording. Nolan fights it, but it is released as is. The record label (Track Records) has become a bit of a joke propped up as a way to still collect royalties from the Who's catalog)
Thunders finds compatriots in Peter Perrett and Phil Lynott for his next album So Alone but success is to elude him.
Over and over again, Thunders seems to sabotage himself. His dependence on drugs ruin his road to the fame he wanted and wrecks his family life. Meanwhile, his stage show becomes more and more about the car crash he had become. He breaks up and continually reforms the Heartbreakers to make money off final and reunion gigs.
Thunders joins with MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer to start a band called Gang War. Drugs always seem to get in the way. He works with producer Jimmy Miller (Beggars Banquet, Exile on Main Street, Sticky Fingers) but it doesn’t lead to a successful album.
There’s a lot of great footage of Johnny. He pursues acting and occasionally records. He definitely had the rock n roll look. Whether they knew it or not, every American glam band of the 80s were trying to copy Johnny as did plenty of hip indie bands like the Strokes.
Johnny’s story doesn’t lend itself to a cohesive story as there are more downs than ups but this movie tells it well.
Famously, Thunders dies in New Orleans and it has always been controversial. Some suggest he was killed, but the police classified it as an overdose.
Thunders seemed to be making peace with himself in those final weeks which imply that his heart wasn’t ready to go on. At the same time, the details seem sketchy and inconsistent.
This movie is down really well and really tells the story of someone who became a cult personality. Someone who had become a bit of an unknown and yet a legend. Someone who was the life of the party but also often sad. This at least presents a document that will keep his legend alive.
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