The Heartbreakers
Encyclopedia
Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, also known as The Heartbreakers, were an American rock & roll band formed in New York
in May 1975. The band was part of the first wave of punk rock
.
(vocals/guitar) and Jerry Nolan
(drums) had quit the New York Dolls
, and that same week Richard Hell
(vocals/bass) was forced out of Television
. The trio joined forces, and after a few shows added Walter Lure (vocals/guitar), who had played with a group called the Demons.
In 1976, Hell was either pushed out of the Heartbreakers or quit the group, and was replaced by Billy Rath, who, according to legend, was a gigolo
. Hell went on to form his own band, The Voidoids
.
Arriving for a European tour just as the UK punk
scene was building momentum, the Heartbreakers developed a following playing in and around London
. The band's members and image were widely associated with drug use, specifically heroin. The Sex Pistols
invited them to open for them on the ill-fated Anarchy Tour. They shortly signed with Track Records
. Their debut—and only—studio album, L.A.M.F.
, featured all the Heartbreakers' popular live songs. The release of the album put a huge strain on the band, because of anger among some band members over the poor quality of the mix. Several of the members of the band left at this point. The band reformed in 1979 for a few farewell shows at Max's Kansas City
with drummer Ty Stix sitting in for Nolan and resulting in the album Live at Max's Kansas City '79
. The Heartbreakers' song, "London Boys", is a swipe at the Sex Pistols, in response to the Pistols' "New York", a put-down of the New York Dolls.
After their break up, the band re-formed occasionally to play at New York clubs. Live shows often consisted of songs performed with the New York Dolls or taken from Thunders' solo career. They were called Rent Parties because they'd do it to make money. Rent Party is also the title of an album released by Lure's band the Waldos. Billy had left sometime around 1985 or 86 and was replaced by Tony Coiro. Johnny Thunders died in 1991. The last time the Heartbreakers played was at Johnny Thunders Memorial Concert with Walter Lure, Jerry Nolan, Tony Coiro and Joey Pinter playing in place of Thunders. By then Lure had already formed the Waldos. The line up, which included Lure, Joey Pinter, Tony Coiro, and Jeff West released Rent Party in 1994. Lure subsequently worked on Wall St. but still performs with his current Waldos lineup in NYC. He also travels around the globe playing when his day job allows the time for it. In 2007 Walter Lure teamed up with Belgian punk rocker Dee Jaywalker
and went on a short European tour which resulted in a Live album recorded in Berlin and released on Nicotine Records
. In 2009 and 2011 he reunited with Joey Pinter from the Waldos Rent Party lineup for 2 mini tours of the West Coast.
Nolan died in 1992. Hell rarely plays music live, concentrating instead on writing and spoken-word performances. Billy Rath currently lives in New Jersey and played with Walter Lure at the Max's Kansas City Reunion in September 2010.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in May 1975. The band was part of the first wave of punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
.
History
Johnny ThundersJohnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. , was an American protopunk guitarist, singer and songwriter.He came to prominence in the early '70s as a member of the New York Dolls...
(vocals/guitar) and Jerry Nolan
Jerry Nolan
Jerry Nolan was an American rock drummer, best known for his work with The New York Dolls and Johnny Thunders and The Heartbreakers.-Career:...
(drums) had quit the New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
, and that same week Richard Hell
Richard Hell
Richard Hell is a singer, songwriter, bass guitarist, and writer.Richard Hell was an innovator of punk music and fashion. He was one of the first to spike his hair and wear torn, cut and drawn-on shirts, often held together with safety pins...
(vocals/bass) was forced out of Television
Television (band)
Television was an American rock band, formed in New York City in 1973. They are best known for the album Marquee Moon and widely regarded as one of the founders of "punk" and New Wave music. Television was part of the early 1970s New York underground rock scene, along with bands like the Patti...
. The trio joined forces, and after a few shows added Walter Lure (vocals/guitar), who had played with a group called the Demons.
In 1976, Hell was either pushed out of the Heartbreakers or quit the group, and was replaced by Billy Rath, who, according to legend, was a gigolo
Gigolo
Gigolo may refer to:* A male prostitute, escort, or dancer, who offers services to women* Gigolo , a 2006 single by Helena Paparizou* Gigolo , a 2003 single by Nick Cannon...
. Hell went on to form his own band, The Voidoids
The Voidoids
The Voidoids, also known as Richard Hell & The Voidoids, were an American rock band from the first wave of punk rock, fronted by Richard Hell, a former member of the Neon Boys, Television and the Heartbreakers...
.
Arriving for a European tour just as the UK punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
scene was building momentum, the Heartbreakers developed a following playing in and around London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The band's members and image were widely associated with drug use, specifically heroin. The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
invited them to open for them on the ill-fated Anarchy Tour. They shortly signed with Track Records
Track Records
Track Records is an English record label founded in London in 1966 by Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp, then managers of hard rock band The Who. The most successful artists whose work appeared on the Track label were The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Who, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Thunderclap...
. Their debut—and only—studio album, L.A.M.F.
L.A.M.F.
L.A.M.F. is the only studio album by the American band, Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers, which included Jerry Nolan, Walter Lure and Billy Rath. The music is a mixture of punk, R&B and rock and roll. The band played a seminal role in the formation of early punk. Thunders and Nolan were...
, featured all the Heartbreakers' popular live songs. The release of the album put a huge strain on the band, because of anger among some band members over the poor quality of the mix. Several of the members of the band left at this point. The band reformed in 1979 for a few farewell shows at Max's Kansas City
Max's Kansas City
Max's Kansas City was a nightclub and restaurant at 213 Park Avenue South, in New York City, which was a gathering spot for musicians, poets, artists and politicians in the 1960s and 1970s.-Origin of name:...
with drummer Ty Stix sitting in for Nolan and resulting in the album Live at Max's Kansas City '79
Live at Max's Kansas City (Johnny Thunders album)
Live at Max's Kansas City is a live album by Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers. Recorded at a series of Autumn 1978 "reunion"/"farewell" shows at the famous Max's Kansas City nightclub, the album's performance — loud, sloppy, and laden with bawdy introductions and/or lyric changes to many...
. The Heartbreakers' song, "London Boys", is a swipe at the Sex Pistols, in response to the Pistols' "New York", a put-down of the New York Dolls.
After their break up, the band re-formed occasionally to play at New York clubs. Live shows often consisted of songs performed with the New York Dolls or taken from Thunders' solo career. They were called Rent Parties because they'd do it to make money. Rent Party is also the title of an album released by Lure's band the Waldos. Billy had left sometime around 1985 or 86 and was replaced by Tony Coiro. Johnny Thunders died in 1991. The last time the Heartbreakers played was at Johnny Thunders Memorial Concert with Walter Lure, Jerry Nolan, Tony Coiro and Joey Pinter playing in place of Thunders. By then Lure had already formed the Waldos. The line up, which included Lure, Joey Pinter, Tony Coiro, and Jeff West released Rent Party in 1994. Lure subsequently worked on Wall St. but still performs with his current Waldos lineup in NYC. He also travels around the globe playing when his day job allows the time for it. In 2007 Walter Lure teamed up with Belgian punk rocker Dee Jaywalker
Dee Jaywalker
Dee Jaywalker is a Belgian punk rock musician and songwriter. He is best known as lead guitar player and songwriter for Marky Ramone & the Speedkings.-Career:...
and went on a short European tour which resulted in a Live album recorded in Berlin and released on Nicotine Records
Nicotine Records
Nicotine Records is an indie label formed in 1999. It has released punk, powerpop, garagerock, hardrock, glam and its roster has included artists such as False Alarm, The Fleshtones, Gaza Strippers, Garrett Uhlenbrock,aka Skinny Bones, Walter Lure, Lime Spiders.-Artists:*Dave Parsons, Sham...
. In 2009 and 2011 he reunited with Joey Pinter from the Waldos Rent Party lineup for 2 mini tours of the West Coast.
Nolan died in 1992. Hell rarely plays music live, concentrating instead on writing and spoken-word performances. Billy Rath currently lives in New Jersey and played with Walter Lure at the Max's Kansas City Reunion in September 2010.
Discography
- L.A.M.F.L.A.M.F.L.A.M.F. is the only studio album by the American band, Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers, which included Jerry Nolan, Walter Lure and Billy Rath. The music is a mixture of punk, R&B and rock and roll. The band played a seminal role in the formation of early punk. Thunders and Nolan were...
(1977, Track)- L.A.M.F. Revisited (1984, Jungle)
- L.A.M.F. The Lost '77 Mixes (1994, Jungle)
- Live at Max's Kansas CityLive at Max's Kansas City (Johnny Thunders album)Live at Max's Kansas City is a live album by Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers. Recorded at a series of Autumn 1978 "reunion"/"farewell" shows at the famous Max's Kansas City nightclub, the album's performance — loud, sloppy, and laden with bawdy introductions and/or lyric changes to many...
(1979, Max's Kansas City Records) - D.T.K. Live At The Speakeasy (1982, Jungle)
- Live At The Lyceum Ballroom 1984 (1985, Jungle)
- Live At Mothers (1991, Fanclub)
- What Goes Around (1991, Bomp!)
- Vive La Révolution (Live In Paris - Le Bataclan - December 8, 1977) (1992, Skydog)
- Thunderstorm In Detroit (Live At The Silverbird 21/12/80) (2002, Captain Trip Records)
- Down To Kill (2005, Jungle)