"New York Dolls, 1971-77"
by Bob Gruen


A Bob Gruen photoshoot with New York Dolls in 1974. The photographer shot the band from 1972 until they split in 1975 - his photos feature in his new book, 'New York Dolls.'  He explains: "The Dolls were very easy to work with. They liked playing dress-up and they liked having their picture taken. They may have seemed threatening to some, but they were fun to be with in person."


A shot of New York Dolls on the set of the shoot for 'Lipstick Killers: The Mercer Street Sessions 1972'. The album was released in 1981 and contains tracks from both the band's albums ('New York Dolls' (1973) and 'Too Much, Too Soon' (1974)), including 'Personality Crisis' - which features on 'Guitar Hero: Aerosmith' - as well as a cover of Bo Diddley's 'Pills'.


A rather miserable looking photo of New York Dolls in Boston in 1974. Frontman David Johansen said: "I have a good sense of humour about rock and roll. You have to. It's really a stupid thing. If you get mad over [rock 'n' roll music], I'd hate to see what happens if they burn your toast or something."


New York Dolls posing in photographer Bob Gruen's studio in West Village in 1974. The year before, the Dolls managed to top both the best and worst bands in the world list in Creem magazine.


This image is one of a selection of photos taken in the bathroom at Santa Monica Civic Center in Los Angeles for Bob Gruen's new book, 'New York Dolls'. The band had just finished recording their second album, 'Too Much, Too Soon', in 1974 and were on a North American tour. The album, and tour, title came from the autobiography of the same name by actress Diana Barrymore, released in 1957.


New York Dolls on the set of Ralph Bakshi's film 'Hey Good Lookin''. The band featured in the part-animated/part-live movie (similar to 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?'), yet Warner Bros. didn't think it worked so cut all the live action shots and made it purely a cartoon. This is just one of the photos in Bob Gruen's 'New York Dolls' book.


New York Dolls in photographer Bob Gruen's studio. Gruen's preface, in his new book 'New York Dolls', explains: "The Dolls were having fun, and it was contagious. The thing about the Dolls was that they made it look easy. They were living a decadent life, and I joined right in."


New York Dolls surrounded by journalists and fans in the dressing room at the Whisky a Go-Go in LA. Despite The New York Dolls' relatively short career, first time around, they are said to have been the influence for many bands including Kiss, Blondie, The Clash, The Smiths and the Ramones. Johnny Ramone said: "We'd go and see the New York Dolls every week. We'd get all dressed up and go and see them all the time. I thought I was a star already - and I didn't even play guitar."


New York Dolls' frontman David Johansen in Hollywood in 1973. The band had a lot of popular, famous fans. Johansen said: "David Bowie used to come see us play at the Mercer Arts Center. I had never heard of him before. He used to come around in these quilted drags, and he asked me, 'Who does your hair?' I said, 'Johnny Thunders' (NY Dolls guitarist), which was the truth."


New York Dolls split up in 1975, but reunited in 2004. The reunion was set up by life-long fan, ex-Smiths frontman Morrissey, who headed up the Dolls' fan club in the UK during the 1970s. Morrissey has also wrote the afterword for photographer Bob Gruen's new book 'New York Dolls.'


New York Dolls' guitarist Sylvain Sylvain poolside at the Tropicana Motel in New Jersey. The band split in 1975 but reunited in 2004. Sylvain said at the time of the reunion: "[it took so long to reform because] we were all successful individually. Everybody had a job. That's part of the reason we stayed apart all those years, but when we broke up, I felt like the Dolls had left me. I never left the Dolls."


New York Dolls' drummer Jerry Nolan on 'The Real Don Steele Show' in 1973. Nolan said at the time of this show: "These were the days of the ten-minute drum solo, the 20-minute guitar solo. A song might take up a whole side of an album. It was really boring."


New York Dolls' guitarist Johnny Thunders. The New York Dolls played a huge influence on the Sex Pistols, especially guitarist Steve Jones, who later admitted for 'The Filth And The Fury' documentary: "Looking back at my movement on stage it was embarrassing how much I copied Johnny Thunders' style." More rare pictures of the Dolls can be seen in Bob Gruen's new book, 'New York Dolls'.


New York Dolls' bassist Arthur Kane. Kane, along with frontman David Johansen and guitarist Sylvain Slylvain reunited in 2004. The reunion took place at the Meltdown Festival in London, which ran from June 11-27. Only one month later on July 13, Kane died unexpectedly from leukaemia.


The New York Dolls doing a photo shoot for photographer Bob Gruen in 1973. The images come from Gruen's new book, 'New York Dolls'. The rockers only released two albums before they split in 1975 – the first reached #116 on the Billboard chart and the other only reached #167.


New York Dolls' frontman David Johansen performing for the Halloween Ball at the Waldorf-Astoria in NYC in 1973. Johansen's sexuality was often questioned because of the band's image. He said: "We were not homosexuals or bi or anything. But we were really confrontational." Blondie's Debbie Harry also added: "David Johansen and I didn't date. Not really. We were just intimate strangers."


David Johansen and Johnny Thunders from New York Dolls on Hollywood Boulevard in 1973 in their trademark heels. Johansen said: "[We] were the first ones with really big-shoes because (drummer) Billy Murcia's mother would go to England all the time. We'd put our feet on the ground and draw an outline and give them to Billy's mom." This picture comes from Bob Gruen's book entitled 'New York Dolls'.


New York Dolls playing at 'Max's Kansas City' in 1974. There have been a total of 13 different members of the New York Dolls over the years. The original line-up consisted of frontman David Johansen, guitarists Johnny Thunders and Rick Rivets (who was replaced by Sylvain Sylvain after a few months), bass guitarist Arthur 'Killer' Kane and drummer Billy Murcia. This original line-up's first performance was on Christmas Eve, 1971 at homeless shelter, the Endicott Hotel, in New York.


New York Dolls filming 'Lipstick Killers' on 29th Street, NY in 1974. The band broke up less than a year after these shots were taken, in August 1975. Frontman David Johansen claimed: "It was drugs that made us break up in the first place. Two people can get high, and one will say, 'That was interesting, maybe I'll try it again New Year's Eve.' But the other will say, 'I found God.' Well, some people in the band had addictions, and when you're addicted, your passion for music goes on the back burner. Also, you can't really go anywhere, and Syl and I wanted to go out and play."

All photographs by Bob Gruen