Johnny Thunders

Thunders was born John Anthony Genzale in Queens, New York, the second child of Josephine Genzale (née Nicoletti, 1923–1999) and Emil Genzale (1923–1982), both of Italian descent (Neapolitan/Sicilian).

Thunders had an older sister, Mariann (1946–2009).

He first lived in East Elmhurst and then Jackson Heights.

John Anthony Genzale (July 15, 1952 – April 23, 1991), known professionally as Johnny Thunders, was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter.

Shortly thereafter, he played with Johnny and the Jaywalkers, under the name Johnny Volume, at Quintano's School for Young Professionals, around the corner from Carnegie Hall, on 56th Street near 7th Avenue.

His first musical performance was in the winter of 1967 with The Reign.

In 1968, he began going to the Fillmore East and Bethesda Fountain in Central Park on weekends.

His older sister, Mariann, started styling his hair like Keith Richards.

In late 1969, he got a job as a sales clerk at D'Naz leather shop, on Bleecker Street in the West Village, and started trying to put a band together.

He and his girlfriend, Janis Cafasso, went to see The Rolling Stones at Madison Square Garden in November 1969, and they appear in the Maysles' film Gimme Shelter.

Dolls bass guitarist Arthur "Killer" Kane later wrote about Thunders' guitar sound, as he described arriving outside the rehearsal studio where they were meeting to jam together for the first time: "I heard someone playing a guitar riff that I myself didn't know how to play. It was raunchy, nasty, rough, raw, and untamed. I thought it was truly inspired...", adding, "His sound was rich and fat and beautiful, like a voice."

The New York Dolls were signed to Mercury Records, with the help of A & R man Paul Nelson.

Thunders recorded two albums with the band, New York Dolls and Too Much Too Soon.

They were managed by Marty Thau, and booked by Leber & Krebs.

Subsequently, they worked with Malcolm McLaren for several months, later becoming a prototype for the Sex Pistols.

He came to prominence in the early 1970s as a member of New York Dolls.

He later played with the Heartbreakers and as a solo artist.

In 1975 Thunders and Nolan left the band; Thunders later blamed McLaren for the band's demise.

The group stayed in the UK throughout 1977, where their popularity was significantly greater than in the U.S., particularly among punk bands.

While in the UK they were signed to Track Records and released their only official studio album, L.A.M.F., an abbreviation for "Like A Mother Fucker".

L.A.M.F. was received positively by critics, but was criticised for its poor production.

Displeased with the production, the band members individually remixed the record, a competition which culminated in drummer Jerry Nolan quitting in November 1977.

Shortly thereafter, the Heartbreakers disbanded.

Johansen and Sylvain continued playing, along with Peter Jordon, Tony Machine (an ex-assistant agent at Leber & Krebs) and Chris Robison, as the New York Dolls until late 1978.

Thunders formed The Heartbreakers with former New York Dolls drummer Jerry Nolan and former Television bassist Richard Hell.

Walter Lure, former guitarist for the New York City punk band The Demons joined them soon after.

After conflict arose between Thunders and Hell, Hell left to form Richard Hell and the Voidoids and was replaced by Billy Rath.

With Thunders leading the band, the Heartbreakers toured America before going to the UK to join the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned on the Anarchy Tour.

Thunders stayed in London and recorded the first of a number of solo albums, beginning with So Alone in 1978.

The drug-fuelled recording sessions featured a core band of Thunders, bassist Phil Lynott, drummer Paul Cook and guitarist Steve Jones, with guest appearances from Chrissie Hynde, Steve Marriott, Walter Lure, Billy Rath and Peter Perrett.

The CD version of the album contains four bonus tracks, including the single "Dead or Alive" and a cover of the early Marc Bolan song "The Wizard".

Soon afterwards, Thunders moved back to the US, joining former Heartbreakers Walter Lure, Billy Rath and sometimes Jerry Nolan for gigs at Max's Kansas City.

Around this time Thunders played a small number of gigs at London's The Speakeasy Club with a line up including Cook and Jones, Henri Paul on bass and Judy Nylon and Patti Palladin (Snatch) as back up vocalists.

In late 1979, Thunders moved to Detroit with his wife Julie and began performing in a band called Gang War.

Other members included John Morgan, Ron Cooke, Philippe Marcade and former MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer.

They recorded several demos and performed live several times before disbanding.

During the early 1980s, Thunders re-formed The Heartbreakers for various tours; the group recorded their final album, Live at the Lyceum, in 1984.

The concert was also filmed and released as a video and later a DVD titled Dead Or Alive.

Zodiac Records released an EP of their demos in 1987.

In 1990 they also released an album titled Gang War, which was credited to Thunders and Kramer.