Sunday, November 20, 2005

The New York Dolls

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A fascinating new documentary at Northwest Film Forum in Seattle, about the life of former New York Dolls bassist Arthur "Killer" Kane (on the far left). After the seminal glam-punk band flamed out in 1975, he eventually turned to the Mormon church, where he quietly worked in their genealogy department — until 2004 when Morrissey reunited the surviving Dolls for a concert in London. It's amazing to see David Johansen (a cheaper, trashier, version of Mick Jagger) and Sylvain Sylvain meet with Arthur for the first time in 30 years, and play their songs live. The music is still streetwise and edgy, and there is a bit of a surprise ending. The Dolls both scared and intrigued me back in the 70's, when I was a lusty teenager. And now I feel I understand them a little better. You must see this amazing documentary!

2 comments:

Justin Evans said...

I have loved the New York Dolls for years, and it's one of my great joys to turn some of my students onto their music. Of course, being the age I am, my discovery of them was secondary at best.

The Lettershaper said...

The Dolls are just excellent...good to see someone else that appreciates them.