In 2011, with authentic members David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain nonetheless on the helm, the New York Dolls launched their ultimate album, Dancing Backwards In Excessive Heels. Recorded in Newcastle-upon-Tyne within the north of England, it bore lots of the hallmarks of the Dolls’ glam-trash 70s sound however with just a few fashionable thrives. We requested Johansen to inform us about it.
Why did you file in Newcastle?
We’d performed there earlier than, and we appeared to mesh with the populace so seamlessly that I hardly even seen I wasn’t at dwelling. I beloved the place, and didn’t actually have to change my New York way of thinking.
Are you pleased with the way it’s turned out?
Positively. Though we simply completed making a video for one of many tracks, Idiot For You Child, and if I ever hear that once more it’ll be too quickly. It’s arduous to love something when you’ve needed to hearken to it twenty instances in a row.
Was it a shock when Arthur Kane died so quickly after the Dolls’ preliminary reunion?
It was apocalyptic, devastating. He was a stunning dude. He’d gone by means of this horrifying alcoholism for twenty years and there’d hardly been any contact between us throughout that point, however we’d simply began to re-establish a wonderful friendship. He’d stopped consuming and was refreshing to be round once more.
Which was essentially the most tough to cope with: Arthur’s alcoholism or Johnny Thunders’s heroin dependancy?
Johnny didn’t actually get strung out till after we broke up. His chemical points all the time form of get conflated with the Dolls, however it wasn’t till later that he grew to become dependent to the purpose of needing dope on daily basis. I might see him every so often; if I used to be doing a present in New York he would come up on stage and do a few numbers, so we have been type of on the identical campus however not likely hanging out as buddies.
I don’t know the way acquainted individuals are with the day-to-day lifetime of a heroin addict, however I don’t assume anybody would need that existence until that they had no selection. I by no means felt like saying: “Let me go together with you when you attempt to cop.”
Guitarist Frank Infante from Blondie performs on the brand new album. Was there an incredible rivalry between the Dolls and Blondie approach again when?
Not that I recall. I feel each bands actually dug one another. We form of complemented one another. We have been very totally different sounding, however I assume we have been each extra showbiz-oriented than everybody else on the New York scene at the moment. Each bands knew learn how to have enjoyable, and I feel there was a shared intelligence or intuition to what we have been doing.
Are you continue to ‘funky however stylish’, as within the title of your previous solo single you’ve re-recorded for the brand new album?
Yeah, I’d prefer to assume so. I’ve all the time been funky however stylish. Lots of people within the business have been saying we must always drag that track out once more as a result of it could possibly be used for therefore many extra-curricular tasks. Possibly we will persuade the fellows at Max Issue to place it in one in every of their commercials, or get somebody to place it in a film.
Additionally, I’ve to be trustworthy and say that we would have liked to provide you with a few dozen tunes in three weeks to fill the brand new file, and that one was ready-made. Syl and I truly wrote it for the Dolls earlier than we broke up the primary time, so it’s form of lastly come dwelling, you might say. Nonetheless sounds nice, like there’s a extremely good occasion happening.
How tough is it to bop backwards in excessive heels?
I used to be all the time fairly good at it. I can’t bear in mind ever falling over, though I broke loads of sneakers of within the early days. Then we began going to this cobbler on First Avenue who’d reinforce the heels with metal shanks to make us prepared for fight.
The place is your alter ego Buster Poindexter as of late?
He’s nonetheless in Betty Ford, doing twice-nightly exhibits within the celeb rehab wing. Nonetheless getting massive crowds.
What’s the most important false impression folks have about you?
I’d prefer to assume that all the pieces folks take into consideration me is a false impression.
What can David Johansen do this no person else can?
I can roll my stomach fairly lithely. I discovered learn how to do it as a toddler in a belly-rolling contest. I can’t bear in mind if I received, however I definitely impressed awe.
What’s the secret of success?
For those who’re an artist, it is best to create artwork that pleases you and doesn’t essentially pander to {the marketplace}. Managing to fulfill your self whereas being an inspiration to others is what I’d name success.
What epitaph would you prefer to be written in your tombstone?
One phrase: ‘Fabulous’.
This interview initially appeared in Basic Rock 156 (April 2011) and has not appeared on-line earlier than.