Sunday, July 19, 2015

The Heartbreakers by Craig Bobby


This interview was originally done with Jerry Nolan in 1976

'There's a Dozen bands that I could name that don't have a record contract, that lack a certain amount of tightness and timing because they have nobody backing them ... The business is afraid to make that move int a whole new trend of music.'

This candid revelation came from a certain accomplished musician (who's been such for 17 years). The 'dozen bands' referred to are all the promising bands presently knockin' 'em out in the infamous New York City borough of Manhattan, long the trendsetting centre of the nation's rock scene. But the new York City flash/glam (e.g. Lou Reed, KISS, New York Dolls) has seemingly been abandoned for the music itself, generating a locally exciting revival of 'basic' rock and roll.

And, incidentally, this 'certain accomplished musician' goes by the name of Jerry Nolan. Does that sound familiar? It should. He was the drummer of the aforementioned ill-fated New York Dolls. Now he's the drummer of a band called The Heartbreakers [not to be confused with Tom Petty's band of the same name], one of the strongest components at this time in this 'whole new trend of music.' Johnny Thunders, former Dolls' lead guitarist, is also in The Heartbreakers.

While still with the Dolls, Nolan had set the wheels into motion for that band to be the group to initiate that trend, then just smoldering under the Manhattan streets. 'The five of us,' Nolan recalled, referring to the Dolls, 'had come to an agreement in a plan that I had to eliminate the old repertoire, work on a brand new one until it was supertight, and start changing to a new image ... we went into hibernation and did six weeks of rehearsing. We came up with a brand new, fantastic repertoire ... we finally hit a stage of professionalism. We proved that by a showcase at a little place called the Little Hippodrome (a club in Florida, not New York) ... even critics that didn't like us said that we finally made it ... we were going to do a big show at the Beacon Theatre (a favourite concert hall of NYC bands in Manhattan) and record a third album.'

But just as suddenly as this rejuvenating jolt of energy had sprung forth, the plug was pulled - and from within. Nolan and Thunders were eager to carry out the remainder of the plan that Nolan had wisely devised. But the others wanted to stay in Florida and lapse back into the 'bar' gigs there, playing the old repertoire.

Nolan and Thunders returned to New York alone, in hopes that the others would come around and follow. Two days later, without a hint, the drummer and guitarist were fired from the Dolls. This at the beginning of 1975, a year ago.

A day after this little catastrophe, Nolan learned from a musician friend that bass guitarist Richard Hell, for lack of personal freedom in writing and on the stage, had just left on that city's prime attention getters, Television. Hell was contacted immediately and soon there was a bass guitarist at Nolan's and Thunders's rehearsal sessions. A few months later, Walter Lure was added as Thunders's teammate on guitars. The end result was the emergence of The Heartbreakers. 'I feel more a part of this band than I did with the Dolls,' admitted Nolan.

Thunders and Hell are The Heartbreakers' main songwriters. At least 13 songs have already been completed. But two things block their way to recording, both concerning Nolan's and Thunders's former affiliations.

'There are still a few more years on the publication and production rights (with the New York Dolls). There were still a few bills that weren't paid and the former management is concerned,' Nolan pointed out. 'Also, some of the people in the business are a little leery about doing anything with anyone that was involved with the Dolls ... or what that whole trip was ... We have to prove to the people in the business that we're dependable ... If we record an album, we will definitely make it on that first album ... And we don't want a thousand instruments, we don't need a 16-track studio - we're more basic rock'n'roll than, I think, any bands is, around.

What exactly is it about The Heartbreakers that is presently appealing to their New York City audiences that will, as Nolan is so convinced, also appeal to audiences across the country (with the right kind of backing, of course)? 'We're a dance band, not a solo band or a freak-out band,' Nolan proclaimed. 'We're extremely up-t-date - an accomplshment of what rock'n'roll is all about.

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