Johnny Thunders Interview 1978

[@meadowlaguira9997]

Walter just passed. RIP, Heartbreakers. You guys were great.

[@janesmith7676]

Damn, him too. :-( (RIP) About all's we have left now is Patti, Richard Hell and David Johansen. And one wonders how even THEY survived. But man does it almost seem like a curse was plaguing this scene, especially since the deaths started so early. Really sad to think about .

[@janesmith7676]

Well now that I think about it, the Talking Heads and most of Blondie are still around. I guess the more commercialized acts (of '77 US punk/wave) might have had better luck mortality-wise (since Blondie were fucked up on drugs too).

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

Man I was gutted when I heard walter had left the realm. I was hoping he would have lived a lot longer.

[@dalakerdaniel9240]

@@janesmith7676 Hey Jane may they all be in good company Stiv all Ramones and so many we lost on our Rock n Roll Highway and Rest in Powder ☠️💣☠️ 🖤

[@leahflower9924]

@@janesmith7676 Johansen is indeed a lonely planet boy now 😥

[@MsBAustralia]

Johnny was in fine form during this interview...so fuckin funny. His dry sense of humor is brilliant 😚

[@PAULLONDEN]

Indeed......sadly this sly self confidence was consumed by too much low grade smack.

[@dalakerdaniel9240]

@@PAULLONDEN may they all Rest in Powder ☠️💣☠️

[@leahflower9924]

Chow mein ✌️

[@KoffinPunk13]

"Do you miss not looking like a lesbian?" says the guy dressed like Ellen DeGeneres.

[@LivBird8]

"By drugs, I'm not going to ask what, but I know your drummer drinks which I find shocking" "Yeah, I find that shocking myself" HAHAHA

[@LaurenGriffinkamikazebaby81]

All of JT's responses were great but that one really had me laughing!

[@chrissmith256]

Johnny telling his influences during this time is so incredible, considering he influenced a genre and a generation. Drugs do kill. And they fuck up brilliance. Case in point.

[@cgavin1]

"my mother never thought that" pwned.

[@victorcorona4101]

R.I.P NOLAN .RATH.THUNDERS AND WALTER ROCK N ROLL FOREVER

[@dalakerdaniel9240]

may they all Rest In Powder ☠️💣☠️

[@leahflower9924]

Billy rath was beautiful

[@castorriver]

Wow Johnny Thunders tells it like it is.

[@PAULLONDEN]

"Do you miss lookin like a lesbian" Unlike lots of complainers here , I found that rather funny.....even Johnny thought it was funny... He could handle that.....those are the kind of good natured insults these guys throw at each other the whole fuckin day...

[@mericanpunk7432]

thats the 90s 80s kids if I said that to someone at my school today I'd probably get written up and seperated completely from the kid haha everyone is soft

[@leahflower9924]

My motha never thought that!

[@leahflower9924]

@@mericanpunk7432 PC infiltrated punk that's why everyone bitches about johnny Ramone years after he died

[@joshcorley9220]

He’s laughing because it’s best to laugh at stereotypes, gives the haters the opposite of what they want. But when it becomes too offensive like throwing around the f word that’s when it becomes too much. I can guarantee any lesbian would laugh at the joke too.

[@joshcorley9220]

@@mericanpunk7432 if you were a real punk you’d know that school is useless.

[@dannyhernandez265]

Lol, Johnny kept outclassing the interviewer numerous times.

[@antihebrew]

Tony Wilson: Aren't you a bit old for this, Walter? Walter: *stunned pause*

[@dampergoldenrod4156]

A 45 year old doing hip hop or rap is old and stupid

[@antihebrew]

@@dee_seejay Banging out up-tempo reverb heavy variations of 'Johnny B. Goode' is for Sha Na Na clones and explains why Johnny Rotten and Johnny Thunders hated each other.

[@scamurai]

Dirty Johnny from Queens.. and cute Walter from Long Island baby.

[@Nonmachaine]

What a fucking cool guy Johnny was.

[@paulmiller161]

I dig that he shouts out Iggy and MC5, I heard he stole a press pass from some girl, and followed T Rex around on tour for a summer or something.

[@baronsaturday2103]

Paul - Tyrannausaurus Rex, when Bolan was still sitting cross legged on the floor on a Persian carpet with incense sticks burning... A schoolmate of Thunders said both their lives changed when the Beatles broke through. If you look at pictures from Johnny when he was 13, around '65, he has this Beatle haircut. Though the quiff from earlier (and later) looked better..

[@ahippy8972]

@@baronsaturday2103 you know T. rex didn’t get famous till after the Beatles split? No thought not.

[@ahippy8972]

@@baronsaturday2103 T -Rex were way after iggy and mc 5.

[@dalakerdaniel9240]

@@ahippy8972 maybe coz Osterberg and Kramer are stil alive 🤣

[@leahflower9924]

@@ahippy8972 cuz I'm loose, always!

[@FlashframeFilms]

Walter is great. "Is my hair on fire?"

[@ChrisTNMex]

Johnny was so ahead of his time

[@ahippy8972]

Not at all. People in 2020 are backwards as hell. People gone back to thinking the Nazis are cool that is seriously backwards

[@janesmith7676]

@@ahippy8972 Who thinks nazi's are cool? What, you do you actually listen to CNN when they tell you nazi types are everywhere? LOL, that's pathetic, just like your username - you actually think hippies were cool. Must be pretty young.

[@leahflower9924]

@@janesmith7676 kids these days don't understand punk wasn't PC that's why you could see Ron asheton and Sid Vicious wearing Nazi stuff and joey Ramone singing I'm a Nazi baby everyone knew it wasnt serious! I blame the west coast scene for ushering in the dreaded PC thing

[@ExcitedAnacondaSnake-hg8ec]

No he was one of the few ON TIME. Most people are behind their time.

[@MorayEel]

Labels suck but regardless of what Johnny says, the Heartbreakers were in the New York scene in the late 70's, and at various times hung out with the Sex Pistols and The Ramones (Dee Dee at least)...Johnny Thunders was such a huge influence on punk music that it's inaccurate to say he wasn't punk. He was...protopunk! = )

[@PAULLONDEN]

MorayEel OK...but then, weren't The Stooges there first with their seminal first 3 albums ? Oh well. ....John galantly admits it here he was influenced by Iggy and real "protopunks" MC5.

[@drxmxrxm3674]

@@PAULLONDENthunders did not consider himself "punk." he also seemed to be rather annoyed by the "punk scene" in general. thunders was rock & roll to the core

[@leahflower9924]

​@@drxmxrxm3674thunders had early hair metal look then had a punk look after he started playing with richard hell

[@drxmxrxm3674]

@@leahflower9924 I already know this. regardless of how he dressed. johnny still did not consider himself a "punk" in any way shape or form. watch his other interviews as he clearly states this.

[@leahflower9924]

@@drxmxrxm3674 but if he wasn't kissing punks might not be around

[@superwesman]

interviewer: I know your drummer drinks, which I find shocking.. johnny: yeah I find that shocking myself interviewer: alright listen, walter and johnny that you very much. johnny: chow mein

[@shashwati]

did Billy Rath EVER talk?? I swear, I've never seen 'em opening his mouth other than in some pictures... Johnny looks fantastic of course, but Walter don't look too bad either...

[@lachrymarum_]

"chow mein" lol so cute

[@maggiethecat1538]

Ciao mein.. Italian

[@JMarinelli]

Yeah - that’s rad.

[@leahflower9924]

Billy Jerry Walter johnny were hot if they had a who's cuter contest it would be hard to tell who would win

[@cyrindastein]

HAHAHA WALTER'S GIGGLE ON ''WHAT DO YOU LEARN FROM HIM?''

[@stefantaxi7030]

Mr. Thunders and Mr. Lure.. great couple. Best. The Heartbreakers. Only the real rock n roll band. Punk ROCK band.

[@watcynx]

Say what you like about Johnny, but he always kept his wit, and it was quick, about him.

[@surfercrow]

RIP Walter Lure

[@garymay799]

Ye all gone now shame RIP

[@ahippy8972]

@@garymay799 it’s called time. Boy George wrote a song about that. How long you think us addicts can live? I’m 50 and struggling to walk to the corner shop but it ain’t noone but my fault, I’m just gutted I’m here.

[@leahflower9924]

Was that billy rath on the side! Damn these guys were hot 🔥

[@chatham43]

..the one and only...

[@tonyjohn1395]

Johnny didn’t even see 38. Sad.

[@permaveg]

The late Johhny Thunders and Waldo are both gone, and bassist Billy Rath watching from the side stage gone too, and interviewer Tony Wilson, '24 Hour Party People' film, gone as well. All left their mark on music.

[@markwasthere]

i think its from the latter part of the anarchy tour because JT's hairs grown back a bit

[@yinoveryang4246]

There was a strange occurrence in the Uk in the 1980’s. Music journalists, those who somehow found themselves on TV, had an arrogance about them. In their own demeanour and attitude, it was clear they felt they were more of a star than the folks they were interviewing. This is Tony Wilson, who later on learned to affect a certain modesty..Worst examples - David Hepworth,... Andy Kershaw God forbid.

[@thesopranosdynasty]

they still are the enemy, there is no goodness to press, you have to use them

[@Nominay]

"Terminal Indifference" sounds like a good band name!

[@Tito-en5nv]

I fucking love Johnny t

[@Edward1312]

Thunderous looks cadaverous and they are both strung out here.

[@chloewalker8089]

lol...looking like a lesbian! i love johnny's response, "my mother never thought that"

[@AlmostReady504]

RIP JT and Uncle Waldo

[@jacobjenn1]

Tony Wilson and Thunders…damn

[@manicbabyshambles123]

Love you Tony. RIP.

[@Brewzerr]

“Their chemicals are, uh... very easy gotten”

[@jeannihearts3260]

Rip waldo

[@twistedspanner]

Back in the old MySpace days I emailed Walter Lure a few times and he replied..he told me a story about them doing a TV show up in Manchester (he think?) how he died his hair last minute with food colouring and the stuff started running. He lit a cigarette and his hair went up in flames. This is the show he was talking about. But you don't really see it properly. He's just fanning out what's just burnt. I then read his autobiography and he mentioned the story again. I didn't get it why Billy Rath wasn't up there with them. He can be seen sitting watching the interview instead. In Waldo's book Billy was a dimwit. Maybe that's why they contemplated booting him out at one point and get Nils Stevenson in instead. Billy usually looked shy or paranoid on stage. I didn't realise that he was mainly a speedfreak than a smack head. I heard radio interview Billy gave and he sounded like an alright guy. After the Pistols broke up Sid Vicious thought he was gonna replace Billy in the Heartbreakers. Sid wasn't even asked to contribute to Johnny Thunders' So Alone album. I wonder why.?

[@leahflower9924]

Billy I think was on speed his eyes were going crazy in live footage haha

[@crackthefoundation_]

You can't have a smackhead frontman and a smackhead bass player at the same time is why.

[@twistedspanner]

@@crackthefoundation_ Bollocks. The Heartbreakers were a band of smackheads.

[@crackthefoundation_]

@@twistedspanner Oh for sure. But if Billy was able to handle himself better on speed, Johnny couldn't control himself whatsoever, so perhaps there was a yin-yang type of thing happening occasionally. Just speculating, hah, great music

[@dubrifle]

So does Walter - crazy good hair.

[@drago6769]

back when johnny was semi functional

[@dubrifle]

Walter's hair is amazing. Wondering who did it?

[@LaurenGriffinkamikazebaby81]

Probably Johnny.

[@EduKEduKEduK]

or Jerry 😊

[@tylurmackinnon6217]

He did it to himself lmfao. These are actually cool people and don’t pay for people to dress them up etc.

[@leahflower9924]

Johnny's motha who doesn't do lesbian hairstyles!

[@leahflower9924]

@@tylurmackinnon6217 I believe that but Malcolm probably tried to trademark Walters hair at some point lol

[@MrBadguitar]

Ask Walter Lure about that.

[@michaelcolello2735]

Johnny always seems to look like he was embalmed years before he actually died. He made some killer fucking records, though.

[@MrBadguitar]

"Dee Dee was never gay." Ask Seymour Stein about that.

[@LaurenGriffinkamikazebaby81]

I think Dee Dee was probably gay for pay more than actually bisexual.

[@macadoo2530]

Classic. BEST rock & roll band in the world in 1977. Untouchable. Too bad they never captured their sound correctly on LP Cursed the Dolls & The Heartbreakers

[@leahflower9924]

Best looking band for me if you include the Richard hell years lol 💕

[@luapssub2415]

Johnny dressed fucking great! Im a dork...hang head in shame...

[@NicksMovieMix]

I shared a bill with Walter L....The Bowery....

[@messrocks89]

@iloveferminA So fucking funny! They kicked so much ass

[@tatethompson1234]

ive seen some interviews and stuff that he also did flirt with a guy a few times after he was done hooking but johnny ramone said hed kick him outta the band in the early days around 75..if its true who knows the early ny days is hard to tell sometimes

[@getmypastamasta8670]

Tate Thompson was he gay

[@johnhughes9019]

'53rd & 3rd ' ...

[@doolally1478]

Walter lure... still alive to this day. I always wondered if he had a bad drug habit too.

[@Rand_al_Thor372]

"Anybody who ever played in a band with me became junkies." Johnny Thunders

[@spookybaba]

He got a job in the city, and still played gigs when possible with his band The Waldos.

[@baronsaturday2103]

Yeah, Waldo used dope/coke too. He once said; 'It was the cool thing to do at the time in New York City, be a beatnik, be a junkie, so like a fool, I did it.'

[@flinchey6962]

Everyone in the Heartbreakers were junkies Walters cleaned up since he’s been working in Wall Street since the 80s

[@dalakerdaniel9240]

@@flinchey6962 it took a few yrs to get him sober RIP 🏴‍☠️

[@markwasthere]

are you sure this vid is from '78? that Junkies pin would be 2-3 years old, seems like they are talking about the Anarchy Tour which was '76. Also by '78 JT was mostly in NY doing one reunion show after another and didnt quite look this clean

[@Cfolger]

Crazy they moved to England to get on the nhs methadone program lol

[@penthouse10]

ciao mein...

[@nizodizo9549]

I love Bob Millen!

[@shashwati]

He was so much more than that, though huh :D

[@Skyskiful]

Thats Tony Wilson..... Record label prez of Factory Records (Joy Division,Buzzcocks,New Order) I really don't think he is a moron, he's just a legend. With a name like Fabio "Punk" you should know that.

[@Brewzerr]

Though a legend in his own right, Tony was also legendary for behaving like a complete chowderhead, especially in these old interviews.

[@PAULLONDEN]

Nice to see John here as the cocksure New Yorker he once was. I like the interviewer...for a change no sycophant bullshit. Even John found the "lesbian" bit funny. That sadly would change radically during the late 80's, when a mention like that would have him totally defensive and insecure. That Walter Lure had the charismatic presence of a broomstick...just the right bloke John would tolerate next to him on stage, so his star would shine even brighter.

[@baronsaturday2103]

Whoever you put next to Johnny, his charisma, style and attitude will always shine brighter than that of the ones surrounding him. (Like a lot of great frontmen) Even when he was in bad shape you often see a confident JT. A friend/scenester told Mojo magazine that even when he was living rough on the streets of NY around '80/81, he never really lost his confidence. He was a tough kid..

[@jimbo1959]

Bob Milan?????

[@madaleine0n864]

Johnny s voice is shot ...from UK club dates...

[@Brewzerr]

Or just the dope.

[@miguelrodrigues4510]

hilarious

[@edsreturn2012]

true that shit

[@1dreamfoundationcanada]

fu fu fu fu fu funky

[@dachagsgo8176]

Who does jhonny mention after gene Vincent?

[@leahflower9924]

Shangri Las they were a girl group

[@twistedspanner]

Why didn't Tony Wilson get the Heartbreakers to play live on his show 'So It Goes'? It could have changed everything for the band. Is this the only TV appearance the Heartbreakers did on British TV during the punk days. Shocking!

[@oldgit4260]

Jesus, Johnny has the unhealthiest skin pallour i've ever seen, a mix of grey and greasy white...

[@lachrymarum_]

Bad Alibi pretty sure he wore face makeup most of the time, i mean like pancake. he did look like he was dying by the mid-80s, probably bc he was.

[@Brewzerr]

A lot of the reason he looked like that later on was because of liver failure.

[@rjplamf61]

he wore pancake makeup most of the time and besides, You Can't Put Your Arm Around a Memory what KILLER records did he really pen and perform like a professional? the guy was smacked out of his mind 24/7.

[@baronsaturday2103]

rjplamf61 - You get used to heroin, and he had a high tolerance level, so it's not so weird he performs well. He used to go on these coke binges for days, and wrote tons of songs. No matter how out of it he was, he always came up with something new to the rehearsals. People tend to think that you can't even remember your own name if you use smack, but the high isn't that crazy, you just feel good, that's about it. Personally, I get higher from a good spliff (these days.. :)

[@felixfelix7447]

God that was louis theroux wasn't it? 😏

[@iloveferminA]

Bob Mellon? haha 2:18

[@aherman81]

yeah, ok buddy.

[@FarAwayEyes64]

And they Call Green Day punk rock 😂😂😂😂

[@kelleybunny]

johnny thunders was not punk.. but rock /roll.. and they were all around long before.. europe jumped on the bandwagon.. so..whats punk to you?

[@johnnyssik]

Chow mein 😂

[@leahflower9924]

He was so smooth 🗽

[@sergez6172]

thats Anthony Wilson the last true taste maker of the 20th century without him there would of been no joy division, new order, happy mondays, the haciefuckinenda, hes not insulting johnny im tellin ya he would have been pure blunt about it if he was, he is one of the rare few people at the time who gave punk and alternative acts a platform and positive publicity in the UK do your homework kiddies

[@dampergoldenrod4156]

No one would ever tell.rappers or grungers how nasty they look

[@dalakerdaniel9240]

coz this ugly music keeps looking at them away 🤣🏴‍☠️🤣

[@leahflower9924]

Heartbreakers couldn't look nasty in anything total studs

[@rachelkupper4758]

I didn't like this interview at first thought tony Wilson was being a prick but I've re watched it and think johnny and walter aren't taking the interview very seriously anyway its actually really nice to watch particularly as johnny thunders is looking good before drugs really started to have an impact

[@baronsaturday2103]

Even when he didn't, he looked great! Much greater than anybody anyways. His style, attitude and music next to his looks did it all!

[@AlmostReady504]

The interviewer is a bit of a NOZZLE. You can see why JT was uncomfortable and reluctant to do the talking during most interviews.

[@Brewzerr]

It seems like nearly every interview I’ve ever seen or heard with Thunders, the interviewer was trying to make him look bad or asking ridiculous and irrelevant questions. I don’t know why that was. He always handled it with pure class and housed those motherfuckers every time.

[@markwasthere]

Dee Dee would killed Johnny, the whole band hated his junk habit as well and they still couldnt dump him till 89 i think

[@cquilty1]

tony wilson once again trying too hard to be 'edgy' and divisive. Sad really...

[@cquilty1]

doug wanky Calm down with the passive aggressive schtick, wee dougie boy.

[@cquilty1]

@doug wanky Yes you can and who am I to stop you making a clown of yourself??!! 🤣😂🤣 And: "The real punk rock spirit", you squeak. Ha! It's 2020, ya silly old dinosaur:)

[@chrisgreen2786]

Strange how when these guys were actually around, nobody cared all that much. Same with the Ramones and everybody else, we just don't appreciate the great ones until they're gone. Eventually, we'll be left with a bunch of crappy tribute bands ruling the music scene.

[@leahflower9924]

And the stooges

[@leahflower9924]

I'm listening to funhouse right now

[@drxmxrxm3674]

the music scene today has went to absolute shit

[@Gcssdvnkloiutesc]

Most people don’t care about music period. The most successful bands like Kiss and Metallica are successful because it’s a fun thing to do on a Friday night. Kiss has sold more tickets than records.

[@MrLjb57]

Ya know he did kinda look like a lesbian on the 1st Album cover, but the guy was being kind of rude for pointing it out to his face..

[@shanelevene4864]

Ans what does a lesbian look like? I've known many but never one that looked like JT New York Dolls.

[@Brewzerr]

Shane Levene - Same here. Most of the hardcore lesbians I knew looked more like Hall and Oates than Johnny Thunders.

[@sergez6172]

Everybody hating on Wilson forgets about factory records and the hacienda he ingratiated punk as much as a mainstream tv presenter could, like Walter lure him self said less then 10 years later after this interview that working on Wall Street was a means to pay the bills and rent, you can only be in the gutter so long, literally and artistically before it gets sad or kills you, shit Wilson was a degenerate in Sheeps clothing and an amazing taste maker. Doyah reeasearch before ya start blabbing shit

[@hyena131]

Walter Lure's hair looks like when a 5-year-old kid finds a pair of scissors and cuts their own hair.

[@robertafierro5592]

Chow mein

[@BAMAVADER]

What is the drummers name here?!?

[@MarshallSmith27]

anyone know how old walter was in 78?

[@JoaoPedro-eh4wr]

Marshall Smith 28 according to wiki

[@krisscanlon4051]

Yawning Johnny 😂 Tony Wilson was trying to hard to be splashy...Johnny was chill as always

[@potatofry9259]

JT looks a little pail here dope sick

[@lamper2]

i never heard johnny sound like this.his voice later got high and whiny.

[@AlmostReady504]

He was warm and fuzzy. 'H'

[@shanelevene4864]

@Tom Stamos What absolute nonsense! I've known junkies from London to Paris, 100's of them over 2 decades and not once has heroin ever changed someone's voice other than it being a little slow when a little stoned. Jesus, what shit people come out with. X

[@shanelevene4864]

@Tom Stamos Firstly, excuse my comment it wasn't so polite... But you know, sometimes you type out shit and it ends up like that. The voice getting deeper, that's fine... I can see that happens in some users. But the original poster was claiming the opposite that Johnny's voice was rough and tough and heroin turned it into a squeaky whine. Maybe they got confused with helium and heroin!!! Anyway, excuse my initial reply and I end with that apology. X

[@baronsaturday2103]

My voice gets a bit lower after years of smoking weed, & smoking heroin/crack. But no cough whatsoever. I've always been eating and drinking very well, and lived a good life. I do hard dope more recreational these days, 'cause I get higher from smoking strong weed than the shitty street dope that is sold these days. (in NL/EUR.)

[@dalakerdaniel9240]

@@shanelevene4864 I agree 🏴‍☠️ have fun Shane

[@robertafierro5592]

Punk Rock was the answer to Disco..younmyst understand that the only other music going on was DISCO.

[@citizen1163]

Interviewer is embarrassingly bad

[@jenniferjuniper97]

wth? looking like a lesbian? what rock did that guy climb out from under??

[@danielscissorhands]

@youhavegeniusshins Heroin will do that to ya.

[@cindersguy]

Walter is Bi.

[@levisixx7545]

Really

[@johnhughes9019]

He surely was . Before he died --years before , actually-- he was in a relationship with a man . If nothing else , being bisexual broadens the field .

[@baronsaturday2103]

*Hahahaha!* Tony Wilson looks like an old lesbian... What a fool.

[@Tito-en5nv]

Wilson was a boy

[@ExcitedAnacondaSnake-hg8ec]

American business had already ostracized Johnny never to have access to mainstream media again. Such bs. Instead we get all the awful 70s rock metal and prog. Disgusting.

[@librarianeric]

What's the obsession with homosexuality? Who cares? And what the fuck is the interviewer going on about Thunders "looking like a lesbian"? No wonder so many musicians hate doing interviews.

[@dominicflats7692]

was Johnny gay?

[@soulCracka1]

+Enzo Ferrari lol

[@Rand_al_Thor372]

Not. Even. Close. Gave Deedee Ramone hell for turning gay tricks on 53rd & 3rd and THAT'S what sent DD off when he bleached & burned all JTs clothes and broke the neck of his lp jr. Gibson repaired it years later for Johnnys nephew who still owns it.

[@ayyvee7160]

Why because he dressed like a woman? Pretty sure he got his clothes from his girlfriend, Sable Starr.

[@salvattorebeteta]

he was not gay, it was just his style. keep in mind he was both a devout Catholic and beat himself up for his sins enough already. i recall reading that he was a master shoplifter at the women's clothing section during the Dolls days as well but if you're doubting a rock star's sexuality over their choice of clothing, then pretty much all of them are gay. back in 74, Stephen Stills, whom i have to admit i admire despite his idiocy, called _Bowie_ himself a fag over the crossdressing and said hed never share a hotel room with the NY dolls. it's 2019 now, man, chill out.

[@baronsaturday2103]

Most Americans are homofoob.

[@lolawebb9148]

2:17 Bob Mylan? does he mean bob Dylan?

[@GWHEATCUBS16]

Lmaooo good ear

[@dalakerdaniel9240]

Nobody cares so what ☠️💣☠️