Johnny Thunders Interview 1982 with Jerry Nolan

Johnny just wanted to make the kids dance :(

[@hwb-zalpach]

jerry is the most underrated drummer, with billy they were incredible.. there is a 1979 detroit show - pure smack on fire!

[@nothx962]

11:16 DAYUMN!!! I wish I was 60 and sitting in a living room watching TV as her husband tonight...what a smoke show. Unfortunately I wasn't born until 88 ;) gorgeous.

[@JCSAXON]

That brief window of full-moon fever between the yardbirds reference and the kick to the guitar is, to me, a perfect example of raw power; Link Wray. Jet Boy lent the same empowerment through chaos/control. Guitars have lives of their own too and I believe he lent himself, at least partially, as a medium to a destruction that blossomed many positive creations but half of his “copy cats” are dead cats ⚡️⚡️⚡️

[@jellobiafra2810]

I'm from Detroit (blow the reveille)! *The NYD's became a much tighter band the instant Jerry took the drum stool.* They actually started playing in a _'pocket'_ from time to time. He had a unique _'hard-rock-swing'._ No offense to Billy M. But, it was like night and day. (re: _Heroin_ ): Drugs were very much a part of their story. What I've read is: Jerry & Johnny were totally into scag *DURING* the Dolls. The Stooges road manager turned Iggy Pop on to it. Then, Johnny got it from Iggy. And, Jerry perpetuated it. Then, they both introduced it to the British punk scene during that 1st Sex Pistols/Heartbreakers tour (more than Nancy & the others.) It's always _'guilt-by-association'._ It's a sad vacation. - Dave B.

[@leahflower9924]

I was gonna be a baseball playa but they told me cut my hair so I quit lol

[@Gcssdvnkloiutesc]

@@leahflower9924that’s actually half true. He really was drafted by the dodgers or whatever mlb baseball team it was. The problem was his father wasn’t interested in mentoring him which was part of the program in order to advance in little league baseball.

[@thedarkhorse100]

Aww look at young Johnny when he was still cute

[@radiomindchatter7994]

Jerry and Johnny both had a drug problem while they were in the Dolls...they split from them because they couldn't score in Florida. Jerry seemed to have forgotten that..

[@bradenzo5386]

😂😂😂He certainly did forget.

[@leahflower9924]

Somebody (Jerry Nolan) called me on the phone they said heyyyy is Dee Dee home

[@leahflower9924]

awesome even the Ramones looked up to them and the bands they were in, legends!

[@nanchanger]

Ha, even the Ramones, but they couldn't touch the New York Dolls...

[@vinylmonstretify]

R.I.P Jerry "Needle" Nolan

[@brettjames2171]

I’ve seen JT quite a few times in the 80s - but I never saw anyone dance.

[@nanchanger]

🤣

[@JoypadDivison]

That's probably why he started shooting up... Nobody danced.

[@user-we8qp9yl1m]

I WAS that cigarette

[@demograffic]

Best pro drug PSA ever!

[@nanchanger]

Drug-Free America!

[@Stewartchampion]

Jonny could be such a great guitarist...its a shame the dude got to lost in the smack...but when people are clapping u for being wasted ..what chance do ya stand ... the kid could play tho

[@jocksilver7]

Thunders wasn't a singer but he naturally knew how to place his voice with such expressiveness that you immediately got the notion no one could do it but him. It matched his guitar sound too. 30 years plus without his RnR Vision, even if he'd be over 70 today, feels like a big waste of time. His dedicated legion of fans have proved him wrong in one thing, for endearment reasons : you can indeed put your harms around a memory, taking into account the affection shown by life-term aficionados towards his legacy, especially the Dolls debut, and later ''Lamf'' and '' So alone''. Sadly so, since the crucible has unfortunately driven him down to the grave, yet he accomplished his thing in this life.

[@22lulublu]

Johnny sees things clearly, fucked up as he still was. Jerry thinks he's above it all. did he forget he auditioned for the Dolls after Billy Murcia died? He was the right man for the job. You know where the drugs are going to take you, but you don't care. the time warp makes you forget about it.'

[@dgenerated]

If Anyone knew where the "drugs would take them", we would live in a "Sober World!".. No one ever thinks it will happen to them, or that they are stepping into a metaphorical quicksand that is All Consuming and a hole that if one is lucky enough to make it out of, will (unfortunately) spend the rest of their lives trying not to fall back into!.. Unfortunately, once that "seed is planted it's in your mind for LIFE!"..

[@lorettatalavera3215]

Sad

[@tonielcock8891]

You can hear Billy Duffys licks on electric in Johnny's playing

[@nanchanger]

If anything, the other way around...

[@Generatorhead]

@@nanchanger Good God yes

[@nanchanger]

@@Generatorhead 🤣

[@Mrpublicimagelimited]

At least Jerry was what one might call a dignified junkie. Look at Thunders here.. he's a mess.

[@AprilEwell]

Exactly

[@leahflower9924]

even on heroin jerry was adorable that face that hair and his Brooklyn accent

[@nanchanger]

@@leahflower9924 when did he live in Brooklyn?

[@leahflower9924]

​@@nanchanger i thought he was from Brooklyn

[@dontworryaboutit888]

What’s the name of the first song??

[@HerFatherDidntLikeMe]

Just Another Girl

[@misterslats]

"From what I've read"...the lamest opening to any statement about rock and roll.

[@PAULLONDEN]

A talented guy who's dreams were killed by smack. He had far from the cool self assured elegantly wasted appearance Richards had . In fact Thunders often looked totally lost when under the influence of his strychnine cut-up heroine .

[@hwb-zalpach]

NO PAIN NO GAIN.

[@nanchanger]

I've never seen any evidence he died from smack...

[@jameskennedy721]

Both guys looked noticebly cool for a season . But the street habit drags you down . You think you still look good , but you are the only one who thinks that .

[@PAULLONDEN]

@@matthewjdouglas6471 Woah ....and still alive .That wouldn't have happened with alcohol , the drug government pushes. I'm on methadone since 1973 because it still gives me somewhat of an opiate rush . Thankfully don't have to go to a three weekly program since 1990, but get my medication once monthly from the pharmacist. Shot up smack for a year or five during the 70's .Wouldn't change a thing if I had to do it all over again.

[@rlfitz3]

Spoken like a true drug addict “I don’t think I have a problem”. Such a damn shame. Waste of talent…

[@davespears2241]

Just absolutely terrible.

[@denysemcalister7082]

Jerry Nolan seemed like a good guy

[@oxrjbizzle1984y]

yeah jerry nolan definitely seemed like a class guy....im a big fan of his!

[@punkmeathead3792]

He was a great drummer that’s for sure. A great guy... read stranded in the jungle. He wasn’t a sloppy addict like Johnny Thunders. Like you wouldn’t know he was a junkie but he used ppl much more...

[@Brewzerr]

denyse mcalister - he definitely was. I never got to meet him, but I know a few people who were close to him. By all accounts, he was a real ‘salt of the earth’ kind of guy.

[@richardrybinski2320]

great guy to say hello to and have a drink with....JT, too... so talented....but they had demons....sad.

[@DDios-ih9de]

denyse mcalister he was!

[@filipematias5127]

'70s and '80s girls were simply better than those around nowadays!

[@Thorum13]

And this video is your evidence?

[@pj_ama2359]

Are they still tho?

[@filipematias5127]

@@Thorum13 NOPE : I was born in 1973 and that's how I know!

[@nanchanger]

@@pj_ama2359 they're older...

[@jonathansteadman7935]

I was there, seen Thunders many a time, and yeah, the girls were hot.

[@leeinoregon1326]

I love Jerry Nolan but he didn't form the Dolls, he replaced the original drummer, Billy M., who died in London.

[@83reggieT]

Funny that he remembers it as if it happened, I wonder if the interviewer knew better, he could have said actually Jerry there was a guy named Billy Murcia. Jerry was a hell of a drummer though I bet I could outdo him in a game of trivia or episode of Jeopardy.

[@deniseflick6556]

You are absolutely correct. I wish these people making these documentaries would get the facts straight before they make their videos.

[@realsinisterminister]

Jerry wa a brilliant drummer...............he didn't make the dolls...but he made them better and worse at the same time if that makes sense?it is what it was

[@jonesy2111]

Jerry was great and a very good drummer

[@realsinisterminister]

@@jonesy2111 make up your mind?...was he great or very good?I'd say he was great but EVERY band he was in he quit cause he was never happy with the drum sound....this even predates the dolls and was the ruin of the heartbreakers....I'd say he was a brilliant drummer just not such a great human being...like most artists

[@MURUR1025]

Didn't realize Nolan was six years older than Thunders. He was already past 30 when LAMF came out.

[@punkmeathead3792]

MrYr2011 he was like his father...

[@danielscissorhands]

Deborah Harry was 30 when the first Blondie record came out, apparently

[@leahflower9924]

@@danielscissorhands yes I learned that too she was born 1945 I think amazing that she still performs with Chris stein! And I think maybe even frank infante

[@ccarmean1968]

Did any interviewers ask him music related questions? Influences, techniques, etc.? Seems like everyone was more interested in his drug taking? Must have been boring to answer the same questions.

[@itinerarierrantiealtro]

Really interesting point. He was a talented guy. I think Johnny fan is boring with the junkie legend, I mean it does exist but it’s not the whole thing. I’ve read, f.e. He was influenced by Bad Company for Pirate Love

[@angelicbeing8931]

@grimble He looked like a street addict because he did not have the money to effortlessly get and hide drugs like most heroin addicts that are famously musicians . I wished people would not continue to talk about his addiction / disease . He gave so much to music .

[@jellobiafra2810]

I'm from Detroit (blow the reveille)! Weill, JT *DID* perpetuate the _'Dean-Martin-of-heroin'_ persona. I agree that focusing on that takes away from his very unique style. (guitar-style AND songwriting style) But, there you go. Peace. Stay Healthy! - Dave B.

[@nanchanger]

@grimble how did Petty die?

[@nanchanger]

@@jellobiafra2810 maybe it's best you stop doing it then...

[@davidtrupp9289]

In all due respect to the late Jerry Nolan, or any junkie who says that they had no prior knowledge of heroin's dangers, you are lying.

[@oliverkalamata2753]

Damn right!

[@shanelevene4864]

That is certainly the case now, David. But back then, it was another ball game. They didn't know about HIV and hepatitis... endocarditis... vascilar disease, etc. They didn't u8nderstand that you do not escape the needle scott free. It isn't a case of quitting and resuming a noemal drug free life. It stays witrh you and the damage handicaps you and the damage ofte makes it pointless to stop. Back then those guys didn't know what we know today. Sure they knew it was addictive, but they didn't know that it wasn't the herin killing people but the disaeses and viruses and the damage that the needle does. X

[@gabbyc3444]

I had no idea. then again I'm not nor have I ever been an iv user.

[@jefrey5578]

Heroin is not that dangerous, it is the crap it is cut with. I have been shooting off and on since 1975 and have no health issues other than a collapsed vein once about 20 years ago.. I am 63 by the way.

[@filipematias5127]

@@oliverkalamata2753 : Wrong! Until the late '80s and early '90s there wasn't a real notion or available information about the TRUE dangers of heroin addiction and the kind of destruction it brings INTO peoples' lives like there is nowadays!

[@RolandDuke]

Thanks Jon Doe, I’m sitting somewhere in my new house.

[@g.marion5888]

Johnny was a knucklehead. Make a video about Tokin' Daily or TheGuyThatCouldFly, get back to your roots.

[@JohnDoe-sx2zk]

will do

[@littleplum17]

controlling one bit? If you don't like this just pass, let people free to watch or post what they want. And Johnny wasn't a knucklehead at all, this just makes you seem jealous.

[@nanchanger]

You did not know him, obviously...