JOHNNY THUNDERS & THE HEARTBREAKERS: A Deep Dive!: Pop Culture Graveyard, Ep. 19

[@vibemasterguitars2306]

Fun video. I played on Jerry's last lp . Glad to see a lasting impact of Johnny's legacy

[@PopCultureGraveyard]

No way! Would that be one of the live albums? So cool! Very glad you enjoyed the episode, and thanks for the comment!

[@nolagospeltracts8264]

Walter wrote some classics for sure.

[@missiontotransition641]

Totally enjoyed this clip! Ive been on a Heartbreakers kick lately. Listening to all those released live boot type vinyl LP's. Currently reading Walter's book. Some great stories of that great band.

[@PopCultureGraveyard]

Thanks, Ricky! So glad you enjoyed it! You know, I still haven't read Walter's book yet. I'm sure it's great; Waldo's lived like four different lives by now--all of them interesting. Welcome to the channel!

[@joeswinford2618]

Another gem video, man.

[@PopCultureGraveyard]

Thanks, Joe! I really appreciate the support!

[@bokane1963]

Hats of to you. If I'm honest I went in to this video expecting the worst as I've seen so many videos that have been made just to make a freak show of their addictions. It was refreshing as a massive fan of Thunders and in of course the Heartbreakers (and an ex junkie!) to see someone with such a passion for the music. Top vid

[@PopCultureGraveyard]

Thanks a lot, Bo! I really appreciate the kind words, and I know exactly what you mean. This video was a labor of love. I'm so glad my feeling for the band came across.

[@bokane1963]

@@PopCultureGraveyard Great work, keep it up!

[@theheadpeddlers2096]

So I had a half hour before leaving for an appointment and I see Johnny Thunders a Deep Dive. I say Great ! Then I see it’s some guy talking and I go - oh man , come on . 22 minutes later I say Great Job. Really , I enjoyed your ways and knowledge . Thanks

[@PopCultureGraveyard]

Haha! I can totally relate that feeling! I am very suspicious of anyone who tries to talk about certain bands--especially bands I really love--so I'm happy to hear I was able to win you over. Glad you enjoyed the episode, my friend. Thanks for the comment, and welcome to the channel!

[@stuff3829]

You should do a deep dive on The Bush Tetras, Suicide, and Lydia Lunch and all her bands

[@jameswarhol442]

@Stuff- James Chance and the Contortions was the best of that lot.

[@fletchkeilman2205]

Now do one on Thin Lizzy!!

[@PopCultureGraveyard]

Great idea! I'll put them on the list, Fletch!

[@fletchkeilman2205]

@@PopCultureGraveyard excellent....side note...thunders and lynott had a decent working relationship.

[@buzzardsinuses4780]

I wanna get into Johnny Thunders. I have LAMF, and some of the live records you talked about. What’re the solo Thunders records that you’d recommend?

[@PopCultureGraveyard]

There really is only So Alone that's a must. After that, it's mostly compilations culled from various sources. Though, Hurt Me is a great acoustic set. The ROIR comp (Too Much Junkie Business) is the best of the comps. Add Water and Stir is a good live in Japan 1991 set. Stations of the Cross is also a great live set from '82, if you prefer early stuff. But So Alone is the only true MUST add studio LP. Happy hunting!

[@leahflower9924]

Que Sera Sera is decent too my favorite song is Alone in a Crowd

[@bloppysloppy2283]

​@@PopCultureGraveyard So Alone is the one to have. In Cold Blood off of Diary of a Lover is a good one. There's a few good songs on Que Sera Sera too.

[@michaelvolgare4454]

The 1st JT And The Heartbreakers gig with Billy was at max's kansas city on 7/23/76 . The gig is on youtube. The Heartbreakers were better with Billy, a much tighter band.

[@PopCultureGraveyard]

You're right, they got much tighter with Billy. In general, he was a very underrated bass player. Live especially I found him to be very inventive.

[@jackrackham4667]

I like the cassette mix of LAMF. Not sure if that's the "muddy mix?".

[@nolagospeltracts8264]

I like the Heartbreakers better than the Dolls.

[@leahflower9924]

I'm down to kill LAMF

[@dmfglobal132]

Fantastic as always. Especially poignant this week.

[@PopCultureGraveyard]

Thanks, pal! I was unsure about who to cover this week, but once Walter passed I decided to pay tribute.

[@waltercarpenter3963]

IT’S AWESOME YOU MADE THIS MAN ! I love JT & the HB’s ! I agree that walter is the most underrated guitar player in punk. Walter played lead guitar on most the Ramones 80’s records as well. Jerry is my drum hero ! My band Born Losers is a 2021 version for the Heartbreaker’s. FB page is Born Losers News ! Check us out on bandcamp via FB page. LUV ! LAMF !

[@PopCultureGraveyard]

Thanks, brother. I mention Walter in my Ramones episode, so check that out if you get a chance. Will find you guys on bandcamp

[@waltercarpenter3963]

@@PopCultureGraveyard I’d/ we’d appreciate that man. We made a record with Joe Queer and he’s got some VERY cool stories about Joey as well as a story or two about the Heartbreakers from a gig in Boston ( somewhere near Boston Mass ) Anyway ! Keep doing the lords work. This is accurate and important rock n roll history for everyone. From a JT fan for years ( almost to a fault aka too much Junkie business for me ) But I got through it and that experience gave me a HUGE appreciation for the music and just how the fuck those guys kept going for as long as they did. To me they’re the best “punk” or rock n roll band ever. Was bummed but not shocked the Dolls didn’t make into the RnR hall of fame. Clearly the “voting” aspect is squeed and like everything else in the music business ( with exception ) all about making money. Also, seems to follow the legend that the Dolls and everyone in the band is some how always been cursed.

[@nanchanger]

@Rupert Red not the genre, the word...

[@nanchanger]

It didn't come up, and the RnR HOF is bogus...

[@leahflower9924]

I like that name lol their born to lose and the other born to lose that Ray Charles sang I like both

[@nolagospeltracts8264]

Hell's songs sound better on the Yonkers demos than with the Voidoids and you are right on about everything in this video.

[@lamper2]

5:32 They owe thanks to Billy (who's dead) for getting them "healthier" by influencing a move from heroin to meth LOL! 6:06 Why wasn't that mastering studio( name it somebody) sued? a million lawyers would take that case on a contingency because even a first year law student could smell the money here! being a pop fan i love the REVISTED LP. of course now in 2023 we got the "lost" master. 7:13 that cassette is right here on youtube-yes, it's PERFECT! 8:23 Such a Stone's sound and vocal. they'd jump off a bridge if they ever heard it.

[@newforestpixie5297]

Although I was just 13 in 1977 I was sick of crummy pop of the day and into anything interesting or exciting- whether that meant a load of old Prog from older brothers’ collection or the mainstream punk bands we’d hear on radio from britain along with Ramones The Tubes The Saints Eddie & The Hot Rods etc but it wasn’t till KZbin that I was aware that Johnny Rotten was accused of copying Either Richard Hell or Johnny Thunders . So here goes , ignoring my work to learn about these guys . 👍from southcoast england

[@PopCultureGraveyard]

I'm totally with you! From about the same age right up until this day, I've always been looking for something new, interesting or exciting. And that can come from any genre; I love being surprised. Really glad that you enjoyed the episode, and I'm honored that it kept you from work! Thanks for the comment, and welcome to the channel!

[@jameswarhol442]

@New- So it's well documented that Richard Hell was the first to spike his hair, wear torn and written on t-shirts held together w safety pins. As well the term "Punk Music" first appear on flyers in the East Village in 1972 by the electro-punk duo Suicide. Malcom McClaren "managed" the last iteration of the NY Dolls (1974 ?)before getting involved with the Sex Pistols. MM was already friends with Sylvain Sylvain through their connection in "rag trade" in London and NY.

[@nolagospeltracts8264]

JT died in my city. Not far from my old stomping grounds.

[@PopCultureGraveyard]

That's right. You know at the time, Mink DeVille was living next door to St. Peter Guest House, and he said when the coroner's office guys brought Johnny out his body was in the shape of a U. Such a horrible image.

[@nolagospeltracts8264]

@@PopCultureGraveyard Yes, I heard about that. Horrible image indeed. Poor guy.

[@nanchanger]

@@PopCultureGraveyard what did he know and how did he know it?

[@nanchanger]

How?

[@leahflower9924]

Well he's from my city so there! Lol 🗽

[@leahflower9924]

So who officially wrote Chinese rocks let's ask Dee Dee lol...yes Walter was a tall drink of water indeed ❤️

[@PopCultureGraveyard]

Haha! YES! DeeDee was such a great songwriter and (with an assist from Hell) wrote Chinese Rocks. Isn't it so funny, though, how if Johnny liked a song, he'd eventually put his name on it? Had the pleasure of seeing Walter doing LAMF live about seven years ago. He sounded great live--and was as tall as ever!

[@leahflower9924]

@@PopCultureGraveyard did you do a Ramones video yet? 🤔

[@rickyhiemstra9993]

THANKS! FOR SHARING!🙂

[@jameswarhol442]

Not a bad sounding record but The Heartbreakers were probably my least favorite band from that era. The two best songs are covers -Do You Love Me and Chinese Rocks. Too much Junkie Business is just boring and as dull as a wet Wednesday. London (boys) which was Johnny's "clap back" at the Sex Pistols New York sounds like it was written by a high school girl in comparison. Last time I saw Thunders was in Paris in 1985 (?) at au Bain Douches and Johnny was just fucked up on god knows what. Couldn't finish most of the songs. Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory is the best thing JT wrote by far. The Ronnie Spector version with Joey Ramone is incredible. In terms of creativity, musicality and innovation there are tons of bands I found far more appealing - Compare the vibe on this record to say that of Pure Mania by the Vibrators, or Lou Reed's Street Hassle or Take No Prisoners. Suicide, Television, The Cramps, The Buzzcocks, Joy Division, Wire, The Stranglers, for me, were far more compelling and interesting. Somebody once said that you could give a thousand guys the same guitar but nobody could make it sound like Johnny Thunders. And that's the sad part because had he not been so messed up on dope he could have been one of the truly greats.

[@jonyscrewzo]

Chinese Rocks its not a cover, who did it first? Who did it better? LAMF

[@jameswarhol442]

@@jonyscrewzo -So according to both Dee Dee and R. Hell the song was written by DD ( in Debbie Harry's apt) for the Ramones but Johhny didn't want to do it due to the obvious drug reference. So technically a Ramones song but, you are correct, first played by The Heartbreakers.