Biography
Although Jerry Nolan did not occupy the drum stool from the outset with the New York Dolls, his playing graced the pair of studio albums that emerged during the band's short-lived yet turbulent existence. Jerry Nolan entered the world in 1946 within Brooklyn, New York, and his childhood involved frequent relocations because his stepfather served in the U.S. military. While residing temporarily in Hawaii, he witnessed one of Elvis Presley's initial concerts, an event that would ignite his musical aspirations. Upon reaching his teenage years, he took up drumming amid his family's return to Brooklyn, the city of his birth, where he also joined local street gangs. During the closing years of the 1960s, Nolan performed drums in several early ensembles, one of which included Syl Sylvain, destined to become a New York Doll, and he developed a friendship with aspiring drummer Peter Crisscoula, later known as Peter Criss of Kiss.
Sylvain departed the ensemble alongside Nolan to establish the Dolls, who by 1972 had cultivated an enormous following in New York City through their androgynous image and trashy Stones-esque party rock. The lineup, which also comprised singer David Johansen, bassist Arthur Kane, drummer Billy Murcia, plus guitarists Johnny Thunders and Sylvain, received an invitation to open a series of shows for the Faces in England toward the end of 1972 even though the band had yet to secure a recording contract. What promised to be a thrilling period instead became tragic when Murcia died mid-tour from asphyxiation. Devastated, the group returned home yet soon resolved to continue, with Nolan assuming Murcia's position. The Dolls promptly signed with Mercury Records, which released two albums over the next two years: 1973's self-titled debut and 1974's Too Much Too Soon. Although neither album sold particularly well, both have become certified rock classics over the years, inspiring countless bands of various musical genres (including '70s punk, '80s glam metal, etc.).
Nolan and Thunders exited the group in 1975, both addicted to hard drugs and disillusioned with the Dolls' unfocused direction, and formed the Heartbreakers. The new group issued L.A.M.F. in 1977, which like the Dolls' albums went underappreciated upon its initial release, but has since become a punk classic. Once again, certain habits proved difficult to abandon, as drugs played a major part in breaking up this promising band after only a single release (Nolan and Thunders remained friends however, and would regroup the Heartbreakers for numerous reunion tours over the years, documented on such releases as Live at Max's Kansas City '79 and Live at the Lyceum Ballroom 1984). Nolan subsequently participated in a series of bands and projects, including the Idols with former Doll Arthur Kane, backing Sid Vicious at a Max's Kansas City show (released as the Sid Sings and Never Mind the Reunion...Here's Sid Vicious albums), and a group called the London Cowboys, who released the album On Stage in 1985. Thunders died in April of 1991 due to a drug overdose, which left Nolan without his longtime partner in crime, and incredibly depressed (although Nolan did appear at a Thunders tribute concert in N.Y.C. alongside his former Doll and Heartbreaker bandmates). Toward the end of the same year, Nolan fell ill with bacterial meningitis and bacterial pneumonia, which led to a fatal stroke on January 14, 1992.
Sylvain departed the ensemble alongside Nolan to establish the Dolls, who by 1972 had cultivated an enormous following in New York City through their androgynous image and trashy Stones-esque party rock. The lineup, which also comprised singer David Johansen, bassist Arthur Kane, drummer Billy Murcia, plus guitarists Johnny Thunders and Sylvain, received an invitation to open a series of shows for the Faces in England toward the end of 1972 even though the band had yet to secure a recording contract. What promised to be a thrilling period instead became tragic when Murcia died mid-tour from asphyxiation. Devastated, the group returned home yet soon resolved to continue, with Nolan assuming Murcia's position. The Dolls promptly signed with Mercury Records, which released two albums over the next two years: 1973's self-titled debut and 1974's Too Much Too Soon. Although neither album sold particularly well, both have become certified rock classics over the years, inspiring countless bands of various musical genres (including '70s punk, '80s glam metal, etc.).
Nolan and Thunders exited the group in 1975, both addicted to hard drugs and disillusioned with the Dolls' unfocused direction, and formed the Heartbreakers. The new group issued L.A.M.F. in 1977, which like the Dolls' albums went underappreciated upon its initial release, but has since become a punk classic. Once again, certain habits proved difficult to abandon, as drugs played a major part in breaking up this promising band after only a single release (Nolan and Thunders remained friends however, and would regroup the Heartbreakers for numerous reunion tours over the years, documented on such releases as Live at Max's Kansas City '79 and Live at the Lyceum Ballroom 1984). Nolan subsequently participated in a series of bands and projects, including the Idols with former Doll Arthur Kane, backing Sid Vicious at a Max's Kansas City show (released as the Sid Sings and Never Mind the Reunion...Here's Sid Vicious albums), and a group called the London Cowboys, who released the album On Stage in 1985. Thunders died in April of 1991 due to a drug overdose, which left Nolan without his longtime partner in crime, and incredibly depressed (although Nolan did appear at a Thunders tribute concert in N.Y.C. alongside his former Doll and Heartbreaker bandmates). Toward the end of the same year, Nolan fell ill with bacterial meningitis and bacterial pneumonia, which led to a fatal stroke on January 14, 1992.