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Germs (band)

2025-10-01T11:07:54Z

2603:8081:500:3BD:5CDF:29AD:F452:8A22: Added missing band member that was correctly listed in “Band Members” section of Wikipedia article for Germs (band) but was accidentally missing from the Wikipedia infobox.

{{short description|American punk rock band}}
{{redirect|The Germs|other uses|Germs (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Germs
| image = The Germs from the 1979 Flipside Calendar (cropped).jpg
| image_upright = 1.2
| caption = The Germs in 1979 on a [[Flipside (fanzine)|Flipside]] calendar. Clockwise from top left: [[Lorna Doom]], [[Pat Smear]], [[Darby Crash]] and [[Don Bolles (musician)|Don Bolles]].
| background = group_or_band
| alias = Sophistifuck and the Revlon Spam Queens, GI
| origin = [[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
| genre = {{flatlist|
*[[Punk rock]]
*[[hardcore punk]]}}
| years_active = {{hlist|1976–1980|2005–2009|2013}}
| label = [[Slash Records]]
| spinoffs = {{hlist|[[Darby Crash Band]]|[[Nervous Gender]]|[[45 Grave]]|[[Celebrity Skin (band)|Celebrity Skin]]}}
| current_members =
| past_members = * [[Darby Crash]]
* [[Pat Smear]]
* Michelle Baer
* Dinky Grant
* [[Lorna Doom]]
* [[Belinda Carlisle|Dottie Danger]]
* Donna Rhia
* David Winogrond
* Luisa Terrence
* Cliff Hanger
* [[D. J. Bonebrake]]
* [[Nickey Alexander|Nicky Beat]]
* [[Don Bolles (musician)|Don Bolles]]
* Rob Henley
*John Lorey
* [[Shane West]]
* [[Charlotte Caffey]]
}}

The '''Germs''' were an American [[punk rock]] band from [[Los Angeles, California]], originally active from 1976 to 1980. The band's "classic" lineup consisted of singer [[Darby Crash]], guitarist [[Pat Smear]], bassist [[Lorna Doom]] and drummer [[Don Bolles (musician)|Don Bolles]]. They released only one album, 1979's ''[[GI (album)|(GI)]]'', produced by [[Joan Jett]], and were featured in [[Penelope Spheeris]]' seminal documentary film ''[[The Decline of Western Civilization]]'', which chronicled the Los Angeles punk movement. The Germs disbanded following Crash's suicide in 1980. Their music was influential to many later rock acts, and Smear went on to achieve greater fame performing with [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] and [[Foo Fighters]].

In 2005, actor [[Shane West]] was cast to play Crash in the biographical film ''[[What We Do Is Secret (film)|What We Do Is Secret]]''. He performed with Smear, Doom, and Bolles at the film's wrap party, and afterwards, the Germs reunited with West as their new frontman. This lineup of the band toured worldwide, which included performances at the 2006 and 2008 [[Warped Tour]]s.

==History==
===Formation===
[[File:The-Germs-Band-Logo.jpg|thumb|upright|The band's logo, also used as the album cover for ''[[GI (album)|(GI)]]''.]]
Crash (born Jan Paul Beahm) and Smear (born Georg Ruthenberg) decided to start a band after being kicked out of [[University High School (Los Angeles, California)|University High School]] for [[antisocial behavior]], allegedly for using "mind control" on fellow students. Their original name was "Sophistifuck and the Revlon Spam Queens", but they had to shorten the name as they could not afford that many letters on a T-shirt. The (initially hypothetical) first line-up consisted of Beahm (then known as Bobby Pyn, and later as Darby Crash) on vocals, Ruthenberg (under the name Pat Smear) on guitar, an early member named "Dinky" (Diana Grant) on bass, and Michelle Baer playing drums. This line-up never played in front of a live audience.

In April 1976, the band added Lorna Doom (born Teresa Ryan) on bass, with transitional member Dottie Danger (later famous as [[Belinda Carlisle]] of [[the Go-Go's]]) on drums.<ref name="LarkinHR">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=1999|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0257-7|page=181}}</ref> Carlisle never actually played with the band, as she was sidelined by a bout of [[Infectious mononucleosis|mononucleosis]] for an extended period. She was replaced by her friend Donna Rhia (Becky Barton), who played three gigs and performed on their first single. Carlisle remained a friend and helper of the band (she can be heard introducing the band on the ''Germicide: Live at the Whiskey'' recording, produced by [[Kim Fowley]]), only leaving because her new band, the Go-Go's, were becoming popular and, as she put it, "I was really disturbed by the heroin that was going on".<ref name="hoot">{{cite web|url=http://www.hootpage.com/hoot_germs-trib.html |title=Watt and Mascis on Germs tribute |publisher=Hootpage.com |access-date=July 27, 2011}}</ref> [[Nickey Alexander|Nickey Beat]], of various noteworthy Los Angeles bands including [[the Weirdos]], also sat in on drums for a time.

The band's first live performance was at the Orpheum Theater, a 99-seat venue on the [[Sunset Strip]] in then-[[unincorporated area]] [[West Hollywood, California]] (later the location of [[Book Soup]]). Smear recalled: "We made noise. Darby stuck the mic in a jar of peanut butter. It was a dare, we had no songs or anything! Lorna wore her pants inside out, and Darby covered himself in red licorice... we made noise for five minutes until they threw us off".<ref name=hoot/>

The Germs initially drew musical influences from [[Iggy Pop]], [[David Bowie]], [[Ramones]], [[the Runaways]], [[Sex Pistols]], and [[New York Dolls]]. Early on, Smear was the only musically experienced member; Doom survived early performances by sliding a finger up and down the fretboard of her bass while Rhia generally kept a minimal beat on the bass drum, periodically bashing a cymbal.

Early performances were usually marked by raucous crowds made up of the band's friends. As a result, their gigs became notorious for being rowdy and usually verged on a riot.

===Recordings===
The first single, "[[Forming (song)|Forming]]",<ref name="LarkinHR"/> was recorded on a [[Sony]] two-track [[Reel-to-reel audio tape recording|reel-to-reel recorder]] in Smear's family garage, and arrived back from the pressing plant with a note warning "this record may cause ear cancer" printed on the sleeve.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=455432 |title=Images for Germs, The* – Forming |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=2015-06-05}}</ref> much to the band's displeasure. It was released in July 1977 on the What? label.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> The single featured a shambolic but serviceable performance on the [[A-side and B-side|A-side]] and a muddy live recording of "Sexboy" on the B-side, recorded at the [[Roxy Theatre (West Hollywood)|Roxy]] for the [[Cheech and Chong]] movie, ''[[Up in Smoke (movie)|Up in Smoke]]''. The song was not used in the movie, nor was the band. They were the only band not to receive a call-back to perform live for the film's "Battle of the Bands" sequence, perhaps due to the fact that the Germs' chaotic Roxy performance had featured an unscripted, full-on [[food fight]].

Throughout their career, they had a reputation as a chaotic live band. Crash often arrived onstage nearly incoherent from drugs, singing everywhere but into the microphone and taunting the audience between songs, yet nevertheless, delivered intense theatrical and increasingly musical performances. The other band members prided themselves on similar problems, with many contemporary reviews citing collapses, incoherence and drunken vomiting onstage. Fans saw this as part of the show, and indeed, the band presented it as such, even when breaking bottles and rolling in the glass, with the music coming and going.

Smear was revealed to be a remarkably talented and fluid player; much later, after Crash's death, critics finally acknowledged his lyrics as poetic art. Crash's vocals had begun to mold themselves around the style of [[the Screamers]]' vocalist [[Tomata du Plenty|Tomata DuPlenty]]. Another strong influence on the band's final sound was [[Zolar X]], a theatrical [[glam rock]] band popular in the Los Angeles area c. 1972–1980. Crash and Smear were enthusiastic fans of the band from the pre-Germs days, and the fast tempos and raw guitar tone of (the historically pre-punk) Zolar X<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alternativetentacles.com/octopodes/865/d0yYcqDhYGaeCkkj4EV/Zolar_X-Jet_Star_19.mp3 |format=MP3 |title=Audio recording |publisher=Alternativetentacles.com |access-date=2015-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305163407/http://www.alternativetentacles.com/octopodes/865/d0yYcqDhYGaeCkkj4EV/Zolar_X-Jet_Star_19.mp3 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref> were similar to the sound achieved on later Germs recordings.

The Germs recorded two singles (with alternate tracks), an album-length demo session, and one full-length LP, ''[[GI (album)|(GI)]]'',<ref name="LarkinHR"/> each more focused and powerful than the last. Crash was, despite his erratic behavior, generally regarded as a brilliant lyricist (a contemporary critic described him as "ransacking the dictionary"), and the final line-up of Smear, Doom and Bolles had become a world-class rock ensemble by the recording of ''(GI)'', turning in a performance that spurred an ''[[LA Weekly]]'' reviewer to write, "This album leaves exit wounds". It is considered one of the first [[hardcore punk]]<ref name="VisualVitriol_p161">Ensminger, David A. (2011). ''Visual Vitriol: The Street Art and Subcultures of the Punk and Hardcore Generation''. [[University Press of Mississippi]]. {{ISBN|9781604739688}}. p. 161.</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Sartwell |first=Crispin |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/review?oid=oid%3A93942 |title=Lexicon Devil: The Fast Times and Short Life of Darby Crash and the Germs – Music Review |newspaper=The Austin Chronicle |date=May 31, 2002 |access-date=July 27, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Parish |first=Matt |url=http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/general/view.bg?articleid=1182283 |title=Spreading Germs: No act: Shane West enjoys fronting veteran hardcore band |newspaper=Boston Herald |date=July 1, 2009 |access-date=July 27, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Harrington |first=Richard |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/03/AR2006080300435.html |title=A Punk Legacy Takes New Form |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 4, 2006 |access-date=July 27, 2011}}</ref> records, and has a near-mythic status among punk rock fans. The album was produced by Joan Jett of the Runaways. Some European copies of the album also credited Donny Rose on keyboards (the song "Shut Down" was recorded live in the studio and featured melodic, two-fisted piano).
The Germs were featured in Spheeris's documentary film ''The Decline of Western Civilization'' along with [[X (U.S. band)|X]], [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]], [[Fear (band)|Fear]], [[Circle Jerks]], [[Alice Bag Band]], and [[Catholic Discipline]].

Following the release of their only studio album, ''(GI)'', on [[Slash Records]], the Germs recorded six original songs with producer [[Jack Nitzsche]] for the soundtrack to the film, ''[[Cruising (film)|Cruising]]'', starring [[Al Pacino]]. Doom wrote one of the songs. Only one of these songs, "Lions Share", ended up on the Columbia soundtrack album. It was featured for approximately one minute in the movie, during a video-booth murder scene in an [[Sadomasochism|S&M]] club. Other songs from this session did not appear until the 1988 bootleg ''Lion's Share'', along with four tracks from their infamous last show at the [[Starwood (nightclub)|Starwood]]. The ''Cruising'' sessions were finally released officially on the CD ''(MIA): The Complete Anthology''.<ref name="allmusic1">{{cite web|author=Jack Rabid |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/mia-the-complete-anthology-mw0000101602 |title=(MIA): The Complete Anthology – The Germs | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |website=[[AllMusic]] |date=1993-08-03 |access-date=2015-06-05}}</ref>

===Dissolution and suicide of Crash===
The end of the band came when Crash, who had become increasingly impatient with drummer Bolles' antics, fired him and replaced him with his friend and lover Rob Henley, a fellow heroin addict.<ref>Brendan Mullen, Don Bolles, Adam Parfrey, eds. Lexicon Devil: The Fast Times and Short Life of Darby Crash and the Germs, Feral House (2002).</ref>

Shortly after the Germs split, Crash and Smear formed the short-lived [[Darby Crash Band]]. Circle Jerks drummer [[Lucky Lehrer]] joined the band on the eve of their first (sold-out) live performance when, during a soundcheck, Darby kicked out the drummer they had rehearsed with. The band, described by Smear as "like the Germs, but with worse players", played only a few gigs to lukewarm reaction before splitting up.

Shortly after that, Crash contacted Smear about a Germs "reunion" show, claiming it was necessary to "put punk into perspective" for the punks on the scene. However, Smear has said Crash told him privately he wanted to earn money for heroin with which to die by suicide. Since Crash had described this scenario many times in the past, Smear did not take him seriously.<ref name=hoot/>

On December 3, 1980, an over-sold Starwood hosted a final live show of the reunited Germs, including Bolles. At one point, Crash told the amazed kids in the audience, "We did this show so you new people could see what it was like when we were around. You're not going to see it again".<ref name=hoot/> [[Rhino Entertainment|Rhino Handmade]] officially released this live set, previously unavailable in its entirety, as ''Live at the Starwood Dec. 3, 1980'' on June 14, 2010. Along with the CD, the release includes an 8½" × 11" replica of the original poster for the show, a reproduction of the handwritten set list and a four-page fanzine with photos and liner notes by [[Jonathan Gold]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rhino.com/shop/product/the-germs-live-at-the-starwood-12-3-1980 |title=The Germs | Live At The Starwood (12/3/1980) |publisher=Rhino |access-date=July 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902134052/http://www.rhino.com/shop/product/the-germs-live-at-the-starwood-12-3-1980 |archive-date=September 2, 2011 }}</ref>

Crash died by suicide on December 7, 1980, at age 22. Unreported at the time, Crash had overdosed on [[heroin]] in a [[suicide pact]] with close friend Casey "Cola" Hopkins, who ended up surviving. She later insisted that he did not intend for her to live, nor did he change his mind at the last minute and intend for himself to live. According to ''[[Spin magazine|Spin]]'', apocryphal lore has Crash attempting to write "Here lies Darby Crash" on the wall as he lay dying, but not finishing. In reality, he wrote a short note to David "Bosco" Davenport that stated, "My life, my leather, my love goes to Bosco".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EdRggHm3lkoC&pg=PA106 |title=''SPIN'' |date=May 2001 |via=[[Google Books]]|access-date=2015-06-05}}</ref>

Outside the world of the Germs' fans, news of Crash's death was largely overshadowed by the [[Assassination of John Lennon|murder of John Lennon]] the next day. A local news station mistakenly reported that Crash had died from taking too many sleeping pills.

===Aftermath===
After the Germs ended, Bolles played with several other L.A. bands, including [[Nervous Gender]], [[45 Grave]], [[Celebrity Skin (band)|Celebrity Skin]], and [[Ariel Pink]]. In fall 2009, Bolles joined the cast of punks, mods and rockers web series ''Oblivion''.

In 1993, Slash released ''(MIA): The Complete Anthology'', with liner notes by [[Pleasant Gehman]].<ref name="allmusic1"/>

Smear went on to play with Nirvana during their last year and, after the [[death of Kurt Cobain]], with [[Mike Watt]], and then Foo Fighters.<ref name="LarkinHR"/>

In 1996, a tribute album titled ''[[A Small Circle of Friends (Germs)|A Small Circle of Friends]]'' was released,<ref name="LarkinHR"/> that featured tracks by Watt, [[Free Kitten]], [[Melvins]], [[Meat Puppets]], [[that dog.]], [[L7 (band)|L7]], [[the Posies]], [[NOFX]], [[Flea (musician)|Flea]], [[Gumball (band)|Gumball]] and others, along with a version of "Circle One" performed by Smear with [[Hole (band)|Hole]] under the name "the Holez".

===''What We Do Is Secret'', reformations and Doom's death (2005–present)===
[[File:The Germs at Sala Boite Madrid 12-18-09.jpg|thumb|The Germs performing in 2009.]]
A film about the Germs, ''[[What We Do Is Secret (film)|What We Do Is Secret]]'', was in production for several years, and premiered June 23, 2007, at the Los Angeles Film Festival.<ref>{{cite web|title=What We Do Is Secret|url=http://filmguide.lafilmfest.com/tixSYS/2007/filmguide/eventnote.php?notepg=1&EventNumber=5036&|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725060857/http://filmguide.lafilmfest.com/tixSYS/2007/filmguide/eventnote.php?notepg=1&EventNumber=5036&|archive-date=July 25, 2009|publisher=[[Los Angeles Film Festival]]}}</ref> The film was theatrically released on August 8, 2008, and starred Shane West in the role of Darby Crash.

Smear, Doom, and Bolles reactivated the Germs with West as singer. They played on the 2006 Warped Tour and toured clubs in the US later that summer, and again in 2007. They once again played on the 2008 edition of the Warped Tour, on the Vans Old School Stage. Some members of the punk rock community such as [[Fat Mike]] and [[Jello Biafra]] were critical of the band's decision to perform with West.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Germs Bassist Lorna Doom on Movie About Her Band: "It's a Good Crazy"|url=http://www.riverfronttimes.com/musicblog/2008/09/12/germs-bassist-lorna-doom-on-movie-about-her-band-its-a-good-crazy|publisher=[[The Riverfront Times]]|date=September 12, 2008|access-date=July 4, 2016|archive-date=August 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814051749/http://www.riverfronttimes.com/musicblog/2008/09/12/germs-bassist-lorna-doom-on-movie-about-her-band-its-a-good-crazy|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In a July 2009 article, Bolles spoke about the band's plans to re-record old material for a planned box set titled ''Lest We Forget: The Sounds of the Germs''.<ref name="riotfest">{{cite news |last=Molloy |first=Bill |title=The Germs |url=http://riotfest.org/features/germs/ |newspaper=[[Riot Fest]] |date=July 15, 2009 |agency=Circle Two |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719084730/http://riotfest.org/features/germs/ |archive-date=2009-07-19 }}</ref> The band rearranged songs from the ''Germicide'' live album and the ''Cruising'' sessions; they planned to record several Darby Crash Band songs as well. Live recordings, both old and new, would have made up the rest of the box set, which Bolles hoped to release in 2010.<ref name="riotfest"/> The newly recorded songs were to be released on [[The Smashing Pumpkins|Smashing Pumpkins]] frontman [[Billy Corgan]]'s new, unnamed record label. Two songs, "Out of Time" and "Beyond Hurt – Beyond Help", were originally written by Crash and Smear prior to Crash's death, but were never recorded. The songs were to be recorded with West providing vocals.<ref>{{cite web |first=Jason |last=MacNeil |url=http://www.chartattack.com/news/2010/01/07/billy-corgans-label-releasing-new-germs-strawberry-alarm-clock-material |title=Billy Corgan's Label Releasing New Germs, Strawberry Alarm Clock Material |publisher=CHARTattack |date=January 7, 2010 |access-date=2012-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424135743/http://www.chartattack.com/news/2010/01/07/billy-corgans-label-releasing-new-germs-strawberry-alarm-clock-material/ |archive-date=2016-04-24 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> West left the Germs in 2009.

In December 2013, [[Charlotte Caffey]] of the Go-Go's played bass for a one-off gig, a memorial for Bill "Pat Fear" Bartell, when Doom could not be located.

On January 16, 2019, Doom died of breast cancer.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lorna Doom, bassist with cult Los Angeles punk band Germs, dies|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jan/17/lorna-doom-germs|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=January 17, 2019|access-date=January 17, 2019}}</ref>

==Members==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''Classic lineup'''
* [[Darby Crash]] (a.k.a. Jan Paul Beahm) – lead vocals (1976–1980; died 1980)
* [[Lorna Doom]] (a.k.a. Teresa Ryan) – bass guitar (1976–1980, 2005–2009; died 2019)
* [[Pat Smear]] (a.k.a. Georg Ruthenberg) – guitar, vocals (1976–1980, 2005–2009, 2013)
* [[Don Bolles (Drummer)|Don Bolles]] – drums (1978–1980, 2005–2009, 2013)

{{col-2}}
'''Other former members'''
* Michelle Baer – drums (1976)
* Dinky (a.k.a. Diana Grant) – bass guitar (1976)
* [[Belinda Carlisle|Dottie Danger]] (a.k.a. Belinda Carlisle) – drums (1977)
* Donna Rhia (a.k.a. Becky Barton) – drums (1977)
* David Winogrond – drums (1977)
* Luisa Terrence - drums (1977)
* Cliff Hanger – drums (1977–1978)
* [[D. J. Bonebrake]] – drums (1978)
* [[Nickey Alexander|Nicky Beat]] (a.k.a. Nickey Alexander) – drums (1978)
* Rob Henley – drums (1980)
* John Lorey - drums (1980)
* [[Shane West]] – lead vocals (2005–2009, 2013)
* [[Charlotte Caffey]] – bass guitar (2013)
{{col-end}}

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bar:Rhia text:"Donna Rhia"
bar:Winogrond text:"David Winogrond"
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bar:Henley from:02/20/1980 till:02/22/1980 color:Drums
</timeline>

==Discography==

===Studio album===
* ''[[(GI)]]'' (1979, [[Slash Records]])

===Singles and EPs===
* "[[Forming (song)|Forming]]"/"Sexboy (live)" 7-inch (1977, What? Records)
* ''[[Lexicon Devil]]'' 7-inch EP (1978, Slash Records)
* ''[[What We Do Is Secret (EP)|What We Do Is Secret]]'' 12-inch EP (1981, Slash Records)
* ''(DCC)'' 7-inch EP (1992, Rockville/Gasatanka Records)

===Live albums===
* ''[[Germicide (album)|Germicide]]'' (a.k.a. ''Live at the Whisky, First Show Ever'') (1981, Mohawk/[[Bomp! Records]]/[[ROIR]])
* ''Rock 'N' Rule'' (1986, XEX Records)
* ''Live at the Starwood 12/3/80'' (double LP), (2019 Rhino Entertainment Company, Run Out Groove) ROGV-080

===Compilation albums===
* ''(MIA): The Complete Anthology'' (1993, Slash/[[Rhino Records]])<ref name="allmusic1"/>
* ''Media Blitz'' (1993, Cleopatra Records)

===Compilation album appearances===
* [[Tooth and Nail (various artists album)|''Tooth and Nail'']] (1979, [[Upsetter Records (American record label)|Upsetter Records]])
* ''[[Yes L.A.]]'' 12-inch EP (1979, [[Dangerhouse Records]])
* ''Life Is Beautiful So Why Not Eat Health Foods'' (1981, [[New Underground Records]])
* ''We're Desperate: The L.A. Scene (1976-79)'' (1993, Rhino) - "Forming", "Lexicon Devil"

===Soundtrack appearances===
* ''[[Cruising (film)|Cruising]]'' (1980, Lorimar Records)
* ''[[The Decline of Western Civilization]]'' (1980, Slash Records)

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* [[Brendan Mullen|Mullen, Brendan]]; et al. (2002). ''Lexicon Devil: The Fast Times and Short Life of Darby Crash and the Germs''. [[Feral House]]. {{ISBN|9780922915705}}.

==External links==
* Lipton, Shana Ting (August 23, 2005). [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-aug-23-et-punk23-story.html "Rekindling the punk flame"] (page 1/2). ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''.
* Adams, Tim (August 24, 2008). [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/aug/24/popandrock1 "The death and afterlife of an LA punk"]. ''[[The Observer]]''.

{{Germs}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Germs (Band)}}
[[Category:1976 establishments in California]]
[[Category:2009 disestablishments in California]]
[[Category:Musical quartets from California]]
[[Category:Punk rock groups from California]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1976]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1980]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2005]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2009]]

The Heartbreakers

2025-10-01T01:54:12Z

2603:8081:500:3BD:5CDF:29AD:F452:8A22: Fixed typo & band lineup by yearly chronology

{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Short description|American punk band}}
{{hatnote group|{{distinguish|Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers}}{{other uses|Heartbreaker (disambiguation)}}}}
{{Infobox musical artist 
| name = The Heartbreakers
| image =
| caption =
| origin = New York City, U.S.
| genre = {{hlist|[[Punk rock]], [[rock and roll]]}}
| years_active = 1975–1980, 1984, 1990
| label = [[Track Records|Track]]; [[Jungle Records|Jungle]]
| website =
| current_members =
| past_members = [[Johnny Thunders]]<br />[[Jerry Nolan]]<br />[[Richard Hell]]<br />[[Walter Lure]]<br />Billy Rath
}}

'''The Heartbreakers''' (also credited as '''Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers''') were an American [[punk rock]] band formed in New York City in 1975.<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=1997|edition=Concise|isbn=1-85227-745-9|page=588}}</ref> The band spearheaded the first wave of punk rock.

== History ==
[[Johnny Thunders]] (vocals/guitar) and [[Jerry Nolan]] (drums) gained fame in the pioneering proto-punk band the [[New York Dolls]]. By early 1975, the Dolls were disintegrating amid poor record sales and tensions within the band, and Thunders and Nolan quit during a tour of Florida in March 1975. Coincidentally, that same week [[Richard Hell]] (vocals/bass) left [[Television (band)|Television]]. After returning to New York, Thunders and Nolan invited Hell to join their new band, and Hell agreed.<ref name="Larkin" /> As Hell said, "I was fed up with Television because it was getting so pretentious...so I thought, this is perfect – we'll make a really good rock & roll band that's dealing with interesting subjects."<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Please kill me : the uncensored oral history of punk|others=McNeil, Legs,, McCain, Gillian|year = 2016|isbn=978-0-8021-2536-1|edition=Twentieth anniversary|location=New York|oclc=955634990}}</ref> The three dubbed their new band the Heartbreakers. Their first gig was on May 30 of that year, at the Coventry, a rock club in Queens.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Weiss, Curt|title=Stranded in the jungle : Jerry Nolan's wild ride--a tale of drugs, fashion, the New York Dolls, and punk rock|year=2017|isbn=978-1-4950-5081-7|location=Milwaukee, WI|oclc=971351866}}</ref> ([[Tom Petty]]'s band was also named the Heartbreakers, but they did not begin gigging until 1976.) The trio auditioned several candidates for a second guitarist, and soon added [[Walter Lure]] to the lineup. Lure, who had up to that point been the guitarist for the New York [[glam punk]] outfit The Demons, played his first show with the Heartbreakers on July 4, 1975, at [[CBGB]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Lure, Walter|title=To hell and back : my life in Johnny Thunders' heartbreakers, in the words of the last man standing|others=Thompson, Dave, 1960 January 3-|date=March 15, 2020|isbn=978-1-4930-5170-0|location=Milwaukee|oclc=1144820651}}</ref>

The band quickly became one of the most popular and well-known underground bands in New York City, headlining shows at CBGB, Mother's (located across from the [[Hotel Chelsea|Chelsea Hotel]]), and [[Max's Kansas City]]. In the band's early days, each member took turns on vocals, with Hell bringing in songs (such as "[[Blank Generation (song)|Blank Generation]]") originally written for Television, and Thunders contributing new material as well. Lure began singing lead on some songs and co-writing with Nolan. The combination of the style-conscious Nolan and Thunders with the beatnik Hell and gangly Lure made for a visually arresting and musically powerful group. As Blondie's [[Clem Burke]] said, "You could call them the punk rock Beatles. Each person really stood out."<ref name=":0" /> Although popular, the early lineup could not get a recording contract, in no small part due to the band's well-known [[heroin]] use – as vividly described in their best-known song, "[[Chinese Rocks]]" (which was actually written by [[Dee Dee Ramone]] with contributions from Hell). Live recordings of the Thunders/Hell/Nolan/Lure lineup were eventually released on the LP ''Live at Mother's'',<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Heartbreakers (2) – Live At Mothers|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Heartbreakers-Live-At-Mothers/master/281987|access-date=August 16, 2020|website=Discogs|year=1991 |language=en}}</ref> and studio demos<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Heartbreakers (2) – Yonkers Demo 1976|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Heartbreakers-Yonkers-Demo-1976/release/14022508|access-date=August 16, 2020|website=Discogs|date=August 9, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> were released in 2019.

Although initially the band members shared songwriting and singing, Hell increasingly attempted to impose his will on the band. At a rehearsal in early 1976, Hell laid down an ultimatum – he would sing most of the songs in the set, with Thunders relegated to one or two songs per set. Thunders walked out, and Nolan and Lure followed; with all three united against him, Hell wound up leaving the band. His final show was on May 14, 1976, at the Rathskeller in Boston. After auditioning several bass players, the band settled on Boston transplant Billy Rath. Hell went on to form his own band, [[Richard Hell and the Voidoids]].<ref name="Larkin" />

Replacing Hell with Rath solidified the Heartbreakers sound, firmly rooted in 1950s rock and rhythm 'n' blues, but with the energy, volume, and attitude of punk. Rath was a better bassist than Hell, meshing with Nolan to form a formidable rhythm section, and was also content with playing a supporting role in the band without seeking the spotlight. Now managed by [[Leee Black Childers]], the band also consciously emphasized their New York street-tough image, abandoning the glam rock look Thunders and Nolan had flaunted in the New York Dolls in favor of short hair and '50s style suits. The first gigs with the new lineup took place on July 23 and 24, 1976 at [[Max's Kansas City]] and earned rave reviews. The band continued to gig regularly in New York City throughout the summer and fall, and played several shows in Boston in September. Despite Childers' efforts and a reputation as a must-see live act, no recording contract was forthcoming, a situation that became increasingly frustrating. Lure wrote that "the kind of deals being offered were laughable, sleazy 50-50 splits that the bands could never, ever hope to profit from."<ref name=":2" /> Although the band regularly drew packed crowds at Max's and other venues, by this point Thunders, Nolan, and Lure were heroin addicts (Rath preferred [[methamphetamine]]), so money was tight.

The band got what seemed like a break when the [[Sex Pistols]] invited the band to open for them on the ill-fated Anarchy Tour (the Sex Pistols at this time were managed by [[Malcolm McLaren]], who had previously managed The New York Dolls). Arriving for the tour just as the UK [[punk rock|punk]] scene was building momentum, the Heartbreakers quickly developed a following in and around [[London]] despite most of the shows on the tour being canceled. As Childers said, "The Heartbreakers blew everyone away, for no more reason than they were just more experienced – they had their roots in rhythm and blues and rock 'n' roll...no matter how anarchic an audience thinks it is, if the bass player can actually play, and the drummer is Jerry Nolan, suddenly they're going 'this is GREAT'!"<ref name=":1" /> At Childers' behest, the band stayed in London after the conclusion of the tour in order to play more gigs and earn a recording contract. Sold-out gigs at London clubs [[Dingwalls]] and [[The Roxy (Covent Garden)|the Roxy]] established the band as one of the top groups in the nascent punk scene, and eventually they signed a contract with [[Track Records]] in the spring of 1977, earning a substantial advance and beginning work on their debut album.

By this point, the band members' addictions were out of control, despite being enrolled in the British methadone program. Nolan later acknowledged that "everything we did revolved around drugs."<ref name=":0" /> Recording sessions for the new album were derailed by drug use – on the part of band members as well as producer [[Speedy Keen]] – leading to innumerable attempts at recording and mixing at different studios. The first release from the sessions was the single "Chinese Rocks" b/w "Born To Lose",<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Heartbreakers (2) – Chinese Rocks / Born To Lose|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Heartbreakers-Chinese-Rocks-Born-To-Lose/release/2169835|access-date=August 16, 2020|website=Discogs|year=1977 |language=en}}</ref> released in May 1977, which sold well despite being criticized for its poor sound. Nolan admitted "I think it's okay, but not great,"<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last=Antonia, Nina.|title=Johnny Thunders : in cold blood|date=2000|publisher=Cherry Red Books|isbn=1-901447-15-4|location=London|oclc=53389358}}</ref> and Lure added "The record wasn't really up to par production wise."<ref name=":3" /> Band members continued to attempt to remix the album at various studios in London throughout the summer of 1977, but the problems persisted. In the studio, the band could not seem to capture the power of their live shows – the recordings sounded muddy and lifeless, especially Nolan's drums.

As a live act, at this point the Heartbreakers were second to none – a summer tour of the UK was very successful, with a ''[[NME|New Musical Express]]'' review describing one gig as "the nearest thing I ever saw to [[Beatlemania]]."<ref name=":0" /> In August, the band returned to New York City to play three nights at the [[Village Gate]], their first shows in their hometown in nearly a year. Recalled Lure, "It was probably the best shows we ever played in New York, only because we were so tight from touring for six months." These now-legendary shows – which one observer called some of the best rock shows ever<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 15, 2015|title=The best rock show EVER? Johnny Thunders And The Heartbreakers 1977. Fuck yeah!|url=https://dangerousminds.net/comments/johnny_thunders_and_the_heartbreakers_1977_best_rock_show_ever|access-date=August 16, 2020|website=DangerousMinds}}</ref> – were eventually released as a live album<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Heartbreakers (2) – L.A.M.F. LIve At The Village Gate 1977|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Heartbreakers-LAMF-LIve-At-The-Village-Gate-1977/release/11274721|access-date=August 16, 2020|website=Discogs|language=en}}</ref> in 2015.

After the Village Gate shows, the band returned to England to attempt to finalize the album, entitled ''[[L.A.M.F.]]'' (New York gang slang for "like a motherfucker".) Nolan was most vocal about his dissatisfaction with the recordings, and attempted to remix the album himself – but with no better results. [[Track Records]] pressured the band to release the album by October 1977 in order to get it in stores for the holiday season; Nolan threatened to quit if the album was released as is, and when the other three members agreed to Track's demands, Nolan followed through and left the band. Upon its release, the album received excellent reviews, but still drew criticism for its poor sound – especially compared to [[the Clash]] and the [[Sex Pistols]] albums released the same year. Much of the blame went to Keen, who was not a trained recording engineer, but problems with the mastering process likely affected the record as well. L.A.M.F. would ultimately be remixed and rereleased multiple times to try to extract the band's raw power from the master tapes. As Childers said, the album's failure to capture the Heartbreakers' live sound was "the biggest, hugest fuck-up in the history of rock 'n' roll."<ref name=":0" />

With Nolan out of the band, Thunders, Lure, and Rath recruited the Sex Pistols' Paul Cook to play drums on a fall tour of the UK, but soon asked Nolan to rejoin as a hired musician. Nolan finished the tour, but then left again to start a new band, the Idols. The Heartbreakers did a short European tour in November and December with [[Terry Chimes]] on drums, after which Lure and Rath returned to New York to attempt to recruit a permanent replacement on drums. The band again found themselves without a recording contract when Track Records went bankrupt – fortunately, due to a provision Childers had inserted in their contract, they were able to recover the master tapes for L.A.M.F. as well as other live recordings. But without a new recording contract, Thunders decided to attempt a solo career, and the band ultimately broke up in early 1978.

Thunders remained in London, playing shows with various musicians, and recording his solo debut ''[[So Alone (album)|So Alone]]'' (which featured Lure and Rath on a few tracks.) That summer, the three found themselves in New York and decided to play some "farewell" shows – as Lure acknowledged, "we were all strung out, we were all in town, and we all needed money."<ref name=":2" /> Minus Nolan, the band booked a series of shows at [[Max's Kansas City]] with drummer Ty Styx sitting in.<ref name="Larkin" /> Realizing that the band would not last much longer, Max's booker Peter Crowley arranged for the shows on September 16, 1978, to be recorded for a live album, The eventual release, ''[[Live at Max's Kansas City (Johnny Thunders album)|Live at Max's Kansas City '79]],'' would become an immediate classic, capturing the band's live energy as ''L.A.M.F.'' had conspicuously failed to do.

Nolan eventually rejoined the band in March 1979, and the reunited quartet continued to play regularly in New York throughout 1979 and 1980. But there was no attempt to write new songs or record new material – the gigs were purely "rent parties" to help the members stay afloat financially (and pay for their addictions.) In 1984, the band was able to rerelease a remixed version of ''L.A.M.F.,'' and did a reunion tour of Europe in 1984 that led to a live video and album <ref name="Larkin" /> recorded at The Lyceum Ballroom London on March 25, 1984. Billy Rath left the band and the music business after the reunion tour, and was replaced by Tony Coiro. Thunders and Nolan continued their careers solo and (in Nolan's case) with other bands; they toured together in 1986 and 1987. Lure formed his own band, the Waldos, as well as occasionally playing with Thunders at New York gigs.

The Heartbreakers' final show was on November 30, 1990, at the Marquee in New York City, with Coiro on bass. Although both Thunders and Nolan were in deteriorating health by this point, the show went well.

== Post-Heartbreakers ==
Johnny Thunders died in April 1991.<ref name="Larkin" /> His body was found in a hotel room in New Orleans. While Thunders' death may have been drug-related, there is some controversy surrounding the facts of his death as the level of methadone in Thunders' body may not have constituted a fatal dose. Thunders also suffered from various health problems, with his autopsy showing evidence of advanced [[leukemia]]. In June 1991, a memorial concert was held for Thunders' family, at which Lure, Jerry Nolan, Coiro, and Joey Pinter played a set of Heartbreakers songs.

Jerry Nolan died in 1992 following a [[stroke]] he suffered in hospital, while being treated for meningitis and pneumonia. He had been diagnosed with HIV several years prior to his death.

Walter Lure had an unconventional post-Heartbreakers career, working as a stock broker on Wall Street. He remained active in the music world with his Heartbreakers-style band the Waldos, who played regularly in New York City; Lure would also do an international tour once or twice a year. Lure was diagnosed in July 2020 with liver and lung cancer, which spread rapidly, and he died from complications related to the cancer on August 21, 2020, at the age of 71.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kurutz|first=Steven|date=August 27, 2020|title=Walter Lure, Guitarist for a 'Mythical' Punk Band, Dies at 71|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/27/arts/music/walter-lure-dead.html|access-date=May 14, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Billy Rath disappeared from the music scene after leaving the Heartbreakers in the mid-1980s, and he undertook a period of rehabilitation to recover from the effects of sustained abuse of drugs and alcohol. Rath then went on to study for a degree in psychology and a postgraduate qualification in theology, working as a substance use disorder counselor. After being persuaded to attend the Max's Kansas City reunion gig in September 2010, Rath reentered the music world and briefly fronted a new band, the Street Pirates. He died on August 16, 2014, aged 66.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/billy-rath-dies/ |title=Bassist Billy Rath Dies at 66 |publisher=Ultimateclassicrock.com |date=August 12, 2014 |access-date=August 19, 2014}}</ref>

''L.A.M.F.'' is now considered one of the most influential albums of the first wave of [[Punk rock|punk]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Heartbreakers: L.A.M.F.: Definitive Edition|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17326-johnny-thunders-the-heartbreakers-lamf-the-lost-77-mixes-special-edition/|access-date=January 28, 2021|website=Pitchfork|language=en}}</ref> The album has been remixed multiple times; a 4-CD "Definitive Edition"<ref>{{Cite web|title=Heartbreakers – L.A.M.F. Definitive Edition (2012, CD)|url=https://www.discogs.com/Heartbreakers-LAMF-Definitive-Edition/release/4172891|access-date=January 28, 2021|website=Discogs|date=November 26, 2012 |language=en}}</ref> was released in 2012, which included two remixes of the original LP along with demos and rare tracks. Multiple live recordings have been released as well, from both the early lineup with Hell and the ''L.A.M.F.'' lineup.

== Band members ==
* [[Johnny Thunders]] – vocals, guitar (1975–1990; died 1991)
* [[Jerry Nolan]] – drums, backing and occasional lead vocals (1975–1977, 1979–1990; died 1992)
* [[Richard Hell]] – bass, vocals (1975–1976)
* [[The Real Kids|John Felice]] – guitar, vocals (1975)<ref name=":4">{{cite magazine |last= |first= |date=April 2015 |title= The Real Kids John Felice Interview |url=https://razorcake.org/razorcake-85-from-2015-featuring-delay-liz-prince-the-real-kids-no-small-children-one-punks-guide-to-pinball/ |magazine=Razorcake |location=Olympia |publisher=Razorcake |access-date=July 27, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Walter Lure]] – guitar, vocals (1975–1990; died 2020)
* Billy Rath – bass, occasional backing vocals<ref>{{Cite web|title=Photo of PUNKS and Johnny THUNDERS|url=https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/photo-of-punks-and-johnny-thunders-johnny-thunders-the-news-photo/85240774|access-date=July 27, 2024|website=Getty Images|year=2009 |language=en}}</ref> (1976–1980, 1984; died 2014)
* [[The Real Kids|John Felice]] – guitar, vocals (1975)<ref name=":4" />
* [[Robert Gordon (singer)|Robert Gordon]] – vocals (1976; died 2022)<ref>{{Cite web |year=2009 |title=Photo of PUNKS and Johnny THUNDERS |url=https://www.bobgruen.com/robert-gordon/ |access-date=July 27, 2024 |website=Bob Gruen |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Terry Chimes]] – drums (1977)
* Lee Crystal – drums (1978)
* Ty Styx – drums (1978)
* Tony Machine – drums (1978–1979)
* Tony Coiro – bass (1990; died 1995)
* Joey Pinter – guitar (1991)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Joey Pinter Interview by Geordie Pleathur |url=http://www.sugarbuzzmagazine.com/bands/joeypinter/joey.html |access-date=July 22, 2025 |website=SugarBuzz Magazine |language=en}}</ref>

=== Timeline ===
{{#tag:timeline|
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Period = from:01/01/1975 till:06/19/1991
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id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals
id:Backing value:pink legend:Backing_vocals
id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar
id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums
id:Studio value:black legend:Studio_album
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bar:Johnny text:Johnny Thunders
bar:Robert text:Robert Gordon
bar:John text:John Felice
bar:Walter text:Walter Lure
bar:Joey text:Joey Pinter
bar:Richard text:Richard Hell
bar:Billy text:Billy Rath
bar:Tony text:Tony Coiro
bar:Jerry text:Jerry Nolan
bar:Lee text:Lee Crystal
bar:Ty text:Ty Styx

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bar:Johnny from:08/14/1978 till:08/19/1978 color:vocals
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bar:Lee from:08/14/1978 till:08/19/1978 color:drums

bar:Johnny from:09/15/1978 till:09/16/1978 color:vocals
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bar:Walter from:09/15/1978 till:09/16/1978 color:guitar
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bar:Billy from:09/15/1978 till:09/16/1978 color:bass
bar:Ty from:09/15/1978 till:09/16/1978 color:drums

bar:Johnny from:06/01/1979 till:08/01/1979 color:vocals
bar:Johnny from:06/01/1979 till:08/01/1979 color:guitar width:3
bar:Walter from:06/01/1979 till:08/01/1979 color:vocals width:3
bar:Walter from:06/01/1979 till:08/01/1979 color:guitar
bar:Billy from:06/01/1979 till:08/01/1979 color:bass
bar:Ty from:06/01/1979 till:08/01/1979 color:drums

bar:Johnny from:06/01/1982 till:08/01/1982 color:vocals
bar:Johnny from:06/01/1982 till:08/01/1982 color:guitar width:3
bar:Walter from:06/01/1982 till:08/01/1982 color:vocals width:3
bar:Walter from:06/01/1982 till:08/01/1982 color:guitar
bar:Billy from:06/01/1982 till:08/01/1982 color:bass
bar:Ty from:06/01/1982 till:08/01/1982 color:drums

bar:Johnny from:03/01/1984 till:12/22/1984 color:vocals
bar:Johnny from:03/01/1984 till:12/22/1984 color:guitar width:3
bar:Walter from:03/01/1984 till:12/22/1984 color:vocals width:3
bar:Walter from:03/01/1984 till:12/22/1984 color:guitar
bar:Billy from:03/01/1984 till:12/22/1984 color:bass
bar:Jerry from:03/01/1984 till:12/22/1984 color:drums
bar:Jerry from:03/01/1984 till:12/22/1984 color:backing width:3

bar:Johnny from:06/01/1990 till:08/01/1990 color:vocals
bar:Johnny from:06/01/1990 till:08/01/1990 color:guitar width:3
bar:Walter from:06/01/1990 till:08/01/1990 color:vocals width:3
bar:Walter from:06/01/1990 till:08/01/1990 color:guitar
bar:Jerry from:06/01/1990 till:08/01/1990 color:drums
bar:Jerry from:06/01/1990 till:08/01/1990 color:backing width:3
bar:Tony from:06/01/1990 till:08/01/1990 color:bass

bar:Walter from:04/24/1991 till:end color:vocals
bar:Walter from:04/24/1991 till:end color:guitar width:3
bar:Jerry from:04/24/1991 till:end color:drums
bar:Jerry from:04/24/1991 till:end color:backing width:3
bar:Billy from:04/24/1991 till:end color:bass
bar:Joey from:06/19/1991 till:06/19/1991 color:guitar
}}

== Discography ==
; Studio album
* ''[[L.A.M.F.]]'' (1977)

; Demos album
* ''Yonkers Demo 1976'' (2019)

; Live albums
* ''[[Live at Max's Kansas City (Johnny Thunders album)|Live at Max's Kansas City]]'' (1979)
* ''D.T.K. Live at the Speakeasy'' (1982)
* ''Live at the Lyceum Ballroom 1984'' (1985)
* ''Live at Mothers'' (1991)
* ''What Goes Around'' (1991)
* ''Vive La Révolution (Live In Paris – Le Bataclan – December 8, 1977)'' (1992)
* ''Thunderstorm in Detroit (Live at the Silverbird 21/12/80)'' (2002)
* ''Down to Kill'' (2005)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/johnny-thunders-the-heartbreakers-mn0000210425/biography Biography] at [[AllMusic]]
* [http://www.nme.com/artists/heartbreakers Heartbreakers] at [[NME]].com
* {{Discogs artist|231644}}

{{Richard Hell}}
{{Johnny Thunders}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heartbreakers, The}}
[[Category:1975 establishments in New York City]]
[[Category:1990 disestablishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Punk rock groups from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1975]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1990]]
[[Category:Musical groups from New York City]]