Johnny Thunders: Born to Lose (2001)
D: Lech Kowalski
P: Lech Kowalski
Bette Wanderman
In 1991 when I first heard about the death of the guy who played great sloppy guitar for the New York Dolls, my friend's comment was, "They said 'Live Fast, Die Young and leave a beautiful corpse.' The only thing wrong with that is that there is no such thing as a beautiful corspe." This doc cemented by hypothesis in place that the cold war and the imminent threat of global nuclear annihilation is what truly fueled rock 'n roll. When the U.S.S.R. died so did rock.
If you’re already a fan of The New York Dolls/Heartbreakers, most of the interviews with relations,
managers, Dee Dee Ramone (in a Taste of
Blood t-shirt!),
Stoned, luded, smacked, and/or redded out ex-girlfriends, band members and club owners won’t reveal anything you didn’t already know (or
suspect) but see this compelling doc for the incredible perfs caught on film
including an onstage fight.Johnny whips some pansy’s ass and then picks his
guitar back up and grinds out a searing rendition of “Pipeline” Fug Yeaahh! Some viewer may feel echoes of Gimmie Shelter in spots.
See the footage of Johnny copping heroin!The dealer answers the door with the blood-filled needle sticking out of his arm(!?)
You’ll wonder how they got most of this footage. See the New York Dolls perform “Personality Crisis,” “Looking for a Kiss,” “Chatterbox,” “Trash." See the Heartbreakers perform "Chinese Rocks," "Born to Lose" and "So Alone." With the Ramones and Jayne County.
