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{{for|the self-titled debut album|New York Dolls (album)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|background      = group_or_band
|name            = New York Dolls
|image           = New York Dolls - TopPop 1973 11.png
|image_size      = 250
|caption         = New York Dolls on ''[[TopPop]]'' in 1973 <br/>Left to right: [[Johnny Thunders]], [[Sylvain Sylvain]], [[Jerry Nolan]], [[Arthur Kane]], [[David Johansen]]
|years_active    = 1971–1977,<ref name="Erlewine"/> 2004–2011 <ref>http://www.getintothis.co.uk/2016/03/bowie-guitarist-earl-slick-on-his-years-with-the-thin-white-duke-working-with-lennon-and-the-making-of-station-to-station/</ref>
|origin          = [[New York City]], [[United States]]
|genre           = [[Hard rock]], [[proto-punk]], {{nowrap|[[glam rock]]}}
|label           = [[Mercury Records|Mercury]], [[Roadrunner Records|Roadrunner]], [[Atco Records|Atco]], [[429 Records|429]]
|current_members = 
|past_members = <!--DO NOT add "(deceased)" next to any of the names in the infobox. This is contrary to Wikipedia guidelines, which state only names should be featured here. Thank you.-->[[David Johansen]]<br/>[[Sylvain Sylvain]]<br/>[[Johnny Thunders]]<br/>[[Arthur Kane]]<br/>[[Billy Murcia]]<br/>[[Rick Rivets]]<br/>[[Jerry Nolan]]<br/>Peter Jordan<br/>[[Blackie Lawless]]<br/>[[Chris Robison]]<br/>Tony Machine<br/>Bobby Blaine<br/>[[Steve Conte]]<br/>[[Gary Powell (musician)|Gary Powell]]<br/>[[Sami Yaffa]]<br/>Brian Koonin<br/>[[Frank Infante]]<br />[[Jason Hill (singer)|Jason Hill]]<br/>[[Jason Sutter]]<br/>[[Aaron Lee Tasjan]]<br/>John Conte<br/>[[Kenny Aaronson]]<br/>[[Earl Slick]] <br/>Brian Delaney<br/>Claton Pitcher

}}
The '''New York Dolls''' were an American [[hard rock]] band formed in [[New York City]] in 1971. Along with [[the Velvet Underground]] and [[the Stooges]], they were one of the first bands of the early [[punk rock]] scenes.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ferris|first=William R.|authorlink=William R. Ferris|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nsye_8Ewk0oC&pg=PA349#v=onepage&q&f=false|accessdate=June 24, 2013|page=349|title=The Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Regional Cultures: The Mid-Atlantic Region|publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]]|year=2004|isbn=0-313-32954-0}}</ref> Although their original line-up fell apart quickly, the band's first two albums—''[[New York Dolls (album)|New York Dolls]]'' (1973) and ''[[Too Much Too Soon (album)|Too Much Too Soon]]'' (1974)—became among the most popular [[cult following|cult]] records in rock.<ref name="Erlewine"/> The line-up at this time comprised vocalist [[David Johansen]], guitarist [[Johnny Thunders]], bassist [[Arthur Kane]], guitarist and pianist [[Sylvain Sylvain]], and drummer [[Jerry Nolan]]; the latter two had replaced [[Rick Rivets]] and [[Billy Murcia]], respectively, in 1972.<ref name="Larkin"/> On stage, they donned an androgynous wardrobe, wearing high heels, eccentric hats, and satin. Nolan described the group in 1974 as "the [[Dead End Kids]] of today".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2002&dat=19740220&id=hIEkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mNoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3629,893498|title=The New York Dolls: 'More Than a Band'|newspaper=[[The Beaver County Times]]|date=February 20, 1974|page=C-14}}</ref>

According to the ''[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]'' (1995), the New York Dolls predated the punk and [[glam metal]] movements, and were "one of the most influential [[rock music|rock]] bands of the last 20 years".<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book|editor-last=Larkin|editor-first=Colin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|year=1995|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|page=3022|volume=4|series=The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music|edition=2nd|isbn=1-56159-176-9}}</ref> They influenced rock groups such as the [[Sex Pistols]], [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]], [[the Ramones]], [[Guns N' Roses]], [[the Damned (band)|the Damned]], and [[The Smiths]], whose frontman [[Morrissey]] organized a reunion show for the New York Dolls' surviving members in 2004.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G4mP7u6mPdkC&pg=PA106#v=onepage&q&f=false|accessdate=June 24, 2013|last=Smith|first=Chris|page=106|title=101 Albums That Changed Popular Music|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=2009|isbn=0-19-537371-5}}</ref> After reuniting, they recorded and released three more albums—''[[One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This]]'' (2006), ''[[Cause I Sez So]]'' (2009), and ''[[Dancing Backward in High Heels]]'' (2011).<ref name="Erlewine"/>

The band had been inactive following a 2011 UK tour with [[Alice Cooper]], with former guitarist [[Earl Slick]] confirming the band was over in a 2011 interview. <ref>http://www.getintothis.co.uk/2016/03/bowie-guitarist-earl-slick-on-his-years-with-the-thin-white-duke-working-with-lennon-and-the-making-of-station-to-station/</ref>

==History==

=== Formation ===
{{refimprove section|date=June 2013}}
Sylvain Sylvain and [[Billy Murcia]], who went to junior high school and high school together, started playing in a band called "the Pox" in 1967. After the frontman quit, Murcia and Sylvain started a clothing business called Truth and Soul and Sylvain took a job at A Different Drummer,<ref>{{cite book |title=Johnny Thunders: In Cold Blood |last=Antonia |first=Nina |authorlink= |year=2000 |publisher=Cherry Red Books |location= |isbn=1-901447-15-4 |pages=8,257 |url= |accessdate=}}</ref> a men's boutique that was across the street from the New York Doll Hospital, a doll repair shop. Sylvain claimed that the shop inspired the name for their future band. In 1970 they formed a band again and recruited [[Johnny Thunders]] to join on bass, though Sylvain ended up teaching him to play guitar. They called themselves the Dolls. When Sylvain left the band to spend a few months in [[London]], Thunders and Murcia went their separate ways.

Thunders was eventually recruited by Kane and [[Rick Rivets]], who had been playing together in [[the Bronx]]. At Thunders' suggestion, Murcia replaced the original drummer. Thunders played lead guitar and sang for the band Actress. An October 1971 rehearsal tape recorded by Rivets was released as ''Dawn of the Dolls.'' When Thunders decided that he no longer wanted to be the front man, David Johansen joined the band. Initially, the group was composed of singer David Johansen, guitarists Johnny Thunders and Rick Rivets (who was replaced by Sylvain Sylvain after a few months), bass guitarist Arthur "Killer" Kane and drummer Billy Murcia.

The original lineup's first performance was on Christmas Eve 1971 at a homeless shelter, the [[Endicott Hotel]]. After getting a manager and attracting some music industry interest, the New York Dolls got a break when [[Rod Stewart]] invited them to open for him at a London concert.

===Billy Murcia's death===
While on a brief tour of England in 1972, Murcia was invited to a party, where he passed out from an accidental overdose. He was put in a bathtub and force-fed coffee in an attempt to revive him.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1299&dat=19721228&id=MtpHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CIwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6321,6218523|title=The Dolls: Get It While You Can|newspaper=[[The Village Voice]]|date=December 28, 1972|page=28}}</ref> Instead, it resulted in asphyxiation. He was found dead on the morning of November 6, 1972, at the age of 21.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1299&dat=19721116&id=LNpHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CIwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4946,3284427|author=Richard Nusser|date=November 16, 1972|title=Once More, Death in Threes|newspaper=Village Voice|page=52}}</ref>

===Record deal: 1971–75 ===
[[File:New York Dolls - TopPop 1973 04.png|thumb|left|New York Dolls, 1973]]{{main|New York Dolls (album)|Too Much Too Soon (album)}}
Once back in New York, the Dolls auditioned drummers, including Marc Bell (who was to go on to play with [[Richard Hell]], and with the [[Ramones]] under the stage name "[[Marky Ramone]]")  and [[Jerry Nolan]], a friend of the band. They selected Nolan, and after US [[Mercury Records]]' A&R man [[Paul Nelson (critic)|Paul Nelson]] signed them, they began sessions for their debut album.

''[[New York Dolls (album)|New York Dolls]]'' was produced by singer-songwriter, musician and solo artist, [[Todd Rundgren]]. In an interview in ''[[Creem]]'' magazine, Rundgren says he barely touched the recording; everybody was debating how to do the mix. Sales were sluggish, especially in middle US, and a ''[[Stereo Review]]'' magazine reviewer in 1973 compared the Dolls' guitar playing to the sound of [[lawnmowers]]. America's mass rock audience's reaction to the Dolls was mixed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19740930&id=EoY0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=7qEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=760,4423153|author=Bill Mann|date=September 30, 1974|title=New York Dolls Music a Blast|newspaper=[[Montreal Gazette]]}}</ref> In a ''Creem'' magazine poll, they were elected both best and worst new group of 1973. The Dolls also toured Europe, and, while appearing on UK television, host [[Bob Harris (radio)|Bob Harris]] of the [[BBC]]'s ''[[Old Grey Whistle Test]]'' derided the group as "[[mock rock]]," comparing them unfavorably to the [[Rolling Stones]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jun/14/new-york-dolls-mock-rock|author=Stevie Chick|date=13 June 2011|title=The New York Dolls play 'mock rock' on British TV|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

For their next album, ''[[Too Much Too Soon (album)|Too Much Too Soon]]'', the quintet hired producer [[Shadow Morton|George "Shadow" Morton]], whose productions for the [[Shangri-Las]] and other [[girl-groups]] in the mid-1960s had been among the band's favorites. Mercury dropped the Dolls not long after the second album.

=== Dissolution: 1975–77 ===
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2013}}
In 1975, floundering in drug abuse and interpersonal conflicts, the band split up. During their last weeks together [[Malcolm McLaren]] helped with management. He got the band red leather outfits to wear on stage and a communist flag as backdrop. The Dolls did a 5-concert tour of New York's five boroughs, supported by [[Television (band)|Television]], which included [[Tom Verlaine]] and [[Richard Hell]]. Their last show in New York State was at The Shoram, in [[Quogue, New York]], with Spider on drums.

The original New York Dolls were captured in a live set, recorded at the [[New York Hippodrome|Little Hippodrome]] and released by Fan Club records in 1982 as ''[[Red Patent Leather]]''. It was originally a bootleg album that was later remixed by Sylvain, with former manager [[Marty Thau]] credited as executive producer. Due to Kane being unable to play that night, roadie Peter Jordan played bass, though he was credited as having played "second bass". Jordan often deputized for Kane when he was too inebriated to play. H after Thunders and Nolan left, until their final dissolution.

Thunders and Nolan left under acrimonious circumstances in 1975 while on tour in Florida. [[Blackie Lawless]] replaced Thunders for the remainder of the Florida tour; however, he and Kane soon departed to form Killer Kane in Los Angeles, leading Jordan to join the band in earnest. The period immediately following this was documented on the album ''Tokyo Dolls Live'' (Fan Club/New Rose); taken from a show in Japan in August 1975 in which Johansen, Sylvain and Jordan were joined by former [[Elephant's Memory]] keyboardist [[Chris Robison]] and drummer Tony Machine, this reconstituted configuration would largely endure for the next two years. The material is similar to that on ''Red Patent Leather'', but notable for a radically re-arranged "Frankenstein" and a cover of [[Big Joe Turner]]'s "Flip Flop Fly." The album is undated and has no production credit, but was issued circa 1986.

Soon after their return to New York, the Dolls played at the [[Beacon Theatre (New York City)|Beacon Theater]], on New Year's Eve, 1975, which met with great critical acclaim. Shortly thereafter, they did a follow-up show at [[Max's Kansas City]]. Robison was then replaced by pianist/keyboardist Bobbie Blaine. The group played its final shows in 1977, after which Johansen began a solo career and Sylvain formed [[The Criminals]], a popular band at [[CBGB]].

=== Individual endeavors: 1977–2004 ===
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2013}}
Immediately after the New York Dolls' breakup, Johansen began a solo career.  By the late 1980s, he achieved moderate success under the pseudonym, Buster Poindexter.  Thunders and Nolan formed [[The Heartbreakers]] with bassist [[Richard Hell]], who had left Television the same week that Thunders and Nolan left the Dolls. Thunders died in [[New Orleans]] in 1991, allegedly of an overdose of both [[heroin]] and [[methadone]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1916&dat=19910425&id=zAYhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=h3YFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3860,3256026|title=Johnny Thunders Dies of Overdose|newspaper=[[The Hour (newspaper)]]|date=April 25, 1991}}</ref> It also came to light that he suffered from t-cell [[leukemia]]. Nolan died in 1992 following a [[stroke]], brought about by [[bacterial meningitis]].

A posthumous New York Dolls album, ''[[Lipstick Killers]]'', made up of early demo tapes of the original Dolls (with Billy Murcia on drums), was released in a cassette-only edition on [[ROIR Records]] in 1981, and subsequently re-released on CD, and then on vinyl in early 2006. All the tracks from this title – sometimes referred to as ''The Mercer Street Sessions'' (though actually recorded at Blue Rock Studio, New York) – are included on the CD ''Private World'', along with other tracks recorded elsewhere, including a previously unreleased Dolls original, "Endless Party." Three more unreleased studio tracks, including another previously unreleased Dolls original, "Lone Star Queen," are included on the ''Rock 'n' Roll'' album. The other two are covers – "[[Courageous Cat]]" theme from the original Courageous Cat Cartoon series, and a second attempt at "Don't Mess With Cupid," a song written by [[Steve Cropper]] and [[Eddie Floyd]] for [[Otis Redding]] and first recorded independently for what was later to become the Mercer Street/Blue Rock Sessions.

Sylvain formed his own band, The Criminals, then cut a solo album for [[RCA Records|RCA]], while also working with Johansen. He later became a [[taxicab]] driver in New York. In the early 1990s he moved to Los Angeles and recorded one album ''Sleep Baby Doll,'' on Fishhead Records. His band for that record consisted of Brian Keats on drums, [[Dave Vanian]]'s Phantom Chords, Speediejohn Carlucci (who had played with the [[Fuzztones]]), and Olivier Le Baron on lead guitar. Guest appearances by [[Frank Infante]] of [[Blondie (band)|Blondie]] and Derwood Andrews of [[Generation X (band)|Generation X]] were also included on the record. It has been re-released as ''New York A Go Go,''.

=== Reunion and return to recording: 2004–2011 ===
[[File:New York Dolls (2006).jpg|thumb|New York Dolls in 2006]]

[[Morrissey]], having been a longtime fan of the band and head of their 1970s UK fan club, organized a reunion of the three surviving members of the band's classic line-up (Johansen, Sylvain and Kane) for the [[Meltdown Festival]] in London in 2004. The reunion led to a live LP and DVD on Morrissey's ''Attack'' label, and a film, ''[[New York Doll]]''. However, future plans for the Dolls were affected when the news came of Arthur Kane's death on July 13, 2004, from leukemia. They played several festivals in the UK during 2004.<ref name="Erlewine"/>

In July 2005, the two surviving members announced a tour and a new album, titled ''[[One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This (album)|One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This]].'' Released on July 25, 2006, the album featured guitarist Steve Conte, bassist [[Sami Yaffa]] (ex-[[Hanoi Rocks]]), drummer Brian Delaney and keyboardist [[Brian Koonin]], formerly a member of David Johansen and the Harry Smiths.  On July 20, 2006, the New York Dolls appeared on ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]],'' followed by a live performance in Philadelphia at the WXPN All About The Music Festival, and on July 22, 2006, a taped appearance on ''[[The Henry Rollins Show]]''. On August 18, 2006, the band performed in a free concert at New York's Seaport Music.

In October 2006, the band embarked on a UK tour, with Sylvain taking time while in Glasgow to speak to John Kilbride of STV. The discussion covered the band's history and the current state of their live show and songwriting, with Sylvain commenting that "even if you come to our show thinking 'how can it be like it was before,' we turn that around 'cos we've got such a great live rock 'n roll show".<ref>[http://www.stv.tv/out/showArticle.jsp?source=opencms&articleId=/out/music/latestnews/Interview_x_New_York_Dolls STV.tv] {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In November 2006, the Dolls began headlining "[[Underground Garage|Little Steven's Underground Garage]] Presents the Rolling Rock and Roll Show," about 20 live gigs with numerous other bands. In April 2007, the band played in Australia and New Zealand, appearing at the [[V Festival (Australia)|V Festival]] with [[Pixies]], [[Pet Shop Boys]], [[Gnarls Barkley]], [[Beck]], [[Jarvis Cocker]] and [[Phoenix (band)|Phoenix]].

On September 22, 2007, New York Dolls were removed from the current artists section of Roadrunner Records' website, signifying the group's split with the label. The band played the [[O2 Wireless Festival]] in [[Hyde Park, London]] on July 4, 2008, with Morrissey and Beck and the [[Lounge On The Farm]] Festival on July 12, 2008. On November 14, 2008, it was announced that the producer of their first album, Todd Rundgren, would be producing a new album, which will be followed by a world tour. The finishing touches on the album were made in Rundgren's studio on the island of Kauai.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/BLABBERMOUTH.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=113040 |title=Roadrunnerrecords.com |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |date= |accessdate=2011-07-15 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224102733/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=113040 |archivedate=2009-02-24 |df= }}</ref> The album, ''[[Cause I Sez So]]'', was released on May 5, 2009 on [[Atco Records]].<ref>[http://www.nydolls.org/news.php?ID=64 Nydolls.org] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613101409/http://www.nydolls.org/news.php?ID=64 |date=June 13, 2010 }}</ref>

[[Image:New York Dolls.jpg|thumb|right|The New York Dolls, performing at the [[Burlington Sound of Music]] festival in 2010]]
The band played at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas on March 21, 2009, and a show at London's 100 Club on May 14, 2009 supported by [[Spizzenergi]].
On March 18, 2010, the band announced another two concert dates at the [[Koko (venue)|KOKO]] club in Camden, London and the Academy in Dublin on April 20. In December 2010, it was announced the band would release their fifth album which had been recorded in Newcastle upon Tyne.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shakenstir.co.uk/index.php/interviews/new-york-dolls-interview/interviews/22679/ |title=New York Dolls Interview |publisher=Shakenstir |date= |accessdate=2014-01-28 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020014307/http://www.shakenstir.co.uk/index.php/interviews/new-york-dolls-interview/interviews/22679/ |archivedate=2013-10-20 |df= }}</ref> The album, ''[[Dancing Backward in High Heels]]'', featuring new guitarist Frank Infante (formerly of Blondie) was released on March 15, 2011.<ref name="consequenceofsound.net">{{cite web|author=mitchopolis |url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/12/10/new-york-dolls-prep-release-of-fifth-album-dancing-backward-in-high-heels/ |title=New York Dolls announce new album, Dancing Backward in High Heels « Consequence of Sound |publisher=Consequenceofsound.net |date=2010-12-10 |accessdate=2011-07-15}}</ref>

On March 1, 2011, it was announced the New York Dolls would be the opening act for a summer tour featuring [[Mötley Crüe]] and [[Poison (American band)|Poison]]. They announced a new lineup for the tour, featuring guitarist [[Earl Slick]], who held previous stints with [[David Bowie]] and [[John Lennon]], Bassist [[Kenny Aaronson]], who toured with Bob Dylan in 1988. Formerly of [[Dust]] and since the early 1990s and on hiatis, The John Eddie Band&nbsp;... drummer [[Jason Sutter]], formerly of [[Foreigner (band)|Foreigner]].

In a 2016 interview with Getintothis, Earl Slick confirmed the band was over. "Oh, yeah, it’s long gone. There was no point in doing it anymore and it was kinda spent. You know, David really does enjoy the Buster thing. He’s so good at it. I’ve seen him do it a couple of times this last year, and man! He’s got it down, you know."<ref>http://www.getintothis.co.uk/2016/03/bowie-guitarist-earl-slick-on-his-years-with-the-thin-white-duke-working-with-lennon-and-the-making-of-station-to-station/</ref>

== Artistry ==
{{Quote box
 |quote = Certainly neither ''great'' nor ''[[punk rock|punk]]'' in any of its variations were words applied to the Dolls when they began performing late in 1971 — ''awful'' and ''ugly'' were more like it. Moreover, at the time, the Dolls were associated with [[glam rock|glam-rock]] and [[David Bowie]] in his most flamboyantly gay period, an understandable mistake.
 |source = — [[Ken Tucker]]<ref name="Tucker"/>
 |quoted = true
 |bgcolor = #FFFFF0
 |width = 20%
 |salign = right
 |align = right
 |border = 1px
 |fontsize = 89%
}}
According to [[AllMusic]] editor [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]], the New York Dolls developed an original style of [[hard rock]] that presaged both [[punk rock]] and [[heavy metal music]], and drew on elements such as the "dirty [[rock & roll]]" of [[the Rolling Stones]], the "anarchic noise" of [[the Stooges]], the [[glam rock]] of [[David Bowie]] and [[T. Rex (band)|T. Rex]], and [[girl group]] pop music.<ref name="Erlewine"/> Erlewine credited the band for creating punk rock "before there was a term for it."<ref name="Erlewine">{{cite web|last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |authorlink=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/new-york-dolls-mn0000866786/biography |title=New York Dolls |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=June 24, 2013 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6In0kgqdx?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.allmusic.com%2Fartist%2Fnew-york-dolls-mn0000866786%2Fbiography |archivedate=August 11, 2013 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> [[Ken Tucker]], who referred to them as a [[proto-punk]] band, wrote that they were strongly influenced by the "New York sensibility" of [[Lou Reed]]: "The mean wisecracks and impassioned cynicism that informed the Dolls' songs represented an attitude that Reed's work with [[the Velvet Underground]] embodied, as did the Dolls' distinct lack of musicianship."<ref name="Tucker">{{cite book|last1=Ward|first1=Ed|authorlink1=Ed Ward (writer)|last2=Stokes|first2=Geoffrey|last3=Tucker|first3=Ken|authorlink3=Ken Tucker|year=1986|page=549|title=Rock of Ages: The Rolling Stone History of Rock & Roll|publisher=[[Rolling Stone|Rolling Stone Press]], [[Fireside Books]]|isbn=0-671-54438-1}}</ref>

When they began performing, four of the band's five members wore [[Spandex]] and [[platform boots]],{{sfn|Ward|Stokes|Tucker|1986|p=549}} while Johansen—the band's lyricist and "conceptmaster"—<ref>{{cite book|ref=harv|last=Christgau|first=Robert|year=1998|title=Grown Up All Wrong: 75 Great Rock and Pop Artists from Vaudeville to Techno|publisher=[[Harvard University Press]]|isbn=0-674-44318-7|page=194}}</ref> often preferred high heels and a dress occasionally.<ref name="Tucker"/> Fashion historian [[Valerie Steele]] said that, while the majority of the punk scene pursued an understated "street look", the New York Dolls followed an English glam rock "look of [[androgyny]]—leather and knee-length boots, chest hair, and bleach".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hemsvn9ZbRkC&pg=PA583#v=onepage&q&f=false|accessdate=June 24, 2013|page=583|title=The Berg Companion to Fashion|year=2010|publisher=[[Berg Publishers]]|isbn=1-84788-592-6|editor-last=Steele|editor-first=Valerie|editor-link=Valerie Steele}}</ref> Music journalist [[Nick Kent]] argued that the New York Dolls were "quintessential glam rockers" because of their flamboyant fashion, while their technical shortcomings as musicians and Johnny Thunders' "trouble-prone presence" gave them a punk-rock reputation.<ref>{{cite book|author=[[Nick Kent|Kent, Nick]]|page=14|title=Punk: The Whole Story|editor-last=Blake|editor-first=Mark|editor-link=Mark Blake (writer)|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]]|year=2006|isbn=0-7566-2359-6|displayauthors=etal }}</ref>

By contrast, [[Robert Christgau]] preferred for them to not be categorized as a glam rock band, but instead as "the best hard-rock band since the Rolling Stones".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xauNk09IVKAC&pg=PA158#v=onepage&q&f=false|accessdate=June 24, 2013|page=158|title=Rock Criticism from the Beginning: Amusers, Bruisers And Cool-Headed Cruisers|editor-last=Lindberg|editor-first=Ulf|publisher=[[Peter Lang (publisher)|Peter Lang]]|isbn=0-8204-7490-8|year=2005}}</ref> [[Robert Hilburn]], writing for the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', said that the band exhibited a strong influence from the Rolling Stones, but had distinguished themselves by ''[[Too Much Too Soon (album)|Too Much Too Soon]]'' (1974) as "a much more independent, original force" because of their "definite touch of the humor and carefreeness of early (ie. mid-1950s) rock".<ref>{{cite news|last=Hilburn|first=Robert|authorlink=Robert Hilburn|date=May 7, 1974|page=C12|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/603093642.html?dids=603093642:603093642&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=May+07%2C+1974&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Touch+of+Stones+in+Dolls'+Album&pqatl=google|title=Touch of Stones in Dolls' Album|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|accessdate=June 23, 2013}} {{subscription required}}</ref> [[Simon Reynolds]] felt that, by their 2009 album ''[[Cause I Sez So]]'', the band exhibited the sound "not of the sloppy, rambunctious Dolls of punk mythology but of a tight, lean hard-rock band."<ref>{{cite book|last=Reynolds|first=Simon|authorlink=Simon Reynolds|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8FI3dVT9t34C&pg=PA42#v=onepage&q&f=false|accessdate=June 24, 2013|page=42|title=Retromania: Pop Culture's Addiction to Its Own Past|publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers|Macmillan]]|year=2011|isbn=1-4299-6858-3}}</ref>

{{col-begin}}
;Former members
*[[David Johansen]] – vocals, harmonica <small>(1971–1976, 2004–2011)</small>
*[[Sylvain Sylvain]] – guitar, bass, piano <small>(1971–1976, 2004–2011)</small>
*[[Johnny Thunders]] – guitar, vocals <small>(1971–1975; died 1991)</small>
*[[Arthur Kane]] – bass guitar <small>(1971–1975, 2004; died 2004)</small>
*[[Billy Murcia]] – drums <small>(1971–1972; died 1972)</small>
*[[Rick Rivets]] – guitar <small>(1971)</small>
*[[Jerry Nolan]] – drums <small>(1972–1975; died 1992)</small>
*Peter Jordan – bass <small>(1975–1976)</small>
*[[Blackie Lawless]] – guitar <small>(1975)</small>
*[[Chris Robison]] – keyboards <small>(1975)</small>
*Tony Machine – drums <small>(1975–1976)</small>
*Bobby Blaine – keyboards <small>(1976)</small>
*[[Steve Conte]] – guitar, vocals <small>(2004–2010)</small>
*John Conte – bass <small>(2004)</small>
*[[Gary Powell (musician)|Gary Powell]] – drums <small>(2004)</small>
*[[Sami Yaffa]] – bass <small>(2005–2010)</small>
*Brian Koonin – keyboards <small>(2005–2006)</small>
*Brian Delaney– drums <small>(2005–2011)</small>
*Aaron Lee Tasjan - guitar <small>(2009)</small>
*[[Frank Infante]] – guitar <small>(2010–2011)</small>
*[[Jason Hill (singer)|Jason Hill]] – bass <small>(2010–2011)</small>
*Jason Sutter – drums <small>(2011)</small>
*[[Kenny Aaronson]] – bass <small>(2011)</small>
*[[Earl Slick]] – guitar <small>(2011)</small>
{{col-end}}

===Timeline===
<timeline>
ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:18
PlotArea = left:110 bottom:90 top:5 right:10
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat  = mm/dd/yyyy
Period = from:10/01/1971 till:12/31/2011
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
ScaleMajor = increment:3 start:1972
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1973
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4

Colors =
  id:Vocal   value:red         legend:Vocals
  id:LGuitar value:teal        legend:Lead_Guitar
  id:RGuitar value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_Guitar
  id:Keys    value:purple      legend:Keyboards
  id:Bass    value:blue        legend:Bass
  id:Drums   value:orange      legend:Drums
  id:Studio  value:black       legend:Studio_albums

LineData =
  at:07/27/1973 color:black layer:back
  at:05/10/1974 color:black layer:back
  at:07/25/2006 color:black layer:back
  at:05/05/2009 color:black layer:back
  at:03/15/2011 color:black layer:back

BarData =
  bar:dj text:"David Johansen"
  bar:jt text:"Johnny Thunders"
  bar:bl text:"Blackie Lawless"
  bar:sc text:"Steve Conte"
  bar:fi text:"Frank Infante"
  bar:es text:"Earl Slick"
  bar:cp text:"Claton Pitcher"
  bar:rr text:"Rick Rivets"
  bar:ss text:"Sylvain Sylvain"
  bar:ak text:"Arthur Kane"
  bar:pj text:"Peter Jordan"
  bar:jc text:"John Conte"
  bar:sy text:"Sami Yaffa"
  bar:jh text:"Jason Hill"
  bar:ka text:"Kenny Aaronson"
  bar:cr text:"Chris Robison"
  bar:bb text:"Bobby Blaine"
  bar:bk text:"Brian Koonin"
  bar:bm text:"Billy Murcia"
  bar:jn text:"Jerry Nolan"
  bar:tm text:"Tony Machine"
  bar:gp text:"Gary Powell"
  bar:bd text:"Brian Delaney"
  bar:js text:"Jason Sutter"

PlotData=
  width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4)
  bar:dj from:10/01/1971 till:03/01/1977 color:Vocal
  bar:dj from:10/01/1971 till:03/01/1972 color:Keys width:3
  bar:dj from:06/01/2004 till:end        color:Vocal
  bar:jt from:10/01/1971 till:05/01/1975 color:LGuitar
  bar:ak from:10/01/1971 till:08/01/1975 color:Bass
  bar:ak from:06/01/2004 till:07/13/2004 color:Bass
  bar:bm from:10/01/1971 till:11/06/1972 color:Drums
  bar:rr from:10/01/1971 till:03/01/1972 color:RGuitar
  bar:ss from:03/01/1972 till:03/01/1977 color:RGuitar
  bar:ss from:03/01/1972 till:08/01/1975 color:Keys width:3
  bar:ss from:08/01/1975 till:03/01/1977 color:LGuitar width:3
  bar:ss from:06/01/2004 till:end        color:RGuitar
  bar:ss from:06/01/2004 till:07/01/2005 color:Keys width:3
  bar:ss from:12/01/2006 till:end        color:Keys width:3
  bar:ss from:07/01/2011 till:end        color:Bass width:7
  bar:jn from:12/01/1972 till:08/01/1975 color:Drums
  bar:pj from:08/01/1975 till:03/01/1977 color:Bass
  bar:bl from:05/01/1975 till:08/01/1975 color:LGuitar
  bar:cr from:08/01/1975 till:08/01/1976 color:Keys
  bar:tm from:08/01/1975 till:03/01/1977 color:Drums
  bar:bb from:08/01/1976 till:03/01/1977 color:Keys
  bar:sc from:06/01/2004 till:12/01/2010 color:LGuitar
  bar:gp from:06/01/2004 till:07/01/2005 color:Drums
  bar:jc from:07/14/2004 till:08/01/2004 color:Bass
  bar:sy from:08/01/2004 till:12/01/2010 color:Bass
  bar:bd from:07/01/2005 till:05/01/2011 color:Drums
  bar:bd from:10/01/2011 till:end        color:Drums
  bar:bk from:07/01/2005 till:12/01/2006 color:Keys
  bar:fi from:12/01/2010 till:05/01/2011 color:LGuitar
  bar:jh from:12/01/2010 till:05/01/2011 color:Bass
  bar:es from:05/01/2011 till:07/01/2011 color:LGuitar
  bar:ka from:05/01/2011 till:07/01/2011 color:Bass
  bar:js from:05/01/2011 till:10/01/2011 color:Drums
  bar:cp from:07/01/2011 till:end        color:LGuitar
  
</timeline>

==Discography==
<ref name="The Great Rock Discography">{{cite book
| first= Martin C.
| last= Strong
| year= 2000
| title= The Great Rock Discography
| edition= 5th
| publisher= Mojo Books
| location= Edinburgh
| pages= 694–695
| isbn= 1-84195-017-3}}</ref>
===Studio albums===
*''[[New York Dolls (album)|New York Dolls]]'' (1973)
*''[[Too Much Too Soon (album)|Too Much Too Soon]]'' (1974)
*''[[One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This]]'' (2006)
*''[[Cause I Sez So]]'' (2009)
*''[[Dancing Backward in High Heels]]'' (2011)<ref name="consequenceofsound.net"/>

===Demo albums===
*''Actress – "Birth of the New York Dolls"'' (1972)
*''Endless Party'' (1973)
*''[[Lipstick Killers – The Mercer Street Sessions 1972]]'' (1981)
*''[[Seven Day Weekend (New York Dolls Album)|Seven Day Weekend]]'' (1992)
*''Private World - The Complete Early Studio Demos 1972–1973'' (2006)

===Live albums===
*''[[Red Patent Leather]]'' (1984)
*''Paris Le Trash'' (1993)
*''Live In Concert, Paris 1974'' (1998)
*''From Paris with Love (L.U.V.)'' (2002)
*''Morrissey Presents: The Return Of New York Dolls Live From Royal Festival Hall'' (2004)
*''Live At the Filmore East'' (2008)
*"Viva Le Trash '74" (2009)

===Compilation albums===
*''New York Dolls / Too Much Too Soon'' (1977)
*''Very Best of New York Dolls'' (1977)
*''Night of the Living Dolls'' (1985)
*''The Best of the New York Dolls'' (1985)
*''New York Dolls + Too Much Too Soon'' (1987)
*''Super Best Collection'' (1990)
*''[[Rock'n Roll (New York Dolls album)|Rock'n Roll]]'' (1994)
*''Hootchie Kootchie Dolls'' (1998)
*''The Glam Rock Hits'' (1999)
*''The Glamorous Life Live'' (1999)
*''Actress: Birth of The New York Dolls'' (2000)
*''Endless Party'' (2000)
*''New York Tapes 72/73'' (2000)
*''Great Big Kiss'' (reissue of ''Seven Day Weekend'' and ''Red Patent Leather'', 2002)
*''Looking For A Kiss'' (2003)
*''Manhattan Mayhem'' (2003)
*''20th century masters – the Millennium collection: the best of New York Dolls'' (2003)

===Singles===
*"[[Personality Crisis (song)|Personality Crisis]]" / "Looking for a Kiss" (1973)
*"[[Trash (New York Dolls song)|Trash]]" / "Personality Crisis" (1973)
*"[[Jet Boy (song)|Jet Boy]]" / "Vietnamese Baby" (1973)
*"[[Stranded in the Jungle]]" / "[[Don't Start Me Talkin']]" (1974)
*"(There's Gonna Be A) Showdown" / "Puss 'n' Boots" (1974)
*"Jet Boy" // "Babylon" / "Who Are the Mystery Girls" (1977, UK)
*"Bad Girl" / "Subway Train" (1978, Germany)
*"Gimme Luv and Turn On the Light" (2006)
*"Dolled UP" (2014)

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

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* {{Discogs artist}}
* {{Facebook|nydolls}}
* {{IMDb name|1784373}}
* [http://www.rockerzine.com/2012/05/private-world-new-york-dolls-manager-marty-thau-on-his-days-with-the-band/  "Private World: New York Dolls Manager Marty Thau on His Days With the Band" - Interview in Rocker Magazine 2012]

{{New York Dolls}}

{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Hard rock musical groups from New York]]
[[Category:Glam rock groups]]
[[Category:Protopunk groups]]
[[Category:Punk rock groups from New York]]
[[Category:Musical groups from New York City]]
[[Category:Mercury Records artists]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1971]]
[[Category:Atco Records artists]]
[[Category:Pub rock musical groups]]