Jerry Nolan

Jerry Nolan
Birth name	Gerard Nolan
Born	May 7, 1946 Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York City
Died	January 14, 1992(1992-01-14) (aged 45) New York City
Genres	Punk rock rock and roll
Occupations	Musician, drummer
Instruments	Drums
Associated acts	New York Dolls, Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers

Jerry Nolan (May 7, 1946–January 14, 1992) was an American rock drummer, best known for his work with The New York Dolls and Johnny Thunders and The Heartbreakers.

Career

A native of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Nolan joined The New York Dolls in the autumn of 1972 to replace Billy Murcia, who had died of asphixiation in a failed attempt to revive him from a drug overdose while on tour in England, early in the band's career. The Dolls got a record deal with Mercury Records in 1973. Nolan also was a childhood friend of Peter Criss (KISS' original drummer) who auditioned for The New York Dolls at the same time. He previously played with Wayne (Jayne) County's "Queen Elizabeth", Billy Squier's "Kicks" and was the only male member of Suzi Quatro's Detroit-based band Cradle. Jerry was drumming for the power trio "Shaker", a New York band that frequently opened for the Dolls, when he was recruited to replace Billy. Nolan played on the Dolls´ first two albums (New York Dolls and Too Much Too Soon).

After much internal fighting and a short stint under the helm of future Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren, Nolan left the Dolls together with Johnny Thunders in the spring of 1975.^[1] The two then placed a call to bassist Richard Hell, formerly of the Neon Boys and Television, to form The Heartbreakers. Soon, Walter Lure was brought into the fold and Hell was replaced by Billy Rath.

Nolan quit the band soon after it released its only studio album, L.A.M.F., because he felt the album was poorly mixed. Nolan still continued to play with The Heartbreakers, but as a "hired drummer."

While touring with Johnny Thunders in 1982, Nolan met Charlotte (Lotten) Nedeby, whom he soon married. Nolan would live in Sweden, off and on, through the 1980s. There he recorded a solo single of two older Heartbreakers' songs, Take A Chance With Me c/w Pretty Baby. Another old Heartbreaker`s song from the same session, Countdown Love, remained unreleased at the time. During his period in Sweden he was also a member of the short-lived Ugly Americans with fellow ex-Doll Sylvain Sylvain.Johnny Thunders also moved to Sweden with his girlfriend, Susanne, and their collaboration continued periodically, until Thunders' death in 1991.

Nolan outlived his long-time friend by only a few months. During that period he was working on a recording project with singer/songwriter Greg Allen and bassist Chicago Vin Earnshaw.^[2] In late 1991, while Nolan was being treated for bacterial meningitis and bacterial pneumonia at St. Vincent's Hospital in New York, he suffered a stroke and went into a coma from which he never recovered. He died on January 14, 1992, spending his final weeks on a life support system.

Discography

New York Dolls

• New York Dolls - (1973)
• Too Much Too Soon - (1974)
• Red Patent Leather - (1984)

The Heartbreakers

• L.A.M.F. - (1977)
• Heartbreaker Live At Max's - 1979
• D.T.K. - Live at the Speakeasy - (1982)

The Idols

• "You" / "Girl That I Love" - (1979 - single)

Sid Vicious

• Sid Sings - (1979)
• The Idols with Sid Vicious - (1993)

Jerry Nolan

• "Take a Chance" b/w "Pretty Baby" - (1982)

Jerry Nolan and the Plug Uglies

• Jerry Nolan and the Plug Uglies - (1991)

References

1. ^ "Obituary - Malcolm McLaren" The Telegraph. 8 April 2010.
2. ^ Nina Antonia. "Johnny Thunders – In Cold Blood". Cherry Red Records. November 1, 2000)

External links

• My Life As A Doll - downloadable Village Voice article by Jerry Nolan

Persondata
Name	Nolan, Jerry
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	May 7, 1946
Place of birth
Date of death	January 14, 1992
Place of death