The Heartbreakers were a punk rock group formed in New York in May 1975 by … Read Full Bio ↴The Heartbreakers were a punk rock group formed in New York in May 1975 by Johnny Thunders (vocals/guitar) and Jerry Nolan (drums), who had just quit the New York Dolls, and Richard Hell (vocals/bass), who left Television the same week. After a few shows, they added Walter Lure (vocals/guitar), who had played with a group called the Demons. In 1976, Hell tried to persuade Nolan and Lure to kick Thunders out, but Nolan was too close with Johnny and kicked Hell out instead. He was replaced by Billy Rath, who, according to legend, was a gigolo. Hell went on to form Richard Hell and the Voidoids.
Arriving just as the UK punk scene was building momentum, the Heartbreakers developed a following playing in and around London. The Sex Pistols invited them to open on the ill fated Anarchy Tour. They shortly signed up with Track Records. Their debut--and only--studio album, L.A.M.F., featured all the Heartbreakers' popular live songs. The release of the album put a huge strain on the band because of anger among some band members over the poor quality of the mix. Several members left at this point. The band reformed in 1979 for a few farewell shows at Max’s Kansas City with drummer Ty Stix filling in for Nolan. The result was the live album Live at Max's Kansas City '79, considered a punk classic.
The band re-formed occasionally to play at New York clubs (and for a sold out show at The Lyceum in London, England in 1984) until the death of Thunders in 1991 of a supposed methadone overdose. The facts remain unclear: Johnny's passport and money were missing. The coroner's report said no alcohol was in his bloodstream, though many witnesses say Johnny was drinking the night before with people that he had just met. He was 38 years old. Jerry Nolan died of a stroke a few months later at age 40.
Live shows often consisted of songs performed with the New York Dolls or taken from Thunders' solo career. Richard Hell rarely plays music live, concentrating instead on writing and spoken word performances. Billy Rath's whereabouts are currently unknown, leading to various rumors such as that he died or became a priest. Walter Lure still performs about once a month with his band the Waldos, playing mostly Heartbreakers songs. The influence of Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers is still noticeable today in many punk rock bands. Johnny Thunders solo work is mainly made up of live albums, although he recorded the critical success So Alone in 1978 and Que Sera Sera in 1985. He often worked with Patti Paladin of the band Snatch and they recorded an album of covers, Copycats in 1987.
Arriving just as the UK punk scene was building momentum, the Heartbreakers developed a following playing in and around London. The Sex Pistols invited them to open on the ill fated Anarchy Tour. They shortly signed up with Track Records. Their debut--and only--studio album, L.A.M.F., featured all the Heartbreakers' popular live songs. The release of the album put a huge strain on the band because of anger among some band members over the poor quality of the mix. Several members left at this point. The band reformed in 1979 for a few farewell shows at Max’s Kansas City with drummer Ty Stix filling in for Nolan. The result was the live album Live at Max's Kansas City '79, considered a punk classic.
The band re-formed occasionally to play at New York clubs (and for a sold out show at The Lyceum in London, England in 1984) until the death of Thunders in 1991 of a supposed methadone overdose. The facts remain unclear: Johnny's passport and money were missing. The coroner's report said no alcohol was in his bloodstream, though many witnesses say Johnny was drinking the night before with people that he had just met. He was 38 years old. Jerry Nolan died of a stroke a few months later at age 40.
Live shows often consisted of songs performed with the New York Dolls or taken from Thunders' solo career. Richard Hell rarely plays music live, concentrating instead on writing and spoken word performances. Billy Rath's whereabouts are currently unknown, leading to various rumors such as that he died or became a priest. Walter Lure still performs about once a month with his band the Waldos, playing mostly Heartbreakers songs. The influence of Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers is still noticeable today in many punk rock bands. Johnny Thunders solo work is mainly made up of live albums, although he recorded the critical success So Alone in 1978 and Que Sera Sera in 1985. He often worked with Patti Paladin of the band Snatch and they recorded an album of covers, Copycats in 1987.
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L.A.M.F. The Lost '77 Mixes
Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers Lyrics
All by Myself I don't want to talk too much I just want to…
Baby Talk Well baby walk and baby talk baby let me baby…
Born to Lose That's the way you go This city is so cold And…
Can't Keep My Eyes on You I saw you standing there No doubt without a care The way…
Chinese Rocks Somebody called me on the phone They said, "Hey, is Dee…
Do You Love Me You broke my heart 'cause I couldn't dance, You didn't even…
Get Off the Phone 10 years old Anything goes All you ever knew was a bullshit…
Goin' Steady We're going steady, we're going steady Going steady with you…
I Love You You broke my heart 'cause I couldn't dance, You didn't even…
I Wanna Be Loved Well won't you listen baby To what I wanna say…
It's Not Enough You can give me this You can give me that You…
Let Go Oh everyplace I go I see your face in the…
One Track Mind When I was born I had to think up a song To…
Pirate Love You've got to walk that walk You've got to talk that…
We also have lyrics for these tracks by Johnny Thunders:
All By Myself I don't want to talk too much I just want to…
Baby Talk Well baby walk and baby talk Baby walk and baby talk…
Born to Lose Well, that's the way it goes This city is so cold And…
Chinese Rocks Somebody called me on the phone They said, "Hey, is Dee…
Do You Love Me You broke my heart 'cause I couldn't dance, You didn't even…
Get Off the Phone Ten years old Anything goes All you ever knew was a bullshit…
I Love You When I look in your eyes, I see words I…
I Wanna Be Loved Well won't you listen baby To what I wanna say…
It's Not Enough You can give me this You can give me that You…
Let Go Oh everyplace I go I see your face in the…
One Track Mind When I was born I had to think up a song To…
Pirate Love You've got to walk that walk You've got to talk that…
We also have lyrics for these tracks by The Heartbreakers:
All By Myself I don't want to talk too much I just want to…
Baby Talk Well baby talk and baby walk Baby walk let me talk…
Born to Lose That's the way you go This city is so cold And…
Can't keep my eyes on you I saw you standing there No doubt without a care The way…
Chinese Rocks Somebody called me on the phone They said hey, is Dee…
Do You Love Me You broke my heart 'cause I couldn't dance, You didn't even…
Goin' Steady We're going steady, we're going steady Going steady with you…
I Love You Just something about you The way I'm lookin' at you whateve…
It's Not Enough You can give me this You can give me that You…
Let Go Oh everyplace I go I see your face in the…
One Track Mind When I was born I hada think up a song To live…
Pirate Love You've got to walk that walk You've got to talk that…