The Heartbreakers
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1975 in New York City, United States |
| Founder | Johnny Thunders, Jerry Nolan, Richard Hell |
| Defunct | 1990 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Punk rock music, albums, live performances |
The Heartbreakers—also known as Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers—were a pioneering American punk rock group established in New York City in 1975. They played a crucial role in launching the initial surge of punk rock.
History
After departing the proto-punk ensemble New York Dolls in March 1975 due to disappointing sales and internal conflicts, Johnny Thunders (vocals/guitar) and Jerry Nolan (drums) sought new musical directions. Around the same time, Richard Hell (vocals/bass) exited from Television. Upon returning to New York, Thunders and Nolan invited Hell to join their newly formed band, which they named the Heartbreakers. Their debut performance took place on May 30, 1975, at the Coventry rock club located in Queens. Shortly thereafter, guitarist Walter Lure was added to the lineup, making his first appearance on July 4, 1975, at CBGB.
The Heartbreakers rapidly emerged as a significant underground presence within New York City's music scene, headlining venues such as CBGB, Mother's, and Max's Kansas City. In the early days, all members contributed to vocals and songwriting; Hell penned tracks like "Blank Generation," while Thunders and Lure also contributed original material. Their sound combined raw punk vigor with influences from 1950s rock and a gritty urban persona that distinguished them. Despite their growing popularity, heroin addiction among members impeded their ability to secure a recording contract. Live recordings from this era were eventually issued as Live at Mother's, and studio demos surfaced in 2019.
Internal friction developed when Hell insisted on leading vocals for most songs during rehearsals in early 1976, culminating in his exit after a final show on May 14, 1976. Subsequently, bassist Billy Rath joined the group, fortifying their rhythm section alongside Nolan's drumming. Under the management of Leee Black Childers, the band transitioned away from glam rock visuals toward shorter hairstyles and '50s-inspired suits that reinforced their New York street image. Early performances featuring Rath in July 1976 received favorable reviews; however, despite sold-out shows and Childers’ efforts, recording deals remained out of reach amid widespread heroin use within the band.
Their profile increased after being invited by the Sex Pistols to open for the Anarchy Tour in the United Kingdom. Although many shows were canceled, they cultivated a dedicated London fanbase through packed performances at venues like Dingwalls and the Roxy. Signing with Track Records in spring 1977 provided a significant advance and initiated work on their debut album.
Recording sessions for L.A.M.F. were marred by drug-related difficulties that delayed completion despite numerous remix attempts. The initial single "Chinese Rocks" b/w "Born To Lose" released in May 1977 achieved good sales but faced criticism over subpar production quality. While their live shows received enthusiastic acclaim—with one UK concert compared to "Beatlemania"—their studio recordings failed to capture this energy.
In August 1977, they returned to New York for three notable performances at the Village Gate, regarded as some of their finest live appearances. Afterwards, they attempted to finalize L.A.M.F. back in England but became frustrated with sound issues and pressure from Track Records to release it by October for the holiday market. When other members agreed to issue the album without further changes, Nolan departed. Although critics responded positively overall, persistent complaints about muddy audio led to several remixes over time.
Following Nolan’s exit, drummer Paul Cook from the Sex Pistols joined for a UK tour; Nolan briefly rejoined before leaving again. A brief European tour ensued with drummer Terry Chimes. After Track Records declared bankruptcy, the band lost label support but retained rights to their master tapes due to Childers’ contractual safeguards. Without backing from a record company, Thunders embarked on a solo career while the group disbanded in early 1978.
Thunders remained in London recording his solo debut So Alone, featuring contributions from Lure and Rath on select tracks. The trio reunited for farewell concerts at Max's Kansas City in September 1978 with drummer Ty Styx; these performances were recorded and later released as Live at Max's Kansas City '79, capturing a live intensity absent from L.A.M.F..
Nolan rejoined the band in March 1979; this reunited lineup performed regularly through 1980 but concentrated exclusively on live shows for financial reasons rather than producing new material. In 1984 they issued a remixed edition of L.A.M.F. and toured Europe, resulting in a live album and video recorded at The Lyceum Ballroom London. After bassist Billy Rath exited following that tour, Tony Coiro took over bass duties. Meanwhile, Thunders and Nolan continued solo endeavors; Lure formed the Waldos while occasionally collaborating with Thunders.
The Heartbreakers’ final concert occurred on November 30, 1990, at New York’s Marquee Club with Coiro on bass. Despite declining health of both Thunders and Nolan, this performance was met with positive reception.
After the Heartbreakers
Johnny Thunders passed away in April 1991, with his body discovered in a hotel room in New Orleans. Although his death was possibly linked to drug use, debate persists because the methadone concentrations found might not have been lethal. The autopsy also uncovered advanced leukemia. In June 1991, a tribute concert was held featuring performances by Lure, Jerry Nolan, Coiro, and Joey Pinter playing Heartbreakers tracks in honor of Thunders' family.
Jerry Nolan died in 1992 following a stroke that occurred during treatment for meningitis and pneumonia. He had been living with an HIV diagnosis for several years prior.
Walter Lure embarked on an unconventional path after the Heartbreakers, working as a stockbroker on Wall Street while continuing his musical pursuits with the Waldos, a band inspired by the Heartbreakers’ sound. They performed frequently in New York and toured abroad. After being diagnosed with liver and lung cancer in July 2020, Lure succumbed to complications on August 21, 2020, at age 71.
Billy Rath withdrew from the music industry in the mid-1980s to enter rehabilitation for substance abuse issues. Subsequently, he obtained degrees in psychology and postgraduate theology and worked as a counselor specializing in addiction recovery. Following his appearance at the Max's Kansas City reunion in 2010, Rath briefly led the band Street Pirates. He died on August 16, 2014, aged 66.
L.A.M.F. has since gained recognition as one of the seminal albums in early punk history. It has undergone several remix treatments; notably, a comprehensive 4-CD "Definitive Edition" was released in 2012, featuring two remixes of the original album alongside demos and rare tracks. Numerous live recordings from both the initial lineup with Hell and the L.A.M.F. era have also been published.
Band members
- Johnny Thunders – vocals, guitar (1975–1990; deceased 1991)
- Jerry Nolan – drums, backing and occasional lead vocals (1975–1977, 1979–1990; deceased 1992)
- Richard Hell – bass, vocals (1975–1976)
- John Felice – guitar, vocals (1975)
- Walter Lure – guitar, vocals (1975–1990; deceased 2020)
- Billy Rath – bass, occasional backing vocals (1976–1980, 1984; deceased 2014)
- Robert Gordon – vocals (1976; deceased 2022)
- Terry Chimes – drums (1977)
- Lee Crystal – drums (1978)
- Ty Styx – drums (1978)
- Tony Machine – drums (1978–1979)
- Tony Coiro – bass (1990; deceased 1995)
- Joey Pinter – guitar (1991)
Discography
- Studio album
- L.A.M.F. (1977)
- Demo recordings
- Yonkers Demo 1976 (2019)
- Live releases
- 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)
External links
- Biography at AllMusic
- Heartbreakers at NME.com