The Heartbreakers
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- This article is about the punk group. For information on Tom Petty's backing band, see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. For the movie, see Heartbreakers.
The Heartbreakers was 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 was forced out of Television, the band he had founded with Tom Verlaine, 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 was either kicked out or quit, depending on who you believe, and was replaced by Billy Rath who according to legend was a gigolo. Hell went on to form his own band Richard Hell and the Voidoids
Arriving just as the UK punk scene was building momentum, they developed a following playing in and around London. The Sex Pistols invited them to open for them 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 of the members of the band left at this point. The band reformed in 1979 for a few farewell shows at Max’s Kansas City with drummer Ty Stix stilling in for Nolan. The resulting live album Live at Max's Kansas City '79 is considered a Punk Rock classic.
The band re-formed occasionally to play at New York clubs until the death of Johnny Thunders in 1991. Jerry Nolan died a few months later in 1992. Live shows often consisted of songs performed with the New York Dolls or taken from Johnny 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 performing mostly Heartbreakers songs
[edit] Discography
- L.A.M.F., (1977 Track)
- Live at Max's Kansas City '79, (1979, Beggar's Banquet)
- D.T.K. Live At The Speakeasy, (1982, Jungle)
- Live At The Lyceum Ballroom 1984, (1985, Jungle)
- Live At Mothers, (1991, Fanclub)
- What Goes Around, (1991, (1991, Bomp!)
- Vive La Révolution (Live In Paris - Le Bataclan - December 8th 1977), (1992, Skydog)
- Thunderstorm In Detroit (Live At The Silverbird 21/12/80), (2002, Captain Trip Records)
- Down To Kill, (2005, Jungle)
