Jerry Nolan

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Jerry Nolan (May 7, 1946 – January 14, 1992) was a U.S. rock and roll drummer, who played with The New York Dolls and The Heartbreakers.

1 Career
2 Discography

[edit] Career

Some consider Nolan to be the first punk rock drummer. His drumming style influenced several others, such as Paul Cook from the Sex Pistols.

A native of New York, Nolan joined The New York Dolls in the autumn of 1972 to replace Billy Murcia, who had died of a drug overdose (or drowned in the consequence of an overdose). Nolan also was a childhood friend of Peter Criss (original KISS drummer) who auditioned for The New York Dolls at the same time. Nolan played on both of the Dolls´ albums (New York Dolls and Too Much Too Soon).

Nolan left the Dolls together with Johnny Thunders. The rumour has it that they had ran out of "horse" and despite of desperate need they could not get any.^{[citation needed]} The two then joined Richard Hell to form The Heartbreakers. The band was successful in England and played on the ill-fated Anarchy tour. However, 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 played with The Heartbreakers for some shows.

Whilst touring with Johnny Thunders in 1982, Nolan met Charlotte (Lotten) Nedeby, a Swede, whom he soon married. Nolan would live in Sweden, off and on, through 1986. There he also recorded a solo single of an older Heartbreakers' song "Take A Chance With Me" backed with "Pretty Baby". Another single, "Countdown Love" was not released nor was a planned album ever recorded. Johnny Thunders also moved to Sweden with his girlfriend Susanne, and their collaboration continued periodically, until Thunders' death in 1991.

Nolan out-lived his long-time friend by only a few months. In late 1991, while Nolan was being treated for bacterial meningitis and bacterial pneumonia, he suffered a stroke and went into a coma from which he never recovered. He spent his final weeks on a life support system.