The Zimmermann Note

There were a lot of bands among this listing that were directly influenced by that murmuring foursome from Athens, Georgia and this is another direct link. Having read an R.E.M. bio I learned of this bands existence and thus had made my way to the record store to actually check out their music. Their cover, is iconic, looking as if they were pulled off the curb outside an all night drag bar.

There is nothing small about the Dolls. They did everything to the excess. Malcolm McLaren’s project before the Sex Pistols, the Dolls strutted, offended, rocked and never received the acclaim they deserved. The real life Rocky Horror Picture Show, there is nothing that you cannot claim is pure rock and roll. They still stick as prepunk idols from the likes of Morrissey and Michael Stipe. The first song, “Personality Crisis” describes them in a heartbeat.

The band is somewhat ugly sounding. David Johansen has this very deep nasally voice which sounds somewhat crass as he barks at the microphone. The manner at which he grapples with the lyrics and emphasis that places behind the very tight musical background becomes slightly obnoxious at times. And then you realize that for someone that is listening to this for the very first time might see themselves in that same alienated place. It was never about proficiency but rocking as hard as you could. Much of the credit has to be given to David Johansen who is an amazing frontman but kudos as well to Johnny Thunders on guitar and of course the ever present Arthur “Killer” Kane for whom the documentary “New York Doll” was filmed about.

“Frankenstein” is another such song, about, alas, young love but in such a manner that is somewhat crude, alarming in the manner at which it’s portrayed. By the end, you could swear that Johansen is climaxing while screaming “Frankenstein”. Yes, maybe it is a love song after all.

I think the legacy of the Dolls is their overall presence. For me, it spoke of the outrageous, that rock didn’t always have to be pretty to be effective, and that it displayed an aura of emotion that is hard to even find today.