Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers

A kind of proto-punk supergroup initially comprised of New York Dolls and Television alums, the Heartbreakers formed in 1975. After bowing with the single "Chinese Rocks," the Heartbreakers recorded their debut LP, L.A.M.F. They announced their break-up in November 1977; an endless series of farewell performances followed. The group continued to resurface infrequently for years to come, and a 1984 gig was recorded and released as Live at the Lyceum Ballroom; that same year also marked the release of L.A.M.F. Revisited, Thunders' remix of the original LP. In late 1990, the original Heartbreakers line-up reunited, but any hopes of a permanent resurrection were dashed by the 1991 drug-related death of guitarist Johnny Thunders. ~ Jason Ankeny