“Catch ‘Em While They’re Still Alive!” Roy J. Morgan’s Fifth Annual Johnny Thunders Memorial Concert Saturday, April 26th!!!!

The rocknroll underground was recently shook by the tragic death of Alistarr from the Ultras, Hollywood’s coolest glam band; as well, as the sad departure of Detroit Rock City’s Pusherman Of Love, Bootsey X. Lots of us rebel rockers, jetboys and mystery girls are still reeling from the loss of such important and much beloved rocknroll luminaries. Legendary photographer, Leee Black Childers is in the intensive care unit, so be sending some smoke signals and rocknroll prayers up for him.

Stardusted rocknroll motherfuckers who need a lift, after all this sad news, are looking forward to attending this year’s Johnny Thunders Memorial Concert in L.A. Always a glittery spectacle, this years line-up may be the most exciting display of unbridled hedonism, low budget theatrics, hot girls attired as if they’re on their way to Rodney‘s English Disco, and a decked out for decadence, diverse brigade of peacock plumed, glam shagged, fedora’d and top hatted, feathered and fringed, platform shoes and gold lame’ garbed lonely planet people, congregating again, to celebrate the defiant spirit and bruised gutter soul of Johnny Thunders.

!AAAAAABELJT

Heartbreakers survivors, Walter Lure and Billy Rath, are both doing their own sets, accompanied by the dynamite, original, one and only, Classic Waldos line-up guitar hero, Mr. Joey Pinter! So you’re guaranteed to hear a mixture of old Thunders/Heartbreakers classics, like “Chinese Rocks” and “Too Much Junkie Business”, as well as some of your favorite hits from the classic platter, “Rent Party”, such as “Seven Day Weekend” and “Love That Kills” and “Party Lights” that venerated critics like Kris Needs are still talking about, all these years later.

If you’re not hip to the Waldos “Rent Party”, do yourself a favor, and buy a copy of it on-line, pronto, Tonto. It’s like the perfect sequel to your fave Heartbreakers landmark lp’s. This will be Joey Pinter‘s Farewell performance to L.A. before he moves to Chicago, so don’t fuck around and miss your opportunity to see old-school NYC punk living legends—Uncle Walter, Billy Rath, and Joey Pinter, live and in-person! Javier Escovedo, from the legendary Zeros will be performing. Johnny Witmer from the catchy, singalong, power-pop kings, the Crazy Squeeze, will be performing. Not to mention…those reckless, Sunset Strip scorning, lovable punknroll underdogs-Motorcycle Boy! Francois and his gang of stylish rogues will be showing the kids what rocknroll sounds like, and who knows? He might even bring his accordion! Hell, Hollywood lore has it that they used to show up on motorcycles and play one song and leave, you never know what kind of debaucherous hijinks and topless mayhem might ensue when you invite this many tightwire treading, mercurial, glitter punk dynamos to gather in one dark bar! Also on the bill are local faves, The Neurotics, Paper Hearts, Telephone Lovers, Electric Children, Vampyre Bunnies, Bite from San Fran and more! Last time Billy Rath was in town, he was joined onstage by Billy Burks from the Humpers! You never know who might show up at these things. Members of Blondie, the Moonchasers, Joneses, Shiteland Ponies, Dogs D’Amour, Dirty Eyes, and Hangmen have all been seen in the crowd or participating in all star jams! Stargazers will see the coolest faces in Hollyweird, as everybody comes out for these special occasions.

All this happens on Saturday, April 26th, at LOS GLOBOS 3040 West Sunset Blvd. Silver Lake California! That’s Saturday, April 26th, at LOS GLOBOS- 3040 West Sunset Blvd. Silver Lake California! Over 200 people were turned away by fire marshals at the door of last year’s packed event, as punks and hoodlums from all over the world descend upon Tinseltown for this annual extravaganza, so you’ll want to buy your tickets in advance. This is a lot of entertainment value for twelve bucks! Make your plane reservations and book your hotels now. This is gonna be the party of the year. (-Pepsi Sheen)

Looking For Johnny – The Legend Of Johnny Thunders. Interview with Danny Garcia

“In 90 minutes, this film covers Johnny Thunders career from his beginning in the early 70’s as a founding member of the highly influential New York Dolls to his demise in New Orleans, where he died under mysterious circumstances in 1991.”

We interviewed director Danny Garcia about his upcoming documentary Looking For Johnny. Most Johnny Thunders fans have been waiting for a long time to see such a movie, so without spoiling the fun, Danny tells us a bit more about it…

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Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your previous work?

I’m an independent filmmaker from Barcelona, I directed and produced The Rise and Fall of The Clash.

How and when did you get the idea of making a documentary about Johnny Thunders?

I’ve always been a Thunders fan so it was a natural choice for me.
I came up with the idea in 2010, got in touch with a few people related to JT and their response was positive so I carried on.

Can you remember when you heard about Johnny Thunders for the very first time?

LFJ4When I was in my late teens I bought a New York Dolls album without knowing what was in store for me. I immediately loved their music and Johnny‘s guitar sound.

You interviewed many people for the movie, how did you choose them? Was it easy to find them? Did everyone you get in touch with agreed to be part of the movie? Anybody you would have liked to interview but didn’t manage to?

In 88 I nicked Nina Antonia’s book In Cold Blood from a big store in London and I kinda grew up with it… So choosing the people I wanted to interview was easy but it wasn’t so easy to track everybody and have them agree to be interviewed, but I’m really happy with the cast and the overall result.
It would have been nice to have Johansen and Hell in the film as well but you can’t win ’em all.

Your project was mainly financed by donations. Have you been positively surprised or disappointed with the feedback?

I was really surprised and grateful to all the fans, friends and family of Johnny Thunders , he is the real recipient of the donations I’m just the messenger.

 Hardcore Johnny Thunders fans are definitely waiting for the movie, some people even sent us emails to ask us about Looking For Johnny!… Are you aware of this impatience from Thunders fans? Do you feel a kind of pressure/stress because of that?

Yes but we have all been waiting forever for a film like this so a few more days of waiting won’t kill us.

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Is there any never-seen-before footage in the movie?

Yes, there is unseen NY Dolls and Heartbreakers footage and also photography.

 What’s your favourite Johnny Thunders era? How do you explain his”rock icon” status (especially since these last 10 years)?

The Heartbreakers period. To me “L.A.M.F”. Is one of the best albums ever, period. Johnny was a great songwriter and a very charismatic artist so all the interest in his music doesn’t surprise me one bit.

LFJ5The Heartbreakers – Le Bataclan, Paris 1977.

What’s your opinion on “Born To Lose: The Last Rock”‘n’ Roll Movie”? What about “Mona Et Moi”?

Kowalski’s film is very crude, not my style but I respect his work.
Patrick’s film is very interesting, nice photography, definitely worth a watch. I’m glad she had all those cameos in it.

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I’ve heard that somebody is working on a biopic about Johnny Thunders. Have you heard about that?

Yes, I spoke to one of the scriptwriters, they bought the rights for Nina’s book.
I hope they find a good actor to play JT‘s part, best of luck to them.

LFJ2Danny in front of the infamous St. Peter House, New Orleans.

 Is Johnny Thunders’ spirit/legacy still alive in the 2014 rock scene?

Of course, it’s stronger than ever!

 Is there any release date for Looking For Johnny yet?

May 2014.

http://www.chipbakerfilms.com/
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