VEGLAM 03/17/2025

Sadly, there’s no original DOLL left alive since David Johansen has left the building. The NEW YORK DOLLS‘ influence on music and culture has always been underrated. The punks loved them, the 80s glam metal scene stole their style and the artsy people thought they were ahead of their time. Morrissey could have released such a compilation album but Brian Idle Edsel Diederich, frontman of punk band The STRAP-ONS, began this project in the late 90’s while living in Norfolk, VA. Via early social media, zines and touring, he connected with like-minded fans of The NEW YORK DOLLS and collected a group of bands to form this tribute album. The setlist is the same as the first NEW YORK DOLLS album opening with “Personality Crisis” (VORWARTS) then “Looking For A Kiss” by Australia’s MUSCLE CAR. THEE STP offers us a great version of “Vietnamese Baby’ on which they sound a bit like POISON IDEA and you’ll also hear a good version of “Lonely Planet Boy” by DAMN FAITH. Was there any better band than ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN to cover “Frankenstein”? Probably not! LARRY MAY AND THE BEER HEISTERS has managed to add even more decadence and chaos to “Trash”, The BISAPIANS stayed true to the glam punk spirit of “Bad Girl” and Z.T.T.F. gave “Subway Train” a garage rock makeover. “Pills” has been covered many times but the street punk infused version of The STRAP-ONS version is a good one and so is “Private World” by PULPIT RED. Finally, MEGADOSAGE puts an end to the album with the anthemic “Jet Boy.” The vinyl version will be released on July 27 2025 in memory of one of the most flamboyant glamour gang of New York. /Laurent C.