The New York Dolls song David Johansen couldn’t remember writing: “So they tell me”
There aren’t many acts that can say they were integral to the rise of punk, glam and hard rock all at the same time, and not least to have been such a vital part of each of these individual movements over the course of just two studio albums. However, the impact that was made by the New York Dolls on their releases in the mid-1970s is relatively unmatched by their peers, and the way they effortlessly merged these styles while also helping birth other styles in the process is nothing short of impressive.
Their debut album is widely regarded today as one of the most complete examples of a proto-punk and glam rock record to have been released at the start of a band’s career, and while they weren’t instantly successful in terms of commercial acclaim, there has been plenty of retrospective praise pointed in their direction. Produced and brought to life by Todd Rundgren, their self-titled record quickly amassed something of a cult following and would later become a landmark album that transcended genres.
Because of their pioneering punk sound, New York Dolls are often held in high regard alongside other acts that seemingly predicted the movement, such as The Stooges and The Velvet Underground. Even though their initial run as a group was short-lived, you’d think that what they achieved as a unit would be something that they’d all remember and be proud of.
However, despite its status as a cult favourite, the band were supposedly dissatisfied with the end result of their debut’s recording, and their second album, Too Much Too Soon, was recorded in quick succession in order to try and rectify their disappointment. This would end up being their final release until they reformed in 2004 with only frontman David Johansen and guitarist Sylvain Sylvain in the lineup, and by this point, the group had had plenty of time to reflect on their early years.
The band’s debut single, ‘Trash’, remains one of the band’s most iconic tracks and is now regarded as one of the songs that would go on to help define the genesis of punk rock. However, Johansen, despite having written the song alongside Sylvain, couldn’t really recall how they even came up with the track when interviewed by Uncut after they reformed.
“I co-wrote ‘Trash’ with Syl, so they tell me!” the frontman revealed. “I don’t remember exactly, but I always had a notebook so I could write things down, little tidbits. So I had this idea for ‘Trash’ and he started playing this thing. I thought, ‘Oh, that would fit this idea.’ It was one of those deals. Usually, the first time we play something, it’s just about getting ideas, and then I’ll go home and write the words. That’s how it worked then, anyway, Syl and I have done a lot of different techniques over the years.”
Regardless of how they initially conceived of the song, they would go on to revisit the track on their 2009 album, Cause I Sez So, adapting it into a reggae song that removed it from its origins as a flamboyant punk track. They may have dismissed the album upon its release, and might not remember writing the song, but at least they recognise it as being one of the most important things they ever did as a band.
