Johnny Thunders / Wayne Kramer - Gang War (Reissue) (CD)

Double transparent RED & BLACK SPLATTERED VINYL. In 1979, JOHNNY THUNDERS, renowned Heartbreakers and New York Dolls guitarist, teamed up with WAYNE KRAMER, the legendary guitarist of Detroit's seminal MC5, to form 'GANG WAR', an alliance that lasted the best part of a year. They released no records and were without a label - at the time they were very much an underground act. Gang War came about shortly after Johnny released his classic 'So Alone' album, and Wayne was not long out of jail after serving two years of a sentence of four for a coke bust. They toured regularly and recorded a couple of demos with a view to getting a deal, but although there was great interest, after nine months or so they split. Both contribute lead vocals and guitars on Thunders and Dolls tracks such as London Boys, Endless Party and M.I.A.; and Kramer and MC5 songs such as Ramblin' Rose and Hey Thanks, and fascinating covers such as These Boots Are Made For Walking. Wayne Kramer has said: ""Music is important to me and I value the honor, the opportunity, to be an important musician. Johnny, on the other hand didn't consider himself a musician. He considered himself an entertainer."" Reproductions of flyers from their club gigs illustrate extended sleeve notes by the biographer of Johnny Thunders and New York Dolls, Nina Antonia.

Johnny Thunders introduced the last song on this live album by saying ""Thanks a lot, kids, it's been boring as usual, "" but he was just being modest. As anybody who ever saw the ex-New York Dolls guitarist in person knows, his shows could be many things-ragged, out of tune, confrontational, transcendent-but they were never boring. Here, backed by ex-MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer, Thunders runs through a typical set, i.e., a mix of R&B oldies, reggae, old Dolls numbers, even a Dylan song. The only constants are his splendidly askew guitar work, endearingly slurred nasal vocals, and hilarious audience baiting. This music may not always be pretty, but it's rock & roll, and it's from the heart. Recorded live at The Channel, Boston, Massachusetts on June 20, 1980. Personnel: Johnny Thunders (vocals, guitar); Wayne Kramer (vocals, guitar).