1. John Anthony Genzale, known professionally as Johnny Thunders, was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter.
16 Facts About Johnny Thunders
1. 2.
Johnny Thunders came to prominence in the early 1970s as a member of New York Dolls.
3.
Johnny Thunders later formed the Heartbreakers and played as a solo artist.
4.
Johnny Thunders first lived in East Elmhurst and then Jackson Heights.
5.
Johnny Thunders recorded two albums with the band, New York Dolls and Too Much Too Soon.
6.
Johnny Thunders formed The Heartbreakers with former New York Dolls drummer Jerry Nolan and former Television bassist Richard Hell.
7.
Johnny Thunders stayed in London and recorded the first of a number of solo albums, beginning with So Alone in 1978.
8.
Around this time Johnny Thunders played a small number of gigs at London's The Speakeasy Club with a line up including Cook and Jones, Henri Paul on bass and Judy Nylon and Patti Palladin as back up vocalists.
9.
In late 1979, Johnny Thunders moved to Detroit with his wife Julie and began performing in a band called Gang War.
10.
From August 1988 until his death in April 1991, Johnny Thunders performed in The Oddballs, with Jamie Heath, Alison Gordy, Chris Musto, Stevie Klasson and Jill Wisoff.
11.
On May 8,1990, recording sessions in London for a joint EP-single cover version with The Golden Horde of "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies, and original material, had to be cancelled when Johnny Thunders experienced health problems following his performances in Wakefield, UK while on tour.
12.
Johnny Thunders's final recording was a version of "Born To Lose", with German punk rock band Die Toten Hosen, recorded 36 hours before his death in New Orleans.
13.
Johnny Thunders apparently died of drug-related causes, but it has been speculated that it was the result of foul play.
14.
Singer Willy DeVille, who lived next door to the hotel in which Johnny Thunders died, described his death this way:.
15.
Johnny Thunders was survived by his wife Julie Jourden and four children: sons John, Vito, and Dino, and daughter Jamie Genzale by Susanne Blomqvist.
16.
Johnny Thunders released five studio albums as a solo artist and several live records and compilations.