Customer Reviews

Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers: Dead or Alive

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

For the uninitiated, Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers aren't everyone's cup of tea, or glass of beer. At his worst, John could be awful, looking and sounding like a wasted Ratso Rizzo. Watching or listening to him perform strung-out or, worse, stoned was voyeurism of the saddest and most guilt-inspiring kind, a witnessing of another human being's drug-induced self-destruction. John's addictions in time became a self-fulfilling freak show, a frequently tiresome routine and shtick, and as depressingly infamous as Iggy's self-mutilation during the legendary Stooges days. And yet, at his best, his music was magical and transcendent. His best songs are like finding nuggets of pure gold in a vast musical wasteland of sediment, particularly when one considers the truly insipid nature of what passes for rock music these days. Does this collection represent John and the boys at their most lucid, inspired best? Probably not, but it does include the greatest version of "So Alone" I've ever heard. Walter Lure's guitar has never sounded more hauntingly effective and Johnny's junkie stream-of-conscious monologue is chillingly-rendered and powerful. I loved the Dolls, and I loved the Heartbreakers, and I still do. John may be gone, but for those who appreciate the kind of visceral, vibrant music no one seems capable of making anymore, he will never be forgotten. A maudlin thought, perhaps, but true nonetheless.

This DVD is mostly footage from a later concert in Paris. Johnny is sloppy (of course) and it seems that they went back in and overdubbed almost all of Johnny's guitar and vocal parts later. In my opinion this pretty much ruins the live feel of the video and it becomes more of a let's watch live footage while listening to a poorly synced studio recording. This is unfortunate because the moments when they leave the original sound alone are great. I love Johnny Thunders and I'm glad to have seen this video, but I would recommend renting it not buying it.

What a massive disappointment. ... I agree with the guy below who says that there's way too little '77 footage or interview stuff ... And you don't even get the performance, it seems! There are plenty of times when Walter Lure strums his guitar and there's no sound emited. And a lot of the footage doesn't quite match up with the music. "Born to Lose", for instance, STARTS with a snippet from the studio cut, then goes into a live reading of it. And most of the time, when there is "live" audio, it's not clear whether it's from the same date the '84 footage was shot -especially since things happen musically that don't go with the visual and vice versa. What a waste. I wish I would've hung on to my money...I could use it whenever the hell the Thunders documentary _Born to Lose_ hits DVD...

A little bit of everything in here: Johnny, Jerry and the others in the airport, the band and manager talking money after a gig, the '84 Lyceum reunion intermixed sometimes with the same songs being done during the '76 Anarchy UK tour, clips of Johnny in the movie Mona et Moi, clip of an interview with Johnny. Full interview in extras. Johnny was trying to get clean in this period and, I think, was. So he had a few drinks; so a few parts are dubbed. It's wonderful if you are a fan of Johnny, Jerry, and/or the Heartbreakers. Sounds good and some laughs.

i popped this disc into my dvd player hoping to see an example of rock n roll fury.instead it left me dissappointed and wanting more.most of this disc is concert footage from 1984 in london with little black and white blips of footage from 1977 intertwined throughout.the 1984 footage is high quality but the band is awful and johnny is too strung out to play.very boring.the black and white footage is crappy but is an excellent example of the band's energy and power.it's unfortunate this footage isnt the exclusive subject of the disc. i'd recommend this to thunders completists only.it's worth it for the 77 footage and interviews alone,but it just doesnt do it for me.stick to the bootlegs brothers and sisters.

If this is, as the label proclaims, the "only film available of Thunders in concert," then it's definitely worth owning for that reason alone. And if the producers had left the original audio intact, this would get at least 4 stars. But the overdubs are just terrible, and completely unnecessary. The footage is most impressive for showing just how far gone Thunders was by this time, and I just don't see the point in trying to "clean it up" with overdubs, especially when they are this obvious and poorly done. There are several times when Walter Lure and Johnny are just wandering onstage noodling on their guitars, and the overdubbed Johnny is still singing - what a joke! If they would re-release this show minus the overdubs - and the unnecessary splices of the airport security guard playing with Johnny's earring - this would be a must-own.

The Lyceum show of 1984 was supposed to be great. Think of it: the original Heartbreakers reunited.... But, no. Johnny, EVER Johnny, had to do it. He ordered eight double vodkas before the show. It is horrendous. It reeks. But I recommend it. Why? Because it's the Heartbreakers--Walter rolling his eyes in exasperation; Jerry in perfect, savage form; Billy, weird as always, and always on the right beat. The extranous stuff is fascinating to all who find such stuff interesting. Buy this if you love the Dolls and their heirs.

I'm a huge Thunders fan, though I'll admit I came a bit late. I bought this DVD despite the mediocre reviews listed below. Man was I suprised. The quality is exceptional and Johnny actually performs about two-thirds of the show very well. The drink starts to get to him about half way through. Near the end he probably didn't even realize he was on stage. Of course, Walter Lure, Billy Rath and Jerry Nolan are top-notch. So give this a try. It's got a full video interview with thunders, before and after gig scenes, preview of a thunders doc, clips from a French flick thunders was in and more. A MUST HAVE!!!!!!

johnny thunders junkie or not still ruled the punk world dvd is ok some dubbing but still good great for heartbreakers fans

With so little quality Johnny Thunders live footage available (or any live footage for that matter), this dvd is a must have for any Johnny Thunders or New York Dolls Fan. The camera work is pretty good and the sound is suprisingly "borderline" excellent. Yes the dvd is less than an hour long, but at least Johnny is standing up & coherent through most of the set! This show has been released "ad nauseum" on cd under various titles both commercially and on bootlegs, but to see it live is really a treat for any fan of L.A.M.F. Again, a must have for any Thunder's fan so add to cart and don't worry about the cost. You will not be disappointed.