Customer Reviews

Live at the Roxy London

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is indeed one of the WORST live Heartbreakers performances documented. This album is basically the full live soundtrack to the 1984 reunion concert movie, "Dead or Alive." While it sucks just as equally in the movie, at least you get a visual idea of a Heartbreakers show with the film (Not a good one, but an exciting "reunion" one nonetheless). If you want these songs, I would recommend the double disc "Street Trash," because at least with that, you get a disc of early Dolls demos to help cleanse the pallette.

Please don't see my criticism as too negative: As a Johnny Thunders/Dolls fan with over 40 solo Johnny bootlegs, I'm just trying to help save you some money. I have this only to fulfill my sick completist thing.

For your money, for quality live Heartbreakers, I suggest "Live at Max's '79" (the full band with Jerry Nolan does the last four or five tracks of the album, including my favorite version of "So Alone." As well, "DTK - Live at the Speakeasy" has some classic live JT and boys.

Also: Food for Thought: A lot of discs are packaged as the special Reunion shows and all that kind of garbage. The band was predominantly junkies, and had these "reunion" shows about as common as rent parties. Cool nonetheless, but don't be dooped. "Heartbreakers" live shows pretty much after 1984 need to be taken with a grain of salt.

L.A.M.F.

I have no idea why I bought this when it came out in 1984 or 85. Reflex, I guess. It is recorded well, but is a completely unnecessary record. There are better versions of all these songs, except maybe "Pipleline". Nothing new.

Not worth it.

When I first heard this album back in 77 as an impressionable 15 year old ABBA fan, I ripped up my clothes, tore down my glam posters and stuck a safety pin through my nose.

Johnny Moped featured on this outstanding album. Johnny Thunders of Heartbreakers did not make the cut!

With the vast number of Johnny Thunders post-mortem releases, it's hard to know which are any good. Having picked up my fair share of them already, I can honestly say that "Live At The Lyceum" is one of the best 'live' Heartbreakers albums on the market.

One thing that doesn't go wrong (but which could have) is the handling of Johnny's solo material, which sounds just as good as any of the studio releases. The recording mix sounds a bit unbalanced, but it's a lot cleaner than most, and the song selection is above par.

It might have been '84, but the album sounds as raunchy as it might have been back in '77. Although it takes a few numbers to get into their groove, the reunited band kicks it into high gear throughout the set and never looks back. Particularly the closer "So Alone" which includes a very weird recitation and blazing guitar solo by Johnny.

My CD cover art is a different photo than this one, but it's all about the music anyway. Definitely worth buying.