The Dolls were my true rock’n roll love, and the flame kept burning through the years.

I was quite in a shock when I heard about the reunion. How could it be true, how was it possible?

After years of preaching -to whom wanted to hear- that the Dolls were the ultimate in rock’n roll band, here was my chance to finally see them.

But, what about Johnny, Jerry, Billy?

This can’t be the Dolls without them…the Dolls were a band, a combination of unique individuals. No, this wouldn’t be the real NY Dolls, but I still had a smile on my face at the thought that David, Syl and Arthur where going to perform together for the first time in a few decades.

And they did it…in the UK…and it was Arthur ‘Killer’ Kane’s last stand…another Doll left for Rock’n Roll heaven, in a blaze of glory.

I wasn’t there to see him, just like I couldn’t be there on Randall Island…

But sooner or later I had to meet up with my old love, just like one looks for the first time in years at some faded photographs in a family photo-album.

Cold Friday night, black leather jacket, Dolls shirt… I’m there early. Some long time David Jo/Dolls fans are already there. I meet them each time I go see David solo.

We’re all excited… they were there the night before and it was great… I wonder how I’m going to feel.

I’m anxious… will I recognize my old rock’n roll lover?

Music and I… we went through the war together.

Two opening bands is way too many, we want the Dolls… we need them now.

Then it happens… in the blink of an eye, just like love at first sight. David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain are on stage together, and -if I’m lost in the middle of the crowd- the world around me vanishes for I can only see the two of them, just like love at first sight, as David Jo grabs the microphone “When I say I’m in Love…”

I remember Johnny Thunders, Jerry Nolan and Billy Murcia… I wishes they were here… if only they could see how much we love them… I look at Sami Yaffa, another original, this time from Hanoi Rocks, he’s doing an amazing good bass, couldn’t ask for anyone better to fill the shoes, he’s a natural, but it breaks my heart to think that Arthur Kane was still there not so long ago. 

At least he went knowing how much he was loved.

Steve Conte, Brian Delaney and Brian Koonin are all doing a great job. And David and Sylvain are joking together like two old friends who wouldn't have seen each other in a lifetime.

Are these the New York Dolls on stage, if Johnny, Jerry, Arthur and Billy aren’t here? Of course not… it’s two surviving Dolls, paying a fabulous tribute to the greatest band they ever played with. And if it’s not the real Dolls, the wild ones, it’s still the best show I’ve seen.

I remember the words of the kid I was, and still am “The New York Dolls were the best band ever”… A couple of years ago there weren’t so many people to acknowledge that. Now everybody is a Dolls fan.

It can be annoying at times, but in the end its all good… and if the reunion happened just for that then it’s worth it, because all those people who just discovered the band will buy the original albums, and they’ll buy Heartbreakers albums, Thunders solo albums, will try to get Kane LP’s, and Jerry’s solo stuff… they’ll go see people like Rick Rivets and Walter Lure whenever they perform, they’ll read, learn and spread the word… and that can only make me happy.

I’m proud of my rock’n roll true Love, I’m very proud.

That Friday night, I got that sparkle in my eyes… the one that you can see sometimes in the eyes of those old couples who have been together for so long . Sometimes they just look at a photograph, or remember an event, or have a special dinner together… and that sparkle reappears… because it was there all along. It just never goes away, like the passion of a love at first sight.

It’s that sparkle that I had in my eyes on that very special Friday night, for I fell in love again with Rock’n Roll, and it gave me an everlasting great big kiss

So, when I say I’m in love… you best believe I’m in love L.U.V.

In memory of
Billy Murcia, Johnny Thunders,
Jerry Nolan, Arthur Kane