If Poppa BamBam likes an artist, you know they’re good! I’m a huge fan and even modeled my band, Scarlet Fever, after him. Johnny Thunders is more than just a name; he’s a spirit. He was a flame that burned bright and left a mark on rock and roll. You can’t call yourself a musician or a music fan without mentioning Johnny.
Johnny wasn’t polished or packaged. He was all attitude, strumming out gritty riffs like he was pouring out his heart. With the New York Dolls, he helped ignite the glam punk scene, bringing chaos and style that felt like a glitterbombed gang from another planet. They didn’t just make music; they created a movement. The Dolls set the stage for punk before anyone even knew what to call it.
But Johnny’s magic didn’t stop with the Dolls. His solo work, especially “So Alone,” was raw and beautiful. Songs like “You Can’t Put Your Arms Around a Memory” reveal the vulnerability behind his tough exterior. He wore his pain proudly, and for many of us in bands chasing authenticity, that means everything. Even artists like John Waite reference “Memory” in their songs.
Johnny Thunders was the ultimate outsider—too punk for glam, too glam for punk, and too real for the mainstream. He influenced everyone from the Sex Pistols to Guns N’ Roses. He never sold out and lived life on his own terms. Today, Johnny is remembered for his music and his raw honesty. He’s a street poet, a punk godfather, and a glam wrecking ball. He inspires every kid who picks up a guitar to be honest, not perfect.
So many bands, including mine, were born from his fire. Every time we play, Johnny’s spirit is there, loud and electric. He truly was one of the best. Xoxoxo BamBam
