Editorial Reviews Johnny Thunders - Guitar, Vocals
Live at Max's Kansas City 79 [Live]
Music Review:
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Amazon.com
The Sex Pistols weren't the only golden-era punk band to flame out quickly. In fact, Live at Max's Kansas City '79 captures the Johnny Thunders- and Walter Lure-led Heartbreakers in the first of their many brief reunions, a gig that came only a year and a half after the issue of their sole studio album, L.A.M.F. This disc features prototypically exuberant and sloppy versions of most of that classic's irresistibly catchy three-chorders, along with a few other Thunders staples ("London," "Milk Me"). You can smell the magic on this important (and fun!) document of one of the period's great American bands. --Rickey Wright
About the Artist
Walter Lure - Guitar, Vocals, Remix Coordinator
Jerry Nolan - Drums
Billy Rath - Guitar (Bass), Remix Coordinator
Ty Styx - Drums
Album Description
After Johnny Thunders' Heartbreakers split in the late 70's, the group would re-group for reunion gigs from time to time (up until Thunder's death in 1991). One of their first reunions took place at N.Y.C.'s infamous Max's Kansas City in 1979, which was recorded and released soonafter. Due to the album's success, plans were arranged to record a second gig an Max's; the only problem was that it was aborted — the band blasted through a total of five tracks, before leaving the stage to the fans' bewilderment, and not returning (drug use was rampant among the Heartbreakers). What the good folks at ROIR have done is re-release the long out-of-print original Live At Max's album, with the five tracks from the planned Vol. II set tacked on as bonus tracks. The band is captured in all of their drunk-and-stoned glory, with spirited versions of all their best known tunes: "Chinese Rocks," "Can't Keep My Eyes on You," "One Track Mind" and "Milk Me" (a.k.a. "Chatterbox"). Also! present are strong tracks never officially recorded by the Heartbreakers — "So Alone," "Too Much Junkie Business" and "London" (Thunders' response to the Sex Pistols' "New York"). — Greg Prato (All Music Guide)