Formed in ‘71, the band New York Dolls were forerunners of the punk scene along with T. Rex, the Velvet Underground and Iggy Pop and the Stooges. By ‘74, the Dolls had released two albums, one self-titled, the other called, Too Much Too Soon. At the time, their line-up consisted of David Johansen on vocals, Johnny Thunders on lead guitar, Arthur Kane on bass, Sylvain Sylvain on guitar and keys and drummer Jerry Nolan. 

I had no idea I’d have more than one connection to the Dolls, and in particular a destiny with David Johansen. And it all started while I was still in high school at my friend Debbie’s house. Debbie was a huge music fan and record collector. She introduced me to Alice Cooper, Mott the Hoople, Genesis, New York Dolls and more. At Debbie’s house, I was an unofficial student of rock.

“Can you believe this?” Deb asked as we gazed in amazement, jaws dropped, at the cover of the first Doll’s LP. There they were; all decked out in heavy make-up, shag haircuts, high heels and women’s clothes. We thought they were outrageous. We couldn’t stop staring. We were in shock. How dare they! 

To make things even more exciting, the Dolls were coming to a neighboring town to play at a local bar. Of course, we went to the show. While singing the line “trash, don’t pick it up, don’t throw your life away,” Johansen flipped a nickel into the audience that I happened to catch. Little did we know how prophetic that exchange would be.

I moved to NYC in the fall of ’75 and by ’78 formed my first rock band, Comateens; a band invited to contribute to a compilation album produced by Blondie’s Jimi Destri. Coincidentally, the Dolls played their final show at Max’s Kansas City in ‘76 with Blondie. Comateens would regularly play at Max’s. The Destri produced album, Marty Thau Presents 2 x 5 (two songs by five different bands), was funded by Thau who had at one time or another managed the MC-5, Iggy Pop and the New York Dolls. The 2 x 5 LP was released in 1980. 

Meanwhile, during the early ‘80’s, Johansen released a string of solo albums that culminated in the manifestation for him of a wholly new persona far flung from the Dolls. This unique personage, Buster Poindexter, wore a bow tie, tails and neatly waxed hair. Around the same time, Comateens had ended and I was finding a new me as Fly in the all-girl group, Venus Fly Trap.

Somehow Buster got wind of Venus Fly Trap and invited us to not only warm-up for him but also to join him on stage as his back-up singers. 

“Who’s the new broad?” he asked when he first laid eyes on me. (I believe a 1950’s sailor’s vernacular was part of Buster’s act. In fact, Buster referred to us as ‘you’s broads’ so often I wondered for the longest time if he even knew our names). For the next two years, Venus Fly Trap performed weekly with Buster at Tramps, a nightclub on 15th Street. 

One of the best things about working with a rock legend such as Johansen was the moves he taught back stage; steps he expected us girls to mimic during the show. One of them involved crouching down and then walking with exaggerated pointed toes and one’s butt stuck out as far as it could go. It was my favorite move that nowadays would put my back out.

“I caught the nickel in some Jersey dive when I was only sixteen,” I told Johansen one night. His hearty laugh said it all. He knew exactly what I was talking about and the fact that he now paid me to sing didn’t go unnoticed. He put his arm around my shoulders and drew me close as we walked on stage to sing “Hot, Hot, Hot” and many other Poindexter favorites.

RAMONA JAN is the Founder and Director of Yarnslingers, a storytelling group that tells tales both fantastic and true. She is also the roving historian for Callicoon, NY and is often seen giving tours around town. You can email her at callicoonwalkingtours@gmail.com.