So, just yesterday, February 28th, 2023, Cleopatra Records posted a bunch of videos on YouTube advertising a new Johnny Thunders release called “Finally Alone: The Sticks and Stones Tapes,” with a release date of March 1st, 2023
The moment when the New York Dolls hit the Big Apple’s teeming music scene in 1971/72 has been immortalized not only by filmmakers and music historians but also in the hearts and minds of every garage/punk rock music fan. For good reason too, the moment crystallized a monumental shift in American music, and proclaimed the rise of a young, charismatic guitarist/performer/songwriter whose impact would extend throughout the next two decades to come. His name was Johnny Thunders and a brand new CD box set, entitled “From The Beginning To The End”, chronicles his career, first his early rise to power with the pre-Dolls project Actress through a late ‘70s solo gig at Max’s Kansas City to his final recordings made just prior to his untimely death in 1991.
The real gem of the box set is the final disc, which features several ultra rare demo recordings that legions of Thunders’ collectors have prized for years. In his final days, as the years of hard and wild living had started to catch up, a cash-strapped Thunders made a deal with his then manager Jeff Grabow to whom Thunders was indebted. In exchange for money owed, Thunders gave Grabow a set of tapes that would constitute the final recorded output of one of rock music’s generational talents. Now, these recordings have been collected on “Finally Alone: The Sticks & Stones Tapes”, a title that nods towards Thunders’ first solo album “So Alone”, and made available in the box set..
Monster 3CD set of electrifying live performances and astonishing rare tracks from famed New York Doll founder and main Heartbreaker forever, the one and only Johnny Thunders!. The Heartbreakers, also known as Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers an American punk rock band, formed in New York City in May, 1975. The band spearheaded the first wave of punk rock.
This set includes some of Thunders’ very first recorded performances, with the Dolls predecessor, Actress, as well as some of his final recordings made shortly before his death in 1991!. Also includes several ultra rare demo recordings that legions of Thunders’ collectors have prized for years!
Each disc comes packaged in its own sleeve and a gorgeous full-colour 28-page booklet with loads of photos and liner notes by music journalist Dave Thompson!
Monster 3CD set of electrifying live performances and astonishing rare tracks from famed NY Doll founder and main Heartbreaker forever, the one and only Johnny Thunders!. This set includes some of Thunders’ very first recorded performances, with the Dolls predecessor, Actress, as well as some of his final recordings made shortly before his death in 1991!
The question is, with the exception of a new cover photo and slightly different title, whether this new release will be the same as the “Sticks and Stones” album first released in 1993, and most recently re-released by Cleopatra in 2018 as a double vinyl disc.
Cleopatra Records Released on: 1st March
The Fat Angel Sings 