Gerard “Jerry” Nolan (May 7, 1946 – January 14, 1992) It didn’t matter what they made him wear, as long as he got to drum for the Dolls and hang with his friend Johnny he was happy. By all accounts, a pretty happy-go-lucky guy, Jerry was a tough as shit street kid who (long story short) joined the New York Dolls in 1972 after the death of original drummer Billy Murcia. Always looking a bit non-plussed in his teased hair and tiny Doll clothes (though nowhere near as out of place as Arthur “Killer” Kane), Jerry could drum like a house on fire.
Nolan would leave the Dolls in 1975 along w/ Johnny Thunders to form the Heartbreakers (not the Tom Petty version), move to England and embark on the infamous Anarchy in the UK tour along w/ the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. It was Jerry and Johnny who introduced heroin to the UK punk scene causing untold problems with among others, poor stupid Sid Vicious. Jerry would quit the Heartbreakers in 77′ and kick around England for a few years playing w/ various punk outfits, eventually landing in Sweden for awhile before moving back to New York in the late 80’s. After years of heroin addiction Jerry would die of Bacterial Meningitis coupled with a stroke, in 1992, only 2 months after his buddy Johnny’s death in New Orleans. He is buried at Mount Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Flushing NY.
1973 – Jerry middle right (w/ scarf) Photo by Bob Gruen
Pink drum kit and a girls shirt
Outtake from self titled first LP
New York Dolls 1974 (Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage)
Jerry arriving in LA
The Heartbreakers – Billy Rath, Walter Lure, Jerry & Johnny Thunders
It’s good to know who you are
Young Jerry
Young Jerry w/ childhood friend Peter Chris (KISS)
Jerry’s Swedish single
Johnny and Jerry
Backing Sid w/ Killer Kane
Johnny and Jerry looking healthy
With Sid and Nancy
