"April
is the cruellest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land mixing
memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain".
'TS Eliot: The Wasteland.1.The Burial of the Dead'
It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since the tragic death
of Mr Johnny Thunders, the worlds lonely planet boy. Only a short
while before, in December 1990, I'd seen Thunders play a great set
at The Marquee, with some excellent new songs and a band that did
them justice. If it's true that 'words are just dust in deserts
of sound', then if there truly was any justice in this world, every
media network across the globe would play L.A.M.F. and So Alone
back to back for 24 hours on the 23/4/91.
For anyone who has lived and loved Thunders music and had the pleasure
and privilege of seeing Thunders live over the years, especially
when Jerry Nolan was supplying the soulful backbeat, then you'll
have memories that will last forever...A smoky club, bathed in red
light, Nolan playing the drums like his life depended on it and
then Johnny, making the sign of the cross and playing the best solo
you've ever heard, with a sound and feeling that encapsulated the
very essence of Rock and Roll, 'till finally, with perspiration
dripping down your leather trousers, mascara running and black back-combed
hair collapsing around your shoulders, and then, almost at the point
of sensory overload, Johnny plays Born to Lose...life doesn't get
any better than that.
With love and Respect
Steve
Pegrum
April
2001
