1. Johnny Thunders first gained recognition as a member of the First calling himself Johnny Volume, the guitarist joined the high school band Johnny And The Jaywalkers. Then a local band called Actress, which evolved into the New York Dolls in late 1971. Genzale, now renamed Johnny Thunders, recorded two albums for Mercury Records with the Dolls. New York Dolls, a band that built a rock and roll band which help to invent the punk scene in England of mid to late 70's. After leaving the band in 1975 along with drummer Jerry Nolan, the pair formed a new band alongside ex-Television guitarist Richard Hell called the Heartbreakers. This lineup was completed with the addition of guitarist Walter Lure. Hell left the group soon afterwards to form the Voidoids, with Billy Rath replacing him.

2. Thunders and the Heartbreakers recorded prolifically for US and UK labels such as Track and Jungle Records. The group achieved greater popularity in the UK, where they were accepted by early punk-rock bands that had idolized the Dolls. Thunders earned a reputation for his shambling stage performances owing to his excesses. He also made unscheduled guest appearances with other artists. His first solo collection, So Alone, found him supported by many UK musicians, including Phil Lynott, Wilko Johnson (Dr Feelgood), John Perry and Peter Perrett ( Only Ones ), Steve Jones and Paul Cook ( Sex Pistols ), Steve Marriott ( Humble Pie / Small Faces ) and Paul Gray ( Eddie And The Hot Rods / Damned ). Thunders also recorded with ex- MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer in a group called Gang War. He also played with Sid Vicious, in the Living Dead. The Heartbreakers broke up and were re-formed numerous times, recording the last album together in 1984.

3. He played a number of gigs in London in the mid 80's. The best I saw was at the now the legendary Marquee club. Thunders resurfaced in the late 80s with an album of 50s and 60s R&B/pop cover versions recorded with singer Patti Palladin. Despite the promise of all this activity Thunders was found dead in a hotel room in New Orleans, Louisiana in mysterious circumstances in 1991. He was 38. Despite Thunder's drug dependency, the autopsy failed to reveal the cause of death although later reports cited a heroin overdose. He is buried in New York.