Story Line
This 72 minute documentary, Johnny Thunders – King of New York York Punk, features legendary musician/singer/songwriter Johnny Thunders. Known to punk rock aficionados worldwide, Thunders (1954-92) personified a unique time and place in the gritty downtown underground of New York City in the 1970’s and 80’s . Filled with poverty, homelessness, drugs and crime, this dangerous environment fomented and fostered a creative bombshell, and Thunders was very much one of the flame throwers.
Born in Bayside, Queens, Thunders (John Genzale) emerged at 17 years old from his blue-collar background to become emblematic of a new kind of anti-hero, an impoverished, drug addled bard of the New York underground art and music scene. He formed the New York Dolls with David Johansson, Sylvain Sylvain and others, performing and doing the most riotous acts with music, costumes and more, in clubs such as CBGB’s, Max’s Kansas City, Irving Plaza and others. He later went on to create his own band called The Heartbreakers, touring worldwide and memorializing performances that live today as singular in every way.
This documentary focuses on a side of Thunders rarely seen, a more nuanced portrayal of an enigmatic man who loved music more than life. He wrote songs that came directly from his erratic life and heart. Using footage shot in Paul Tschinkel’s art studio on Greene Street in Soho in 1982, Tschinkel captures the soulful, creative and sensitive side of Thunders, rarely seen, as he performs some of his most memorable songs. Singing late into the night (2:30 AM) in an unannounced visit to the studio, Thunder’s soul comes through clearly. Interviews feature former band members and other New York creatives, such as Hilly Crystal (owner of CBGB’s), Marcia Resnick (artist and photographer), Luigi Scorcia (band member), Leee Black Childers (rock and roll manager/photographer), Walter Lure (band member), Allison Gordy (band member), and others who loved and admired him over the years. Each interview contributes to this unique portrait of a man very few knew intimately, but were nevertheless deeply influenced by artistically . Footage was shot by Paul Tschinkel at Max’s Kansas City, CBGB’s, Irving Plaza, and of course, Tschinkel’s own studio in SOHO. This film was made for Johnny and legions of his fans by Paul Tschinke.
