Many drummers come and go. Jerry Nolan was my dearest and closest friend in
the whole wide world we grew up together as kids to grown ups, all though we
never grew up. Jerry started playing a few years ahead of me. He had this
beautiful set of red sparkle Ludwig's. I had a snare drum that didn't work and a
pair of sticks. He showed me a couple of beats to work on, than I got my set. He
was lefty, I am right handed, at this time I couldn't afford a floor tom tom
(16) So we would share it when we played together. A lot about Jerry and me is
in my book. The only way Jerry played was with "BALLS," when he would finish
playing a set you could ring him out, like a wet mop. He played all from the
heart. Jerry was a give it all you got every song guy. All the way. He was solid
as a rock. He was the original drummer for "The New York Dolls." He was ahead of
his times. He played a pink set of drums "Hot Pink," He was always a star. I
could go on and on, and I do in my book. The New York Dolls started "Glam Rock"
and "Punk." They were ahead of there times, All us NY bands loved them, and a
lot of us emulated them, including "KISS." We even opened for them one time.
There will never be another Jerry Nolan. He died of spinalminagitus at 42.
There's not a day goes by I don't miss him. His star is the shiniest, I miss
you, My friend. If you can get any music or old videos of the dolls, get it! If
you play from the heart, you've missed one of the greats.
God Bless - The CatMan
