Wednesday, February 14: Tig’s Rock Birthdays

Happy Birthday today (Feb. 14) to guitarist Sylvain Sylvain of the New York Dolls. He’s 67. Also celebrating is founding member of Heart, guitarist Roger Fisher (68).

Sylvain Sylvain and the New York Dolls formed out of New York City in 1971 and were one of the first bands on the early punk scene along with the Velvet Underground and the Stooges. The classic lineup consisted of Sylvain on guitar and piano with David Johansen on vocals, guitarist Johnny Thunders, bassist Arthur Kane, and drummer Jerry Nolan. They released the popular albums New York Dolls in 1973 and Too Much Too Soon in 1974. In 1995, the Encyclopedia of Popular Music called the New York Dolls “One of the most influential rock bands of the last 20 years.” The band influenced groups like the Sex Pistols, Kiss, the Ramones, The Damned, The Smiths, and Guns N’ Roses.