A chronological journey that takes you through the life of John Anthony Genzale, Junior is what awaits anyone who delves into this biography on DVD format. Setting the scene with where he was born the footage which is assembled thanks to interview footage with various relevant parties, takes the viewer on a journey through his time with the New York Dolls to his ventures with The Heartbreakers onto his solo output and all the brief and restless collaborations between.

It was so good in fact, that as it slithered under my skin leaving a feeling of sombre reflection as the credits arrived, I went rummaging in my humble collection to find the acoustic version of ‘You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory’ from his 1983 solo album ‘Hurt Me’. With song in place, I sat alone in the fresh temperatures of my humble dwelling contemplating what was and what might have been.

Official Trailer

Words like emotive, melancholy, delusional and destructive land at the forefront of the mind while watching a collection of interviews, witness statements and most prolifically, an author of the authorized biography ‘Johnny Thunders: In Cold Blood’ by Nina Antonia. Filling in gaps and providing a smooth transition to each part of the story, Antonia pops up providing a suitable “bridge” for the film to continue.

With any output emblazoned with Thunders name on it, you are going to hear about the drugs and the evident self-destruction but thankfully this Rockumentary avoids dwelling too much on those aspects. Sure, you’ll hear plenty of references and whether one person was to blame or whether he was merely a victim of the scene at the time, but the film doesn’t get too sensational or too single-minded about the rock ‘n’ roll debauchery which took place.

There’s plenty of insight into the music that was made and plenty of faces who wish to share their memories and recollections of their time alongside the guitarist and songwriter. Danny Garcia has captured a lot of different flavours and textures within this DVD by incorporating so many faces. Everyone from New York Dolls bassist and roadie Peter Jordan, Gail Higgins who is credited as the Heartbreakers Management and Frank Infante (ex-Blondie); to singer Donna Destri, photographer Bob Gruen and Leee Black Childers - the Heartbreakers Manager and Photographer, all add their contributions with a straight forward presentation. Notable inclusions also arrive in audio form thanks to the sadly missed Malcolm McLaren.

It briefly felt like Garcia was lost in the world of the New York Dolls as the film really embraces their legacy and follows various inquiries about Arthur Kane and Billy Murcia temporarily forgetting the film is essentially exploring the world of Thunders; but relinquishes focus and remains on track. Another minor quibble as a fan of W.A.S.P. is how perhaps a quick word from Blackie Lawless regarding the chaos he may have entered when very briefly replacing Thunders around 1975 might have been a benefit. But these points are only minor blemishes when you put this Rockumentary up against something as hollow as the recent Bad Company related 'The Official Authorised 40th Anniversary Documentary' DVD.

For Heartbreakers fans you get for your hard-earned money a final chance to see Billy Rath since his sad passing in August. Garcia takes the time to document the records released with Thunders onboard and with a detailed selection of samples from many of his songs throughout, you ponder over the validity of perhaps bringing out a companion as a companion. These cats don’t miss a trick as Jungle Records plan on unleashing just such a soundtrack featuring 30 rare and exclusive tracks!

Thanks to Garcia’s vigilance and air-miles over the course of 18 months, he should be rightly proud of a film which places a sensitive hand on heart and an avoidance of cliché, whilst looking at an insecure individual whose death in April, 1991 has apparently been open to speculation. If there is any doubt how Thunders passed away, yet again this film steps up with courage and respectable accounts. As a distant fan of Thunders, a person who appreciated his role in the influence of many bands thereafter, I was satisfied with the verdict that was suggested in no mean terms.

His frail figure and pale complexion plus coverage of authentic paperwork and the criticism of the New Orleans Police Department at that time, were sufficient for me to believe the real cause of death as deduced by Antonia and others during the final parts of the visual tribute to Thunders.

The ‘Extras’ include a behind the scenes, deleted scenes, trailer and two music videos for ‘All By Myself’ and ‘Alone In The Crowd’. If that’s not enough for you, then look a li’l further and you’ll notice Rock ‘n’ Roller Stevie Klasson has his ‘Looking For Johnny’ track/video included. Klasson was in the band The Oddballs who briefly backed up Thunders at one point in his career, plus a hard-working musician who played in Diamond Dogs, and had a song called ‘Fool Killer’ covered by Thunders which appears on a two disc compilation called ‘Eve Of Destruction’.

So there’s plenty for true fans of all that was Johnny Thunders without getting too bogged down in eye-catching tales of misbehaviour, although the quality on some of the music shared during the film was perhaps a little too rough? When the soundtrack is released towards the end of November, we’ll know more about the content quality. For now, we get to witness the demise of someone who came across with insecurities which became a weakness to addiction; a man who was talented with a guitar and knew how to write a song and an individual who simply wanted to be loved.

(4 **** outta 5)

Label: Jungle Records/Chip Baker Films
Release Date: 27th October

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