Johnny Thunders & Wayne Kramer

Gang War (RSD Sept 26th)


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RECORD STORE DAY 2020 RELEASE - SEPTEMBER 26TH DROP

2LP (Red & Yellow Vinyl)

Limited to 500 Copies

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The New York Dolls & MC5 guitarists collaboration! First time on vinyl; a limited edition in dark red & dark yellow coloured vinyl, on 2xLP with five bonus 'Live at Max's' tracks only previously available on bootleg.JOHNNY THUNDERS & WAYNE KRAMER'S 'GANG WAR' In 1979, JOHNNY THUNDERS, renowned Heartbreakers and New York Dolls guitarist, teamed up with WAYNE KRAMER, also legendary guitarist of Detroit's seminal MC5, to form 'GANG WAR', an alliance that lasted the best part of a year.Although Gang War released no records and without a label - at the time they were an underground act; in retrospect the collaboration is looked on as a 'rock fantasy' supergroup.These live recordings bear testimony to this unique partnership between two celebrated rock guitar icons.Gang War came about shortly after Johnny released his 'So Alone' album, and Wayne was not long out of jail after serving two years of a sentence of four for a coke bust.Arriving in Detroit with the Heartbreakers, Johnny met his teenage idol Wayne who jammed with them at the gig.Johnny stayed on, moving his family to Michigan and pledging his future to Gang War.They toured regularly and recorded a couple of demos with a view to getting a deal, but although there was great interest, after eight or nine months they split.On these recordings, both contribute lead vocals and guitars on Thunders and Dolls tracks such as London Boys, Endless Party and M.I.A.; songs familiar from Kramer and MC5 such as Ramblin' Rose and Hey Thanks, and fascinating cover versions such as These Boots Are Made For Walking and The Harder They Come.Together with the between-track repartee they also demonstrate the difference between the two – as Wayne Kramer has said: "Music is important to me and I value the honor, the opportunity, to be an important musician.Johnny, on the other hand didn't consider himself a musician.He considered himself an entertainer."

This Record Store Day item will be available to purchase in store on Saturday 26th September from 8am and remaining stock will be available to order online from 6pm on Saturday 26th September. Strictly one per customer / no pre-orders.