| In late 1973
the Dolls made their second trip to England, This time taking in five dates.
For this, as for all manoevres, there was immense publicity. "We have come
to England to redeem the social outcasts," informed Lead Mouth David Johansen,
"every one in England seems to be... homosexual."
Johansen always had a great deal to say. For a 19 year old he had a very sharp sense of wit and intelligence. "We have just conquered the USA,: he warned the British press, "I've been compared to Joe Brown and Linda Lovelace. She's a symbol of the youth of America." The press gloated on the Dolls, and took great delight in insulting them. To most, the Dolls were just arrogant fag-bait, or at least a mere novelty. "we're like Herman's Hermits, everyone's got to sneer at someone," went on David. "We are the most professional unprofessional band there ever was . We want to form our own society, a society where everyone is on common ground. Everyone is alright with us." And, as always, the Dolls' sexuality needed clarification. "Just let anyone punch us on the nose and then they'll know what we are. But we're not butch..." And there was more to be said. "One groupie burst into my hotel room and demanded to know if I took it up the ass. It's always "Am I gay' or 'Am I bisexual'. I just say I'm trisexual which means I'll try anything." Which wasn't exactly true. That the Dolls were incessant womanisers was universal knowledge. "kids are finding out that there isn't much difference between them sexually. They're finding out that the sexual terms, homosexual, bisexual, heterosexual, all those are just words in front of 'sexual'. People are just 'sexual'. They accuse me of transsexuality because I kissed Jerry, bit I love Jerry. I kiss him all the time. I love him. I think boys should kiss boys, don't you?" England was still not quite ready for the New York Dolls. On into 1974 celebrated
stories littered the music press. The Dolls had suddenly become big
business. In Japan the album had reached No.4, and and a single Jet
Boy/Vietnamese Baby had charted healthily in most European countries.
Whatever, the Dolls made good press. At one point, Arthur had his
thumb almost devoured by an over-zealous lady friend. "Just say someone
tried to kill me," mumbled the humanoid offering his annual sentence to
the press. In Memphis David was arrested during a show accused by
the police of 'female impersonation'. "But I'm not impersonating
anybody. I'm perfectly satisfied with what I am," complained David.
When confronted with his short-sighted arresting officers he asked: "would
you do this to Elvis?", to which they retorted, "We'd love to get him".
Touring on a country-wide
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basis brought with it
obstacles. Being banned from every hotel in the country was, at the
very least, inconvenient. And also, the sixty-four million dollar
question: Was the Mid-West ready for the New York Dolls? Was anybody?
"AWH, HALLO OHIO, YOW'AH JES FAAABULOUTH!" ...and this at a show headlined by Dr.Hook who came onstage to announce "Hi, we're bigger faggots than the make-up faggots!", and people began to wonder exactly why Sylvia's Mother made Sylvia leave town, and weren't those red plaid shirts a sign of sexual repression? David Bowie had caught a Dolls' appearance at Kenny's Kastaways and was inspired to write 'WATCH THAT MAN' and 'REBEL REBEL', and also to dedicate another song 'TIME' to Billy Murcia, and everybody had something to say about the Dolls.
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