Dead Boys

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John Belushi & Jerry Nolan Join DEAD BOYS for Special Night at CBGBs

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 21, 2025
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With the Dead Boys’ first all-new album in over 40 years drawing closer every day, Cleopatra Records continue preparing for its release with the latest in a series of deep dives inside the Cleveland punks’ archive… the night that the Dead Boys became, for one show only, the Dead Dolls.

With regular drummer Johnny Blitz hospitalized following a murderous street attack, and in desperate need of funds for his medical costs, guitarist Cheetah Chrome conceived a benefit show at the band’s regular hang-out, CBGBs.

Swiftly, one concert became a full weekend, as the great and good of the New York punk scene turned out to perform. Blondie, Suicide, the Ramones, the Dictators, Sic Fucks, the Erasers, James Chance and the Contortions, the Student Teachers, the Fleshtones, the Mumps, Helen Robbins, Shrapnel, the Dots, the Rudies, the Senders and Divine and the Neon Women all stepped forward.

Even more excitingly, Blitz’s place at the drum kit was filled not only by New York Doll Jerry Nolan, but also Saturday Night Live regular John Belushi, a long time friend of the band’s.

“He was really concerned about Blitz,” recalls Cheetah.  “In fact. the doctor who worked on Blitz was one of Belushi’s.”  He was also, the guitarist continues, “into really good meat and potatoes, like a blues drummer.  He was high on the blues from Chicago. He had a studio in his basement, with a full kit set up. We used to go down there and bang around.

“He could hold a beat very well, he was very straightforward. For a blues drummer, he was good.”

The Dead Boys’ set tonight was split almost equally between their own material and, in tribute to Nolan’s past, the Dolls’.

“Me and Blitz grew up on the Dolls,” says Cheetah. “We played a lot of Dolls music while we were fucking around at rehearsals, and the Dead Boys did as well, just jamming on them.

“It was a labor of love.  We were rehearsing with Jerry the week before the show, and I remember I was really looking forward to doing the Dolls stuff.”

Even Dolls vocalist David Johansen’s love of the harmonica did not prove an obstacle. Dead Boys frontman Stiv Bators, says Cheetah, could already sing anything. It turned out he could play anything as well, or at least make it look that way.

“He would do the harmonica parts with his hands. Like on ‘Pills,’ he didn’t have a harmonica to play.  He’d just put his hands up to his mouth and make the noise, and it sounded just like the real thing.”

Night of the Living Dead Boys is released on both CD and green and black spattered vinyl.

Track listing

  1. Looking For A Kiss
  2. Bad Girl
  3. Tell Me
  4. All This And More
  5. Trash
  6. Calling On You
  7. Pills
  8. I Need Lunch
  9. (There’s Gonna Be a) Showdown
  10. Sonic Reducer
  11. Hey Little Girl
  12. Hard Headed Woman
  13. It’s All Over Now

Night of the Living Dead Boys is the sixth installment of Cleopatra’s Dead Boys archive collection, following on from the out-takes and live Ignorance In Action (The Rarities), the 1977 concert recording  Live in San Francisco, the Halloween 1986 reunion show Return of the Living Dead Boys, the out-takes collection Younger, Louder And Snottyer and the lost sessions collection Third Generation Nation.

DEAD BOYS Guitarist And Co-Founder Cheetah Chrome Clears The Air

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 4, 2024
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Following a whirlwind week of anger, misinformation, speculation and misunderstandings surrounding the forthcoming Dead Boys album, guitarist and co-founder Cheetah Chrome is setting the record straight in an exclusive interview with PunkNews.org.

The new, yet-to-be-titled album, recorded alongside longtime friends and punk legends Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols), Clem Burke (Blondie), and James Williamson (the Stooges), has sparked a storm of controversy. At the center of the debate is the claim by a former touring band member that the album employs artificial intelligence (A.I.) to “bring back” the band’s iconic frontman Stiv Bators.

But, as Cheetah explains, “All I wanted to do was celebrate the days of CBGBs—when punk was punk.”

In his conversation with PunkNews publisher John Gentile, Cheetah addressed the issue head-on, stating:

“The time to stop A.I. was back in 1990! Nobody should have ever bought a cellphone. It’s been a component in society for like 30 years! You can adapt and use it in legitimate ways.”

And that’s exactly what Cheetah has done. He revealed the story behind the album’s use of technology:

“We [found] a song called ‘You Don’t Really Love Me.’ It’s Stiv’s last full song that sounds like a performance. It sounds like it’s a record. After that, there’s nothing. We used A.I. to restore Stiv’s vocals. We didn’t cut or paste or edit it. We only used A.I. to restore it and put it in the mix so you can hear it.

“I don’t want to just fake someone’s performance. I can’t have that.”

The integration of A.I. on this album has sparked comparisons to other groundbreaking moments in music history, such as the Mellotron replacing orchestras, the advent of sampling, and the rise of digital recording. As Cleopatra Records founder Brian Perera puts it:

“The Dead Boys should be celebrated for making history as the first punk act to embrace A.I. Just like punk thrived on pissing off grown-ups, this move challenges the status quo.

“This isn’t about replacing the past—it’s about preserving it. It’s about honoring the chaotic, untamed legacy of a frontman who defined an era. For a band like the Dead Boys, who thrived on pushing boundaries, this is the ultimate act of rebellion. They’re using A.I. to do what punk has always done best: make people uncomfortable, start conversations, and create something unforgettable.

“When people are mad, it means you’re onto something. When they say, ‘That’s not real music,’ it means you’re pushing boundaries. That’s the spirit of rock ’n’ roll. That’s the ethos of punk—and it’s exactly what the Dead Boys have always believed. If you’re not making people uncomfortable, you’re not doing it right.”

And the Dead Boys? They’ve always done it right.

The band’s new album, scheduled for release in 2025, will crown a series of acclaimed archival releases showcasing their fiery legacy during 1977-78. These include electrifying live recordings from CBGBs in New York (the legendary “Dead Dolls” show) and San Francisco, as well as early sessions for their second LP, We Have Come For Your Children, and more.

CHECK OUT THE DEAD BOYS HERE

Adding to the excitement, Cheetah Chrome has teamed up with modern punk icons 69 Eyes for a blistering new rendition of the Dead Boys’ classic anthem “Sonic Reducer,” available now on 7-inch vinyl and all streaming platforms.

Cleopatra Records Announces All-Star DEAD BOYS Album, Feat. Rock Legends & Groundbreaking Collaboration

Posted by tarjavirmakari on November 26, 2024
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Cleopatra Records is thrilled to announce an extraordinary new project celebrating the legacy of the Dead Boys with an all-star lineup and a groundbreaking approach to their unmistakable sound. 

The original Dead Boys cut just two albums throughout their short, fiery lifetime, the aptly titled Young, Loud and Snotty and the equally uncompromising We Have Come For Your Children.  Now founding guitarist Cheetah Chrome leads an all-star line up of past friends and fans into their third – still untitled, but you can expect something no less provocative than its predecessors.

Set for release in 2025, this startling new album features Cheetah on guitar and vocals, Clem Burke (Blondie) on drums, and Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols) on bass, along with guest performances from James Williamson (The Stooges) and Michael Monroe (Hanoi Rocks).

In addition, the production features never-before-heard demos and early recordings taken from producer Kirk Yano’s pioneering 8-track studio in Cleveland. 

The Dead Boys were one of the first bands to record there, in 1977-78, and select tracks on the new album seamlessly blend Stiv’s distinctive voice with new elements, creating a sonic experience that feels both nostalgic and fresh. Cheetah Chrome’s vocals are artfully “dusted” with Stiv’s iconic presence, ensuring the new material retains the raw, visceral energy that defined the Dead Boys’ sound.

This innovative approach celebrates the band’s history while boldly reimagining their future. The album follows recent Dead Boys releases featuring collaborations with The 69 Eyes and Cherie Currie (The Runaways), further cementing the band’s relevance across generations.

What’s Next for the Dead Boys: New Music, Tours, and a Search for a Vocalist

Fans can expect new tour dates and music videos in Spring 2025 as the band prepares to return to the stage. To enhance their electrifying live performances, the Dead Boys are actively seeking a professional vocalist to join them for future shows. This is a rare chance for a dynamic and talented singer to contribute to the next chapter of punk rock history.

Stay tuned for additional announcements as the Dead Boys continue to honor their punk rock roots while embracing bold, innovative directions.

Punk Icons DEAD BOYS Recorded “Live in San Francisco” in 1977, Gets Now First Ever Official Release

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 29, 2024
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From New York out of Cleveland, the Dead Boys were the most incendiary of Manhattan’s first wave punk bands. 

Louder than the Ramones, faster than Patti Smith, more feral than Television, and fronted by Stiv Bators, an unholy cross between Iggy Pop, David Johansen and all the Sex Pistols put together, the Dead Boys were also responsible for one of the all-defining anthems of the CBGBs era, “Sonic Reducer.”  Not to mention two full albums that remain untouchable in terms of punk’s finest.

And if they were monstrous on record, they were almost brutal on stage. Touring relentlessly, the Dead Boys were a seething, dizzying blur of dynamic action and brain-charring volume that left audiences wilting and music critics gaping, powering through a repertoire that simply dripped with future classics… “Caught with the Meat In Your Mouth,” “Flame Thrower Love,” “Down in Flames” – they even immortalized one of New York City’s most feared serial killers, the Son of Sam, even as his reign of terror unfolded.

Another Dead Boys classic, “What Love Is” is out as the band’s latest single.

SINGLE: https://orcd.co/deadboys_whatloveislivesanfrancisco

All these and more (to paraphrase the title of yet another Dead Boys masterpiece) are included on Live in San Francisco, a raw, verité recording of the band’s legendary November 1977 appearance at that city’s historic Old Waldorf – a gig later immortalized as one of the crucial landmarks in local punk rock lore.

Approved by guitarist Cheetah Chrome, this is the first ever official release of this wild and thrilling recording, an unforgettable firestorm that captures every drop of sweat, fleck of spittle and burst of crazed energy that made Dead Boys the kings of American punk rock!

And it wraps up with the Dead Boys’ signature slam through the Stooges’ “Search and Destroy,” a version that makes even the original sound tame.

CD/VINYL: https://cleorecs.com/search?q=dead+boys+live+in+san+francisco
DIGITAL: https://orcd.co/deadboys_liveinsanfrancisco

Track listing

  1. Sonic Reducer 
  2. All This And More 
  3. Caught With The Meat In Your Mouth 
  4. I Won’t Look Back 
  5. Not Anymore 
  6. What Love Is 
  7. Flame Thrower Love 
  8. Son Of Sam 
  9. Down In Flames 
  10. Search And Destroy

In addition to this fantastic live album release, Ignorance In Action (The Rarities)  is a treasure trove of Dead Boys rarities, including previously unreleased vintage demo sessions and live recordings; the rare 1987 reunion 12″ single; plus sessions from Kirk Yano’s After Dark studio in Cleveland from 1978!

Ignorance In Action CD/VINYL: https://cleorecs.com/search?q=dead+boys+ignorance+in+action
Ignorance In Action DIGITAL: https://orcd.co/q0dvqer

Online, meanwhile, you can also thrill to 69 Eyes’ stormy cover of “Sonic Reducer,” featuring a still turbulent Cheetah Chrome.

And stay tuned for more Dead Boys soon!

THE 69 EYES Team Up with DEAD BOYS for Fist-Pumping Rendition of DB Classic ‘Sonic Reducer’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on September 30, 2024
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Sparks fly and speakers explode when these two musical Behemoths recreate this foundational song of the early punk movement that has been covered by everyone from Guns N’ Roses to Pearl Jam to Foetus!

Written by guitarist Cheetah Chrome and Pere Ubu’s David Thomas, during their earlier tenure with Cleveland legends Rocket From The Tombs, “Sonic Reducer” was first recorded by Chrome’s next band, punk icons The Dead Boys in 1977, for both their debut single and their first album, Young, Loud and Snotty.

Immediately it was hailed one of the definitive New York punk anthems, its incendiary roar only further enflamed by one of the essential NY punk guitar riffs, unleashed by Chrome himself.

“Cheetah Chrome is literally the Last Man Standing,” raves The 69 Eyes’ Jyrki 69.  “A rock’n’roll guitar legend with a recognizable and unique sound that has influenced all the new generations of guitarists. From Scotty Moore to Jimi Hendrix to Wayne Kramer to Ron Asheton, the next link is Cheetah Chrome who still performs and records with the same sound like he is known for.

Neither did this collaboration come about purely by chance. As Jyrki continues, “I used to run into Cheetah in the late 80’s in the New York scene. He was and is a true legend.”  And when The 69 Eyes first came together in 1989, “‘Sonic Reducer’ was one of the first songs we rehearsed to play. God bless Cheetah Chrome!”

This tumultuous collaboration is available both digitally and on 7-inch vinyl, where it is backed with The 69 Eyes’ brilliant cover of The Cramps’ “Aloha From Hell!.” Producer Cameron Webb (Motörhead/Pennywise) discusses the recording session here – (part 1) https://youtu.be/b9yo-uUdnBc (part 2) https://youtu.be/_4SkqH1HHAY.

And, if that wasn’t enough 69 Eyes excitement, the band are about to launch a short Central American tour.

OCT 4 – Monterrey, MX – Cafe Iguana
OCT 5 – San Luis Potosi, MX – Club Deportivo 2000
OCT 6 – Guadalajara, MX – Foro Independencia
OCT 7 – Mexico City, MX – Circo Volador