The Heartbreakers were formed in New York in 1975 when Richard Hell (b. Richard Meyers, 2 October 1949, Lexington, Kentucky, USA), former bass player with Television, joined forces with Johnny Thunders (b. John Anthony Genzale Jnr., 15 July 1952, New York City, New York, USA, d. 23 April 1991, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; guitar, vocals) and Jerry Nolan (b. 1946, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA, d. 14 January 1992; drums), disaffected members of the New York Dolls. The new act made one live appearance as a trio before adding Walter Lure (guitar/vocals) to the line-up. The original Heartbreakers enjoyed cult popularity, but by the following year the mercurial Hell left to found the Voidoids. Drafting in Billy Rath as his replacement, the quartet later moved to London, eager to embrace its nascent punk movement.

Listen to The Heartbreakers at Finetune.

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