New York Dolls – Lookin’ Fine on Television

The actual quality of the performances captured in this 70s documentary of the legendary New York Dolls is anything but ‘fine,’ but somehow the rawness of the performances, as well as the rawness of the band members in the interview segments, is a perfect match with the music they were making. The Dolls were always a smashup of glamour and trash: it’s hard to be anything else when you’re a six-foot dude from the Staten Island like David Johansen who just happens to put on a dress, heels and a lot of makeup before he steps to the microphone to sing. The best thing about this film, shot by legendary rock photographer Bob Gruen and his wife Nadya, is that it captures The Dolls in the moment just as they were reaching the peak of the new wave they were riding and makes that moment feel as fresh as it did back then.