This is a preview of Disgraceland episode 76, the New York Dolls. To hear this week's episode, for free, visit amazon.com/disgraceland.

The New York Dolls were one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll bands of all time. They came to life when their hometown of New York City was coming apart at the seams in the midst of rising murder, rape and burglary rates. Their drummer drowned. Their bassist was nearly murdered. Their guitar players despised their singer and the only thing their singer loved more than Archie Bell was himself. This of course was all part of the act. The self-destruction, the violence, the intra-band squabbling, but it was of course also part of the band’s reality. They were too pure to last. They were born to lose.

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