Pegstar Presents: Sylvain Sylvain

Rudyard’s presents Pegstar Presents: Sylvain Sylvain.

Sylvain Sylvain (New York, NY)
(Sorry no official website)

Following the breakup of the New York Dolls, guitarist Sylvain Sylvain continued to work with David Johansen for a time, but also began directing his efforts to a solo career.

Prior to joining the Dolls, Sylvain had been in a band called Actress with future Dolls Johnny Thunders and Billy Murcia; when a replacement was needed for guitarist Rick Rivets, Sylvain stepped in.

After the Dolls’ breakup in 1977, Sylvain remained with Johansen for the next two years while forming a band called the Criminals, featuring keyboardist Bobby Blain, bassist Michael Page, and drummer Tony Machine. (Some Criminals material is collected on the 1985 compilation ’78 Criminals.)

Sylvain finally chose his solo career over Johansen in 1979 with the formation of the Teenage News, which featured Johansen, bandmates Johnny Rao (guitar) and Buz Verno (bass), plus Criminal Blain and drummer Lee Crystal. Sylvain recorded a self-titled debut that year, which consisted of traditional, smoothed-out, highly melodic pop/rock with a variety of influences.

Its 1981 follow-up was released under the name (and title) Syl Sylvain and the Teardrops, but like its predecessor, was a commercial failure, and Sylvain was dropped by RCA. He released an independent single in 1983 but has not been heard from since. In the late ’90s, Sylvain Sylvain pulled together several releases that included Sleep Baby Doll (1998) and In Teenage News (2000) both on Fishhead. Paper Pencil & Glue was issued on Munster in fall 2000. ~ Steve Huey

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