On this day in 1972 Billy Murcia died.

Murcia was the drummer with The New York Dolls when they were starting to make their name in New York and London. On a trip to London in 1972 he retired to his hotel room with 2 female friends, lots of alcohol and some mandrax. To help him revive his friends put him in a full bath and poured coffee down his throat. The result? He suffocated and drowned. This was just before they were offered their first record deal.

The New York Dolls were known for their glam rock image voted both the best and worst group by Creem magazine readers in 1973. Derided and lauded in equal measure their first fanzine was edited by Morrisey. Of them Morrisey said “Some bands grab you and they never let you go and, no matter what they do, they can never let you down… the Dolls were that for me.”

Although remembered by many for their glam image and still derided as a poor man’s Stones the Dolls had some surprising (to some) influences. Think rock with wit, celebrating the kitsch in life, but with malevolence. At various times they covered songs by Sonny Boy Williamson, Otis Reading, Gary Bonds, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, and Shangri-Las.