Peter Criss and Jerry Nolan were best friends, their relationship did not end well, but for historical purposes, I think a few blog entries detailing the link between Peter Criss of KISS and Jerry Nolan of the NEW YORK DOLLS should be recorded.
This will be the first in a series of posts detailing all available history on the historic relationship
The link between KISS and the New York Dolls needs no explanation really, the ties are numerous" Jerry Nolan one of rock's great uncredited drummers and perhaps the best pure rock n' roll, ("sorry bud, I don't do Bonham", "Let's try it again, but FASTER") drummer of all time was Peter Criss's best friend growing up, and may in large part be responsible for KISS ever existing. During his early teens, Peter Criss was in a gang, whose activities had become increasingly violent. Jerry Nolan, also a member of the gang, had been caught at home with a ruler sharpened into a prison style shank...
...I'll digress for a moment to tell you that Jerry Nolan was not only one of rock's greatest uncredited drummers, he was also one of Rock's greatest uncredited tough guys, Rock history books record some of the very few fights Jerry Nolan found himself in (Verry few because he wasn't a bully, and never went looking for trouble, but god help trouble if it found Jerry Nolan) One that springs to mind is of a Mafia guy who had gone to Max's Kansas City to see if he could bag one of those "Punk Chicks" he'd been reading about. While there, Jerry Nolan accidentally bumped into him and spilled his drink. The "Man Code" in these situations is implicit: "Always to ask the guy what he was drinking and get him another drink" This is non-negotiable, Jerry being a man did just that. But there is another part of the "Man code" which needs to be followed by he who has his drink spilled: SHUT UP AND SAY "THANKS" NO TALKING SMACK. Which is what the Guido in question began to do "Ya stoopid mudda fugga, I owughta...."
The Mafia guy thought he was:
1. A tough guy
2. Above the "MAN CODE"
The Mafia guy was very VERY WRONG (One might say he was JERY WRONG....uhh..meh)
The moment was described by those present as the transformation of a little Irish drummer into Mike Tyson.
LEFT!....(Knock out)...RIGHT! (on his way to the floor) LEFT! (just to wake him up before he hit the ground so he wouldn't hit his head)
Jerry Nolan lit up the Mafia guy like a pyromaniac in a match factory.
Jerry told the shocked waitress to give the guy his drink once he was conscious, Jerry was an Irishman's Irishman and didn't break the MAN CODE for NOBODY.
But the fun wasn't over, knowing word would get around that he had been beaten easily by one of those "Pinko Punk's" the now conscious Guido, probably saw his future in the Mafia flash before his eyes. Knowing a frontal MAN CODE APPROVED assault would just have him back doing ceiling inspection for free. Guido (as he shall now be affectionately known) completely tossed the MAN CODE out the window, (One wonders at this point how impressed the Mafia would actually be by a non-MAN CODE APPROVED attack, but for that info, you'll have to ask them yourself) Once Regaining consciousness, found himself an empty beer bottle, according to witnesses he had to break several before he had one shaped into the weapon he planned to use on our Irish hero,
Jerry was off drinking in another part of the room when Guido snuck up on him. Guido might not have been tough but by all account, he sure knew how to stab someone, who wasn't looking, in the back.
Jery BLED and BLED, then he bled some more, there was enough blood that there was no doubt an artery had been hit, one witness applied pressure to stop the blood loss while another called an ambulance if this wasn't treated soon Jerry was going to DIE,
Jerry was held up by friends as they waited for the ambulance, and by all accounts was turning blue with blood loss.
When the Ambulance arrived, just before he was taken to the hospital, was when Jerry thought it best to fulfill his MAN CODE duties, and dying or not, those duties were gonna GET DONE.
It was a mistake by Guido to hang around and admire his handy work, BIG MISTAKE...
As the medical workers approached, according to eyewitnesses (I wasn't even born yet) Jerry by the miracle of an Irishman's god, defied medical science and launched himself 20 feet to close the distance between himself and Guido..one might imagine what came next..
No, Left, right, left this time, Just one massive over-hand right-hook that connected with the right side of guido's jaw with a sickening "SPAT" the kind of SPLAT you hear when your Mom is tenderizing meat (Yes, I know....It was My Mom, tenderizing YOUR meat and the Splat was actually....seriously, your brain needs a bath)
One punch knock-out, and full right Jaw-tooth extraction, Jerry Nolan should have been a dentist.
The ambulance workers ended up taking BOTH to the hospital that night.
Guido was never heard from again, sources say the Mob found his actions that night (from the moment he didn't accept the drink and just say "Thank you, no it's all good" EMBARRASSING.
The Mafia doesn't like to be embarrassed. Embarrass them and they'll most likely do something about it. Nothing happened to Jerry Nolan, so I'll just let your imagination tell the tale of what happened to Guido.
Peter was always known as the "Tough guy" in the band, so it's clear Peter Criss of KISS learned more than Swing Drumming From The New York Dolls Jerry Nolan.
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