New York Dolls Documentary: Arthur "Killer" Kane and His Road Back to the Dolls

The New York Dolls have repeatedly been called the world's unluckiest band. Every success was marred by disaster. Death and destruction ripped the Dolls apart before they even got started. Two landmark albums are credited with launching punk rock and the Dolls trashy style and attitude influenced every band that picked up the Aquanet with their guitar.

By the early 1990's three of the original New York Dolls had died; familiar stories of drugs and the rock and roll lifestyle claiming three more souls. Of the three remaining Dolls, David Johansen had a hit and a few movie roles as his "alter-ego" Buster Poindexter and Sylvain Sylvain released a few solo albums to little fanfare. Arthur "Killer" Kane's story isn't the typical rock and roll burnout tale.

The documentary New York Doll is a glimpse into the life of Kane and the events surrounding the New York Dolls reunion at the 2004 Meltdown Festival.

Kane spent his post-Dolls years at the bottom of a liquor bottle, waiting for his band to reunite. He hit rock bottom when his wife left him. To retaliate, he drunkenly threw himself out of the window of his third story apartment.

Surviving the fall, Kane was laid up in bed with a bible in his hand. An advertisement for a Book of Mormon caught Kane's attention. A few days later two missionaries showed up on his doorstep. Kane was able to find something he had been missing by joining the LDS church.

Kane became a devout member, working for years at the church's Family History Library in Los Angeles. He always wanted his band to get back together though. Finally, in 2004, the remaining New York Dolls accepted an invitation to reunite by longtime fan Morrissey. The film follows Kane from the back of the bus on his way to work at the library to standing on stage in front of thousands at the 2004 Meltdown festival.

The documentary includes interviews with artists like Bob Geldof, Iggy Pop and Chrissie Hynde, as well as several of Kane's friends at the library. New York Doll is incredibly touching and emotional without playing for sympathy or schmaltz. It is also a funny, engaging and simply brilliant story.

Both rock and roll and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are treated with respect. The ending won't be a surprise to Dolls fans as Kane died shortly after the band's triumphant return. Leukemia claimed his life only 22 days after his 30 year dream came true.

New York Doll is an outstanding little documentary. Worthy of your time.