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In the late 1970s, I worked for CMJ (College Media Journal). The CMJ New Music Seminar was held annually in NYC. There was an upcoming panel discussion, in which David Johansen would be participating. I had the job of briefing him on what would be discussed.

When I knocked on his hotel room door, I heard a familiar sound. It was the voice of Bugs Bunny and his co-stars! David opened the door with a big smile. Before I could introduce myself, he began reciting every line to the cartoon. The episode was one of my favorites – Water, Water, Every Hare in which Bugs (in his sleep) is swept away into the castle of an evil scientist.

It was a no-brainer for me to recite the lines of the other characters. It was hysterically funny to hear David recite Bugs’ lines, as he gave the big red monster a dynamite permanent. The rabbit’s Bronx/Brooklyn accent was not much different than David‘s own (from Staten Island). It was a perfect match, and David’s version of Bugs was much more camp! His facial expressions were insanely funny!

After a commercial beak, during which we talked for a bit, another Bugs Bunny cartoon came on – another favorite – Racketeer Rabbit. David recited the lines of all the gangsters, patterned after Edward G. Robinson and Peter Lorre. “It’s curtains for you Mugsy!” It reminded me of the New York Dolls video, Lipstick Killers (shown before their concert in 1974) with The Dolls suited up (with fedoras), smoking cigars and brandishing (toy) machine guns and lipstick.

Watch here…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBCWbhvHFNs

So, in the end, all those afternoons of watching after-school cartoons afforded me this wonderful, priceless memory of a guy who gave me so much joy with his music – with and without the Dolls. I am so sad that he is gone. He was a real character!

 

 

Also see:

MY STORY:

Remembering The New York Dolls with L-U-V

The St. Valentines Day Massacre

By Madeline Bocaro ©

https://madelinex.com/2018/07/27/newyorkdollslive/

AND

The New York Dolls Live, April 28,2005

MY CONCERT REVIEW:

https://madelinex.com/2005/04/22/new-york-dolls-live-in-nyc-april-2005/

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