New York Dolls regroups for more rock 'n' roll

Anyone who loves Motley Crue should know that a line runs between that band and the short-lived, early-'70s New York Dolls.

The Dolls never broke big, but they signaled the modern era.

No other modern American rock band -- not the controversial Stooges or the Velvet Underground -- influenced the look, sound and attitude of punk rock and big-haired glam metal as much as the Dolls.

Search out the Bob Gruen and Nadya Beck documentary "All Dolled Up," culled from 16mm black-and-white film footage from the band's heyday.

Singer David Johansen, who along with Rudy Martinez of ? and the Mysterians was the closest thing to Mick Jagger the States ever produced, epitomized the teased hair, platform shoes and lipstick-wearing juvenile-delinquent band.

The New York Dolls (today led by surviving members Johansen and guitarist Sylvain Sylvain) will hit the stage at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs on Saturday, opening for Motley Crue and Poison.

The New York Dolls are promoting the new album "Dancing Backwards in High Heels."

"Dancing Backwards in High Heels" is a fun homage to the girl groups, soul and doo-wop records the band loved.

The material came out of a three-night residency at a small nightclub, "and we just started writing songs."

Though Johansen acknowledged having some trepidation about getting the Dolls back together, listening to the music changed that.