In 1980 JOE MAZZARI was living in Boston with the single burning ambition of meeting JOHNNY THUNDERS. On July 3rd. of that year Joe's high school pal SIMON RITT moved up from Florida to join him in that quest. One year later, to the day, they would do just that when on July 3rd. 1981 THE DAUGHTERS opened for JOHNNY THUNDERS' COSA NOSTRA at Harpo's Jazz Club in Newport, RI. That would be just the first of dozens of show's opening for, and often performing with, Johnny.Joe and Simon had started The Daughters with New Hampshire native BILL DOUGHERTY and though not the greatest band ever they where sincere as hell. Their pathetic display of blind hero worship paid off and for the next couple of years they would be privileged to sometimes share a front row seat with New York's greatest Doll.But after a few months the constant flow of liquor, drugs and easy sex was too much for Bill. He left with what remained of his marbles, moving to rural New England where he lives happily to this day. Joe and Simon recruited yet another High School friend KEITH CHAGNON. With Keith The Daughters played with Johnny at show's from Boston to Georgia. Gig's at Gildersleeves and Irving Plaza in New York.....The Stone Pony in Asbury Park.....East Side Club in Philly.....688 Club in Atlanta....in Boston at Jumbo's, Jaspers, Storyville and Jonathan Swift's....show's at shit-hole, fire-traps that closed their doors years ago.The Daughters would eventually record with legendary producer JIMMY MILLER whom they first got to know while he was recording 'IN COLD BLOOD' with Johnny. Thankfully the demo they recorded never saw the light of day but working in the studio with 'Mr. Jimmy' was a fantastic experience.Being with Johnny meant getting to know the likes of WALTER LURE and JERRY NOLAN, two of the best and real personalities. Simon and Joe played with just Walter and Jerry a few times billing themselves as THE JERRY NOLAN BAND. And BILLY RATH who was as nefarious as he was handsome but could play the hell out of a bass guitar.The last time The Daughters opened for Johnny would be at Irving Plaza for the infamous 'Bye - Bye Johnny Thunders' show. The day after this show Johnny left for Europe where he would live in self imposed, semi-exile for the next few years. The performance has been released on DVD as 'LIVE IN COLD BLOOD'.Not long after Keith would split for the West Coast. This was the end of The Daughters. With a new drummer came a new name and TWO SAINTS was born. As Two Saints they recorded 'ARE YOU LIVING', an unreleased JOHNNY THUNDERS composition. The single, produced by HOWARD COOK and released on the EUPHORIA record label, is of course now a collectors item. Two Saints have done several tours and album releases in the U.K. They continue to this day and at last count have had 27 different members over the years.In the early 90's, while playing with rock musician GREG ALLEN, Simon would open a few times for JERRY NOLAN and SYLVAIN SYLVAIN who had a Friday night residency as THE UGLY AMERICANS at The Continental Devide in NYC. In recent times Joe Mazzari has again shared the bill with WALTER LURE who still plays all the old dope songs and who still kicks ass with his great guitar playing!Being in Johnny's wake meant lot's of adventures, laughs and occasional trouble. The Daughters could easily have sunk like a stone with out the support of manager JIM NESTOR and roadie DAVE 'MORT' MORTELLITE who worked like dogs for little more than peanuts.Another good friend from those days was JUSTINA FITZPATRICK. Justina is a great photographer and many of the pictures used in this tribute come from her extensive archives. Justina went to hundreds of HEARTBREAKERS and Johnny Thunders shows and just possibly took more pictures of them than anybody else in the world! Her web sight WWW.WHATAWAYTODIE.COM is a must for all Johnny Thunders fan's.The passing of Johnny, Jerry and most recently ARTHUR 'KILLER' KANE has left a Doll shaped hole in many of our hearts. Sadly lesser known members of that posse have fallen too. We recall with particular fondness guitarist RICHIE LUHR, drummer BILLY ROGERS and bassist DANNY HIRSH -all fine musicians and 3 of the nicest guy's you could ever hope to meet! And the profoundly brilliant FRANCOIS G. MATTHYS, a fantastic photographer who was many years ahead of his time.Having your wildest dream actually come true is a rare experience.....if you're a kid it can fuck you up. In real life Johnny was just a little guy but in effect he was a giant who cast a huge shadow. Yet amazingly both SIMON RITT and JOE MAZZARI are relatively well adjusted and remain suprisingly young looking. And both continue making music that reverberates with Johnny's influence.All are welcome to worship here at THE CHURCH OF JOHNNY THUNDERS, a strictly non-denominational faith. We hope you enjoyed this digital walk down memory lane. We are interested in hearing from those who may have photo's, recordings or stories from any of those JOHNNY THUNDERS and DAUGHTERS show's. And remember.....it's a church NOT a religion!
