The New York Dolls will release their first-ever live album, Morrissey Presents: The Return of the New York Dolls -- Live From Royal Festival Hall, 2004, on September 28th. The CD and accompanying DVD were recorded at the band's June show at the London venue as part of the Meltdown Festival.

Rabid Dolls fan, and this year's Meltdown curator, Morrissey urged the legendary Seventies glam rockers to reunite after twenty-four years apart, and his Attack Records will release the album.

"It was just a moment of weakness that I said yes," says singer David Johansen. "And I'm glad I did."

The CD will consist exclusively of Dolls songs, while the DVD will feature such covers as Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart," the Shangri-Las' "Out in the Streets" and Memphis Minnie's "In My Girlish Days."

Sadly, The Return of the New York Dolls will be the last appearance on record by bassist Arthur "Killer" Kane, who passed away unexpectedly from leukemia on July 13th. "He was such a genius guy -- really loving, and he had this intelligence that was indescribable," Johansen says. "I was really looking forward to spending more time with him."

Lone surviving members Johansen and guitarist Syl Sylvain may even bring the Dolls back into the studio. "I'm feeling that we'll try and bang out a record this winter," Johansen says, "and then hit all the festivals next summer."

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES The 10 Best Zombie Movie Scenes
• 
  TV The Most WTF? Moments of 'Mad Men'
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories