The New York Dolls

It was an infamous night in Rock and Roll History when the edgy New York City punk band when met the perfected London Glam Rock scene.

They were notorious for donning dainty women’s blouses and dangerously high stacked platform heels. In carefree elaborate skillfully applied make up and an occasional tutu with juxtaposition to the gritty developing New York City punk scene. Their silky antique clothing often left in ripped sheets of fabric from stage performances of animated fast paced music and choreography.

With their booming sound they were like a freight train of lace, often mended with safety pins, pushing forth another trend with the repairs.

The Biba Rainbow Room crowd was receptive and prepared with a stocked supply of Biba house wine in the glamorous art nouveau atmosphere sprawling with fragility and luxury. Notably this was not a typical venue for a New York Dolls show, the evident fact was part of the appeal of the evening.

They entered the room lurching to the stage for their frantic set clad in long pink Biba feather boas. The boas proven to be a casualty with rowdy stage antics leaving pink feathers flying everywhere after being stomped on. The vibe was different for the typical Biba crowd.

According to spectators the band was intoxicated from the rumored 40 bottles of champagne they requested for themselves in honor of the event. They also rumored to have rummaged through the store taking whatever they wanted for complete stage costume. Days after the event video of the band’s appearance on the Grey Whistle Test confirms the band in iconic unmistakable Biba garments. David Johansen is clearly wearing a 1968 Biba polka dot blouse and Arthur Kane in his signature Biba coat with leopard trimmed cuffs and collar.

These New York Dolls performances marked a important shift in the change of culture of the upcoming years with the punk movement strong hold on the end of the 1970s.