This article is about the protopunk group. For information on Tom Petty's backing band, see Tom Petty.
The Heartbreakers were an American protopunk supergroup composed of Richard Hell (of Television), Jerry Nolan and Johnny Thunders (both of New York Dolls). Walter Lure was added after their first performance, and they gained an audience before Hell left for The Voidoids and was replaced by Billy Rath . They moved to London and supported the Sex Pistols on their 1976 tour. After their first single, "Chinese Rocks", (written by fellow New York City punk star Dee Dee Ramone)The Heartbreakers recorded their debut album L.A.M.F. , but Nolan disapproved of the sound and left the group. They broke up completely in 1977, but continued playing in farewell performances with Ty Stix on drums. A few recordings were released in the early 1980s, and the original line-up reunited in 1990, but Thunders died the following year.
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