• AOL
  • MAIL
    • You might also like: 
    • Music | 
    • Movies | 
    • TV | 
    • Celebrity
    •  and More
    • Main
    • News
    • Features
      • The Hit List
      • Spinner Interview
      • Potent Quotables
      • Guest Blogger
    • Songs
      • MP3 of the Day
      • Listening Party
      • What's That Song?
    • Videos
      • The Interface
      • Sessions
      • Video of the Day
    • Our Widgets
      • iPhone App
      • Radio Toolbar
    • Send Feedback

    Spinner Exclusives

    • The Interface - Live Performances
    • Listening Parties - New CDS for Free
    • Spinner Radio
    • Listening Parties - New CDS for Free

    Features

    • Bad Song, Good Band
    • Bands With Brothers
    • Banned Bands
    • Outrageous Tribute Bands
    • Sad Songs
    • Worst Lyrics Ever

    All Categories

    • Spinner Says(7)
    • All About Jazz(26)
    • Clash of the Cover Art(1)
    • Lyrics(4)
    • Music A-Z(24)
    • New Releases(53)
    • Quizzes & Trivia(2)
    • Album(110)
    • Around the World(147)
    • Book Club(57)
    • Canada(318)
    • Celebrity Doppelganger(13)
    • Clash of the Cover Songs(45)
    • Coming Out Stories(20)
    • Concerts and Tours(1664)
    • Count Five(63)
    • Country(45)
    • Electronic(274)
    • Exclusive(2432)
    • Free MP3 Download of the Day(898)
    • Grammy Awards(87)
    • Guest Blogger(61)
    • Holy Hell(644)
    • I Fought the Law(31)
    • I Freakin' Love This Song(238)
    • Jazz(16)
    • Laugh, Rage, Cry(6)
    • Movies(163)
    • Music Appreciation(50)
    • New Music(304)
    • News(4710)
    • Politics as Usual(19)
    • Pop Culture(40)
    • Potent Quotables(613)
    • R.I.P.(183)
    • Road Report(17)
    • Rock Almanac(366)
    • Rock Hall(29)
    • RPM(25)
    • Schwag Hag(37)
    • Songs(201)
    • Spinner Interview(110)
    • Television(94)
    • The Chum Bucket(606)
    • The Crap Stack(17)
    • The Hit List(1128)
    • Total Dick Move(2)
    • Twisted Tales(125)
    • UK(512)
    • Video(923)
    • Video of the Day(707)
    • Wacked News(190)
    • What's That Song?(79)

    Potent Quotables: Johansen's a Humble Doll

    • Posted on Jul 22nd 2009 1:00PM by Adam Horne
    • Comments (17)
    Print |  Email More

    "I don't really like to sit around the house listening to my own records. They're not that good." -- David Johansen

    In a shocking, some might say refreshing, display of rock star modesty, the New York Dolls frontman reveals his insecurity. "I'm afraid of me," he adds. "Sometimes when I hear my voice on tape, I'm like, 'Who is that horrible man?'"

    Next Quote
    • Filed under: Potent Quotables
    • Share & Bookmark :
      Print |  Email More

    Reader Comments(1 of 1)

    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    martyrottenat 7-25-2009

    Hey David, your records are great man! Don't be so hard on yourself!

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    pledge2rockat 7-25-2009

    I haven't ever heard a New York Dolls song, but his humility is diefinitely respectable. Kanye, Jay-Z, and Oasis could learn a thing or 2 from this guy

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    gahenslerat 7-25-2009

    Everyone who loves rock 'n' roll has worn out multiple copies of the Dolls' first two albums. Their recent albums after reforming in recent years are also really good, too, though not cutting edge the way the first two were.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportLowest Ranked

    stensticksat 7-25-2009

    DUH...MEAN, IF HE DOESN'T LIKE LISTENING TO HIS OWN RECORDS, WHAT MAKES HIM THINK WE WOULD EVER LISTEN TO THEM...HELLLLOOOOO!!!!

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    APat 7-26-2009

    Well, Johnny Depp said when he was on the Letterman show that he doesn't really like watching his own movies. Some people are just like that, and feel that their albums or movies belong to the public once they're finished being involved in them. Not a thing in the world wrong with that. Johansen has a sense of humor about the whole thing, and ten to one, that's where he's coming from with his comment. HELLOOOOO indeed! LOL

    vote downvote upReportLowest Ranked

    ggreyspyat 7-26-2009

    Well, then stop singing, man. And ... maybe you need to have your hair cut.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    Dougat 7-26-2009

    How many people here remember his turn as Buster Poindexter in the '80's? That truly was NOT that good. Props to David for admitting as much.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    Rickyat 7-26-2009

    Buster had a minor hit in the 80's "Hot Hot Hot" and he was als in a pretty funny movie with Richard Dreyfuss called let it ride...

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    Tomat 7-26-2009

    In the early 70's, when the local FM rock station (KSHE95) refused to play the "new" proto-punk bands like the Stooges (Iggy) or Velvet Underground, or the New York Dolls, they lost all "cool" cred.to me and my friends. Thank God for the FM college stations in St. Louis. Without those stations to continue Rock's evolvement, I would be without the Sex Pistols,the Clash,Black Flag, Richard Hell and the Voidoids,the Vibrators, Circle Jerks,the Jam,Television,Buzzcocks, ect, ect.I could go on and on. And at the age of 57, I realize that these bands are from 30 years ago! Yikes! But you all Kicked Ass, and I've got the vinyl to prove it!
    Saw you live in Springfield, Mo. of all places.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    ycav4424at 7-26-2009

    Maybe to a true artist, their work can never be good enough for them but is for others. That would make them keep trying to make it the best that they can.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Kimat 7-27-2009

    new york dolls are going to be important no matter what. but yeah, their music isn't really my thing.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    aerofan4everat 7-27-2009

    guess what dude,ur RIGHT,over rated crap....might go down in punk hitory cause we all know that no1 knew their ass from a hole in the ground then......stick another needle in ur arm and go the fuck away

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    dioat 8-27-2009

    David is not nor has he ever been a junkie
    in fact hes very much into YOGA
    you ought to see the DOLLS if you wwant to see a real rock blues band with REAL MUSICIANS
    and if your taking about AEROFAN as in arossnmith they were all junkies and drunks
    Stevens been married how many times and he beats women
    read his first wifes book hes a jerk too I met him really full of himself and full of crap too
    and they worshiped the NY DOLLS espeically the orginal member Johnny Thunders

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    dstinnettusaat 7-27-2009

    Sorry....The Dolls sucked....Buster sucked a little less

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    DEE S. 517at 8-18-2009

    Cheeez.......Who beat this guy with an ugly stick? Not trying to be mean but just saying.......you know?

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Duncan Maxat 10-06-2009

    New York Dolls kicked ass!! We need more bands like them today...

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    rock n roll nurseat 11-15-2009

    a little humility isn't a bad thing. I don't think its all that uncommon to not like the sound of one's voice- especially on a recording! Soooo many bands were influenced by the Dolls- often imitated- but never as good. And as for the Buster Poindexter thing- well, you still hear "hot, hot, hot" quite a bit- movies, commercials, etc. David has evolved thru the years- and that's a good thing. It's incredible that they're out here 35 yrs. later- making new music- and not resting on their laurels. As long as DavidJo keeps making music, I'll keep listening! (As no one else mentioned it, do check out David Johansen and The Harry Smiths- yet another side of this VERY talented man!)

    Reply

    Add your comments

    • New Users
    • Returning Users
    • AOL/AIM Screenname

    If you are posting a comment for the first time, please enter your name and email address in the fields above. Your name will be displayed with your comment. Your email address will never be displayed.

    Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Off-topic, promotional or otherwise inappropriateinappropriate comments will be removed.

    When you enter your name and email address for the first time, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, as well as a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

    Follow US

    Facebook
    Twitter
    RSS
    • Contact Us
    • Send News Tips
    • Advertise with Us

    Shop Now

    Listen to Full CDs

    • Hot Chip, 'One Life Stand'
    • Sade, 'Soldier of Love'Massive Attack, 'Heligoland'
    • Return of the Wu & Friends
    • Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds
    • All Spinner Full CDs

    Relevant Posts

    • Punk Oral History Tells Viletones Trip to NYC: Play CBGBs, Get Stabbed, Blow 'SNL' (6 days ago - 0 Comments)
    • Patti Smith, Swell Season, Nada Surf Join Forces for Haiti Relief Concerts (24 days ago - 0 Comments)

    Billboard

    • See All Top 100 Rock Albums at

    Hottest Artists on Tour: Lady GaGa, Taylor Swift, Pink, Black Eyed Peas, Kid Cudi,

    Also on AOL

    Quick Links

    • Celebrity Tattoos
    • Celebrities Without Makeup
    • Slipknot Masks
    • Christmas Music
    • 50s Music
    • 60s Music
    • 90s Music
    • 70s Music
    • 80s Music
    • Best Songs Of 2008
    • Horrorcore
    • Michael Jackson Songs

    Also on AOL Music

    • Concert Tickets
    • Country Music
    • Grammys
    • Hip Hop Music
    • Lyrics
    • Metal Music
    • Music News
    • Music Videos
    • New Music Releases
    • Online Radio
    • PopEater

    Blogs on AOL

    • Autoblog
    • Be Red
    • BloggingStocks
    • Cinematical
    • DownloadSquad
    • Engadget
    • Fanhouse
    • Joystiq
    • StyleList
    • TMZ

    More on AOL

    • African-American Culture
    • AOL Video
    • Breaking News
    • CityGuide
    • Food
    • Love
    • Media Player
    • Musica Latina
    • Pixcetera
    • Singles
    • Wallet Pop

    More on AOL

    • Television
    • Movies
    • Money
    • Mapquest
    • Horoscopes
    • Health
    • AOL Latino
    • Games
    • SHOUTcast

    Help Links

    • Advertise With Us
    • Mail
    • Notify AOL
    • Privacy Policy
    • Search
    • Terms of Service
    • Trademarks
    • Follow Spinner on Twitter
    • The Interface
    • Free Mp3
    • Full CDs
    • RSS
    • Terms of Use

    Spinner.com © 2009 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Download and listen to free music, Internet radio and MP3s; or watch free music videos, concerts and live performances. Use the music search function and read the blog to find information on new, established and indie rock recording artists. Get free music downloads on the MP3 blog and more on Spinner.