By Chris Rockson

Rock guitar players are a dime a dozen, which is probably why there’s only a handful of legends that get their due respect.  The so-called Blank Generation as coined by the inimitable Richard Hell certainly had its share of greats.  From Tom Verlaine to Johnny Thunders there were plenty of players who proved that punk attitude didn’t necessarily have to go hand in hand with sloppy ineptitude.  It also should come as no surprise that New York’s late 70’s scene spawned some incredible artists who may only ring a bell with the devoted or the obsessed.

 

Johnny Rao may be one such guitarist but he’s also the kind of player that inspires the respect and awe of those fanatics who really know their rock and roll.  The Ramones' Forever Dictionary listed Rao as “a vastly underrated guitar player” for his work with ex-New York Doll and all around electrifying entertainer, David Johansen.  “All Music Guide” raves, “with no disrespect to Johansen’s late great former band mates, “Johnny Rao’s guitar work (on Johansen’s solo debut) almost compensates for the absence of Johnny Thunders.”  Rao has also earned his credit as a composer, and several of the songs he co-wrote with Brooklyn born chanteuse Helen Schneider scored her top ten hit in Germany.  Yet he may be best known for his fierce riffing on Johansen’s,"Funky But Chic".

Unlike so many of the other Blank Generation veterans, Rao is no mere historical artifact or casualty of hard-living.  He’s a survivor whose playing has only become richer and more exciting with each passing year. After the Johansen group, Rao went onto play with another NY Doll, Sylvain Sylvain.  Following Sylvain, he then got a call from childhood friend Tommy Price (now with Joan Jett) to audition for a band he was in, (Helen Schneider), while starting rehearsals that same day with “The Others”,( which was basically the other members of the Johansen group-- Thomas Trask and Buzz Verno) . Helen was signed with WEA in Germany so the tours and LP sales were basically abroad.

The song, Rock and Roll Gypsy became a huge hit and the LP Rao recorded with Helen went Gold.  Rao continued to tour and record with Helen for years, but stayed on with “The Others”.  The hectic schedule with Helen took up most of his time and unfortunately “The Others” never got off the ground.

 

Some other bands Rao has been with were “Flesh and the Devil” (again with favorite drummer Thommy Price) had played briefly in a band with Hanoi rock’s, Michael Monroe, Bassist Sami Yaffa (now with the Dolls), and Thommy Price. Had several bands with another Joan Jett drummer, Lee Crystal “Sylvain Sylvain, the “Odds” with Kenny Aronson and Jonathon Postal from the Readymades, and Justin Trouble.

Over the past few years Rao has recorded tracks for TV and film (myspace.com/johnnyrao), recording several records with the Greg Allen Group "Just for you"(myspace.com/gregallengroup), a new one finishing up with producer Paul Kolderi (Dresdon Dolls, Warren Zevon, Radiohead, etc) and a few tracks on a Jerry Nolan/Greg Allen record (that had resumed production after many years of being shelved after Jerry’s death), being released shortly.

You can find Rao recently playing locally with his new band "Dead Cowboys", a Rock band with a Country-punk sound going on-- covering the likes of Social D, Johnny Cash, Creedence, Keith Urban, along with some new tunes that will surprise you!(staff@deadcowboysnyc.com)

Dead Cowboys perform at Big Shots in New Jersey, Aug 2009

 

Rao’s personal influences include. Ennio Morricone, (Spaghetti western-theme music) James Bond theme music, Johnny Cash, Kathleen Edwards, Joe Henry, Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Aimee Mann, Tommy Emmanuell, 60’s guitar heros, 70’s Punk and Glam bands,keith Richards and urban.

Check out Johnny Rao RIGHT HERE

Jay Nap-Bass, Joey Cotroneo-Vocals/rhythm guitar, Johnny Rao-lead guitar and Frankee Dell-Drums
 
(all pics by Vic Rao)