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Sylvain Sylvain (born Sylvain Mizrahi, February 14th,
1951 ) is a rock guitarist, most notable for being a member of the
New York Dolls.
He was born in, Cairo, Egypt to a Jewish family with
one brother and one sister, Leon and Brigitte, but raised in New
York City, where his family had moved after living on Lafayette
Avenue in Buffalo, New York while he was still a child. When asked
if he was related to American fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi (born
October 14, 1961) he responded, "No. Only in spirit."
Before joining the New York Dolls in 1971, Sylvain was a member
of the band Actress, also featuring Dolls Johnny Thunders and Billy
Murcia. He played guitar in the proto-punk group the New York Dolls
(replacing Rick Rivets), from 1971 until the group's final dissolution
in 1975. Sylvain and singer David Johansen were the last remaining
members at the time the group broke up. After the dissolution of
the Dolls, he frequently played with Johansen in his solo project.
He started his own solo project, "The Criminals" with
another ex-Doll, Tony Machine and continued to play the New York
club scene. He landed a solo recording contract with RCA, and released
one album with Lee Crystal (drums; later of Joan Jett's Blackhearts)
and Johnny Rao (guitar) as his backing band. For a period, he also
drove a cab in New York City. He moved to Los Angeles in the early
1990s and recorded one record, Sleep Baby Doll for Fishead Records.
His band mates on this record were: Brian Keats, drums (Dave Vanian's
Phantom Chords), Speediejohn Carlucci on bass (formerly of The Fuzztones/Speedies)
& Olivier LeBaron' on lead guitar. There were guest appearances
by Frank Infante of Blondie & Derwood Andrews of Generation
X. This record was re-released as "New York's Au Go Go".
He now plays once again with David Johansen in the reformed New
York Dolls.
As of November, 2006, he is currently on tour with
the New York Dolls in the "Little Steven's Underground Garage
Rolling Rock and Roll Show," featuring not only the Dolls but
several other rock bands as well as go-go dancers.
He sometimes resides in Atlanta, Georgia.
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