Morrissey has written an afterword in a New York Dolls book which collates photographs from over the decades by Bob Gruen.

The Smiths legend is a lifelong fan of the band and cites them as a huge inspiration in the closing chapter of 'New York Dolls: Photographs'.

62-year-old Gruen said of the book: “The New York Dolls are like family to me, they are the most colorful, most interesting band I’ve worked with — one of the most influential.”

He continued to Rolling Stone that Morrissey isn't the only notable fan of the band: “Everyone from Joe Strummer, Gene Simmons to Bret Michaels all said they were influenced by the New York Dolls. They each found their own thing about the Dolls.

“Some people it was the music, some people it was the look, some people it was the attitude. The Dolls had it all.”

(by Scott Colothan)