A highly influential "proto–punk" act formed in the early 70s; the New York Dolls adopted the sound and image of classic rock'n'roll as well as the flamboyance of artists like the Rolling Stones. Though the band was never very successful, the band's sound and image helped usher in the punk rock of the late 70s and, along with The Stooges, are frequently cited as a crucial precursor to the fledging New York punk scene.