David Johansen of The New York Dolls died Friday, Feb. 28, at age 75. The singer-songwriter and last surviving member of the pioneering glam-rock outfit — who also had a second career as lounge lizard Buster Poindexter and a side hustle as a characer actor — had been battling cancer and a brain tumour. His family issued the following statement:
“David Johansen passed away peacefully at home, holding the hands of his wife Mara Hennessey and daughter Leah, in the sunlight surrounded by music and flowers. After a decade of profoundly compromised health he died of natural causes at the age of 75. David and his family were deeply moved by the outpouring of love and support they’ve experienced recently as the result of having gone public with their challenges. He was thankful that he had a chance to be in touch with so many friends and family before he passed. He knew he was ecstatically loved. There will be several events celebrating David’s life and artistry, details to follow.”
Johansen’s condition was publicly revealed just a few weeks ago via Sweet Relief, who were collecting funds to pay for his care. I bought one of the T-shirts pictured below. It just arrived; I wore it earlier this week. I’ll be wearing it again today while I listen to Johansen’s albums and reminisce about being right down front at Stubb’s when the reconstituted Dolls played SXSW about 20 years ago. What a great show. At that point, Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain were the last men standing; guitarist Johnny Thunders, drummer Jerry Nolan (and before him, Billy Murcia) and bassist Arthur Kane were already gone. Syl died in 2021; now David’s rejoined the band for good. We shall not see their like again.
Here’s a video playlist of highlights from Johansen’s life and career:
