David Johansen, the lead singer of the famous glam rock and early punk band New York Dolls, has recently passed away at the age of 75. He was the last surviving original member of the band. Johansen passed away last Friday at his home in New York City, according to Jeff Kilgour, a spokesperson for his family who spoke with the Associated Press.
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03-04, 2025Johansen had previously been diagnosed with stage four cancer and a brain tumor in early 2025. The New York Dolls are considered pioneers of punk music, and their unique style—bouffant hairstyles, feminine clothing, and heavy makeup—inspired the glam rock movement and influenced heavy metal bands such as Faster Pussycat and Mötley Crüe a decade later. Their pioneering sound and image left an indelible mark on the music scene.
Johansen said in a 2011 interview with The Knoxville News-Sentinel, "As an artist, the thing you want to do most is inspire people. If you can do that, it's very gratifying." Other original members of the New York Dolls included guitarists Sylvain Sylvain and Johnny Thunders, bassist Arthur Kane, and drummer Jerry Nolan. Their collective talent and unique personalities contributed to the band's distinct identity.
In the early 1970s, they frequented the Lower East Side of Manhattan, associating with figures like Lou Reed and Andy Warhol. The band, named after a Manhattan toy hospital, was highly anticipated and seen as the next rock sensation to succeed the Velvet Underground. However, the band's first two albums, including the 1973 album "New York Dolls" produced by Todd Rundgren and "Too Much Too Soon" produced by Shadow Morton a year later, failed to chart. Despite the lack of initial commercial success, their music gained a cult following and influenced countless artists.
Guitarist Steve Stevens, who grew up in Queens and later collaborated with Billy Idol and Robert Palmer, said that the New York Dolls were never about technique, but about the sounds of the subway, the stench of overflowing garbage cans, and the fringe characters of Times Square. "The New York Dolls epitomized that perfectly. Godspeed, David Johansen," he wrote on social media platform X. Rolling Stone magazine once called the New York Dolls "hydrogen-age mutant children," while Vogue magazine called them "downtown fashion darlings, tough guys in feather boas and heels." Their raw energy and unapologetic style resonated with audiences seeking something different.
Bill Bentley wrote in "Smithsonian Rock and Roll: Live and Unseen," "The New York Dolls were more than just musicians; they were a phenomenon. They combined old-fashioned rock, big-city blues, vaudeville, the Rolling Stones, and girl groups." Nevertheless, the band never achieved commercial success and disintegrated due to internal conflicts and drug addiction, disbanding in the mid-70s after releasing two albums. Despite their short-lived initial run, their influence continued to grow over the years.
In 2004, Morrissey, the former lead singer of The Smiths and a fan of the New York Dolls, persuaded Johansen and other surviving members to reunite for the Meltdown festival in the UK, which led to three subsequent studio albums for the band. In the 80s, Johansen transformed into Buster Poindexter, a pompadour-sporting lounge singer, and gained popularity in 1987 with the single "Hot, Hot, Hot." He also appeared in films such as "Candy Mountain" and "Married to the Mob," and played the memorable Ghost of Christmas Past in the hit Bill Murray film "Scrooged." Johansen's versatility as a performer allowed him to explore different creative avenues.
In 2023, Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi directed a documentary about Johansen, "Personality Crisis: One Night Only," which mixed footage from his two-night performance at Café Carlyle in January 2020 with a retrospective of his colorful career and in-depth interviews. Johansen said in a 2023 interview with the Associated Press, "I used to think about my voice, like, 'What's it going to sound like? What's it going to be like when I sing this song?' I'd be anxious about it. At some point in my life, I decided, 'Just sing the damn song, with whatever you've got.' For me, I go on stage, and whatever mood I'm in, I try to get rid of it." His commitment to authenticity resonated with audiences throughout his career.
Johansen will be fondly remembered by his widow, Mara Hennessey, and stepdaughter, Leah Hennessey. Their love and support were undoubtedly a source of strength for him throughout his life and career.
