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David Johansen, Singer From Seminal Punk Band the New York Dolls, Dies at 75

BBG News

NEW YORK — David Johansen, lead vocalist of the glam-rock and proto-punk band New York Dolls and the sole surviving member, passed away at the age of 75. Known for his lean build and gravelly voice, he also performed under the flamboyant persona, Buster Poindexter.

On a sad note, Johansen passed away last Friday at his residence in New York City, as confirmed by Jeff Kilgour, a family representative to the Associated Press. Earlier in 2025, it was disclosed that he had been battling stage 4 cancer and a brain tumor.

The New York Dolls paved the way for punk music and their unique style, characterized by flamboyant hairstyles, gender-bending outfits, and heavy makeup, sparked the glam rock trend that later influenced heavy metal bands such as Faster Pussycat and Mötley Crüe in the following decade.

In an interview with The Knoxville News-Sentinel in 2011, Johansen expressed that as an artist, the primary goal is to inspire others, and finding success in doing so brings a great sense of fulfillment.

“Mutant children of the hydrogen age”

Previously, Rolling Stone referred to the group as “the offspring of a bygone era, genetically modified for the modern age,” while Vogue labeled them as “fashion icons of downtown Manhattan, a mix of glamour and grit, adorned in feathers and heels.

In Bill Bentley’s “Smithsonian Rock and Roll: Live and Unseen,” it is stated that The New York Dolls were not just musicians, but a unique, extraordinary force. They blended elements of classic rock ‘n’ roll, urban blues, Broadway tunes, the Rolling Stones, and girl groups as their foundation, to name a few influences.

The band struggled financially, faced internal conflicts, and substance abuse issues, ultimately disbanding following two records during that decade’s midpoint. However, in 2004, ex-Smiths lead vocalist Morrissey, a fan of the Dolls, persuaded Johansen and remaining members to reunite for the Meltdown Festival in England, which resulted in the creation of three additional studio albums.

In the 80s, Johansen adopted the character of Buster Poindexter, a lounge singer with a pompadour hairstyle who became famous for his catchy party song “Hot, Hot, Hot” released in 1987. He also starred in films like “Candy Mountain,” “Let It Ride,” “Married to the Mob,” and gave a notable performance as the Ghost of Christmas Past in the popular movie “Scrooged,” which was led by Bill Murray.

In 2023, I was the focus of Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi’s documentary “Personality Crisis: One Night Only.” This unique production blended my two-night performance at the Café Carlyle in January 2020 with glimpses into my diverse career and candid interviews, offering a glimpse into my personal life.

In 2023, Johansen shared with The Associated Press that he used to worry a lot about how his voice would sound for a particular song. He’d often find himself in a tangle over it. However, at some point in his life, he made a decision: “Just belt out the song, no matter what.” When he steps onto the stage, whatever state of mind he might be in, he digs deep and tries to break free from it, effectively.

Named after a toy hospital

David Roger Johansen hailed from a sizable, blue-collar Catholic household on Staten Island, with his father being an insurance representative. As a budding youth, he was prolific in filling journals with poems and lyrics, and he had a wide array of musical preferences that ranged from R&B, Cuban beats, to Janis Joplin and Otis Redding’s tunes.

In the early ’70s, the original Dolls lineup – comprising guitarists Sylvain Sylvain and Johnny Thunders, bassist Arthur Kane, and drummer Jerry Nolan – mingled with Lou Reed and Andy Warhol in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Originally named after a children’s hospital in Manhattan, they were anticipated to succeed the Velvet Underground’s throne in the early ’70s. However, their first two albums – “New York Dolls” (1973) produced by Todd Rundgren and “Too Much Too Soon,” released a year after under Shadow Morton’s production – didn’t make it onto any charts.

The assessment in Rolling Stone’s review of their first album was undeniably positive, praising them for a unique blend of glamorous pop-star flair and raw urban assertiveness.

1. Their songs featured “Character Confusion” (“You had it when it was exciting/But now, what you have is disappointment and emotional pain”)
2. They sang “Searching for a Kiss” (I need relief and affection)
3. Also included was a tune called “Frankenstein’s Affection” (Is it wrong/For you to develop feelings for Frankenstein?)

They intended their glamorous appearance to create an open, inclusive environment free from judgment or labels. As Johansen explained in the documentary, “I aimed to be extremely welcoming because our society is often quite rigid – straight, gay, vegan, etc. I wanted to knock down those barriers and have a sort of celebration.

In their evaluation of the band’s second album, Rolling Stone labeled them as “the top hard-rock act in America currently,” while praising Johansen for his exceptional talent as a performer and storyteller, who has an extraordinary knack for breathing life into characters through his lyrics.

Looking back now, decades after their time, the impact of The Dolls is still held dear by many. Rolling Stone even ranked their self-titled debut album at number 301 among the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, acknowledging that it’s almost impossible to imagine acts like the Ramones, the Replacements, or countless other punk bands without them. I can’t help but admire their groundbreaking influence on music.

In the book “Stranded in the Jungle” by Nolan, Chris Stein from Blondie expressed that The Dolls were paving a path that allowed others, including himself, to follow. Tommy Lee of Motley Crue acknowledged them as early influences.

In 2023, the Los Angeles Times noted that Johansen is a singer who might seem less technically skilled than he truly is due to his unique style. His voice, often reminiscent of a foghorn, adapts to various tones depending on age, habits, and the song, but it carries an unusual emotional intensity.

“Dirty angels with painted faces”

The Dolls, embodying rock music at its most controversial, sparked disagreement. In 1973, they secured victories in the Creem magazine poll as both the year’s top and bottom new group. They were frequently nominated for The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame but never made it in.

Nina Antonia described The Dolls as ‘grimy angels with colorful masks.’ She wrote that these musicians opened Pandora’s box, releasing the young fury of Punk. Moreover, they didn’t just carry on the tradition of breaking rules and challenging norms, but they also shattered sexual boundaries, tore through glitter, and set the bar high for rock ‘n’ roll extravagance.

At the conclusion of their initial performance, the Dolls had Malcolm McLaren, a renowned promoter, overseeing them. Later, McLaren would expose the Sex Pistols to the Dolls’ tunes. As recounted by culture critic Greil Marcus in “Lipstick Traces: A Secret History of the Twentieth Century,” he was taken aback when the Dolls shared some of their music with him, finding it incredibly poor.

Suddenly, the realization that these individuals were so inept struck me with great impact. McLaren remarked, ‘I found myself laughing, conversing, even enjoying their company, and it suddenly dawned on me that I was no longer preoccupied with their skills.’ He further added, ‘The Dolls made an indelible impression on me; they were more than just poor performers. They possessed something extraordinary, something captivating. I marveled at how brilliantly they managed to be so subpar.’

Following the initial disbandment of the Dolls, Johansen formed his personal band, known as the David Johansen band, and later underwent another transformation in the 1980s, assuming the persona of Buster Poindexter.

Enkindled by his ardor for blues music and mysterious American folk tunes, Johansen additionally established the band The Harry Smiths. They traversed the globe, performing Howlin’ Wolf’s songs alongside Hubert Sumlin and Levon Helm. Moreover, he ran a weekly radio program titled “The Mansion of Fun” on Sirius XM, and also indulged in painting.

He is survived by his wife, Mara Hennessey, and a stepdaughter, Leah Hennessey.

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2025-03-01 22:06

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