David Johansen, Legendary New York Dolls Singer and Glam-Punk Pioneer, Dies at 75
David Johansen, the iconic frontman and last surviving member of the New York Dolls, passed away at 75 in his New York City home on February 28. Earlier this year, he had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and a brain tumor.
David Johansen with New York Dolls
Photo Credit: New York Dolls at AVRO's TopPop in 1973 / CC by 3.0
Johansen's impact on music was profound, pioneering both glam and proto-punk styles with the New York Dolls. The band's distinctive look - teased hair, feminine clothes, and heavy makeup - later became a signature style of '80s hair metal.
Born on Staten Island, Johansen showed early creative promise, writing poetry and lyrics from his youth. He drew inspiration from diverse musical influences, including Cuban music, R&B, Otis Redding, and Janis Joplin.
The New York Dolls, formed in the early 1970s, released two influential albums: "New York Dolls" (1973) and "Too Much Too Soon" (1974). While neither achieved commercial success at the time, their debut album later ranked No. 301 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
After the Dolls' initial breakup, Johansen reinvented himself as lounge singer Buster Poindexter, formed The Harry Smiths, and hosted SiriusXM's "The Mansion of Fun." In 2004, the band reunited at England's Meltdown Festival, leading to three more albums.
The band's legacy lives on through their influence on countless artists, including Mötley Crüe, Blondie, and The Smiths' Morrissey. As Johansen himself noted in 2011, "When you're an artist, the main thing you want to do is inspire people, so if you succeed in doing that, it's pretty gratifying."
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