David Johansen 1950-2025
The frontman of the influential proto-punk and glam rock band New York Dolls, passed away on February 28, 2025, at the age of 75. He was the last surviving member of the band’s original line-up.
David Johansen 1950-2025
David Johansen, the dynamic frontman of the New York Dolls and a versatile artist known for his Buster Poindexter persona, passed away on February 28, 2025, at the age of 75. He was the last surviving member of the band’s original line-up. Johansen died at his home in New York City, surrounded by his wife, Mara Hennessey, and daughter, Leah. Johansen had been battling stage four cancer and a brain tumor, conditions he publicly disclosed earlier this year.
Born on January 9, 1950, in Staten Island, New York, Johansen was the son of a librarian mother and an insurance salesman father who had previously sung opera. He began his musical journey in the late 1960s with the Vagabond Missionaries, a local Staten Island band. In 1971, he joined the New York Dolls, a group that would become seminal in the proto-punk movement. The band’s self-titled debut album in 1973, produced by Todd Rundgren, was initially a commercial failure but later gained critical acclaim for its raw sound and flamboyant style, influencing future punk and glam rock acts.
After the Dolls disbanded in 1976, Johansen embarked on a solo career. In the 1980s, he adopted the alter ego Buster Poindexter, achieving mainstream success with the hit song “Hot Hot Hot.” He also ventured into acting, notably portraying the Ghost of Christmas Past in the 1988 film “Scrooged” alongside Bill Murray.
The New York Dolls reunited in 2004, releasing three additional albums and touring until 2011. Johansen continued to perform and was the subject of a 2023 documentary co-directed by Martin Scorsese, titled “Personality Crisis: One Night Only,” which chronicled his multifaceted career.
Johansen’s contributions to music and culture were profound, leaving a mark on the punk and glam rock scenes. His ability to reinvent himself ensured his legacy as a pioneering figure in rock history. RIP.
Watch the New York Dolls playing two of their most memorable songs “Trash” and “Personality Crisis”, 1973
1 – “Personality Crisis”, 1973
Watch more 1970’s related videos
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