David Johansen, the last remaining member of the New York Dolls has passed away at the age of seventy-five. Born in Staten Island, New York, on January 9, 1950, David Johansen began playing in bands in the late 1960s. He started the New York Dolls with Johnny Thunders, Sylvain Sylvain, and Arthur Kane in the mid-1970s. Drummer Jerry Nolan joined the band after original drummer Billy Murcia died in 1972 before the New York Dolls recorded their first self-titled debut, released in 1973.
In what’s now described as glam punk, the New York Dolls would wear eccentric and androgynous clothing, including heels, dresses, and makeup. The majority of the songs were written by David Johansen and Johnny Thunders. In 1974, they recorded Too Much Too Soon. Shortly after, Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan left, leaving Johansen and Sylvain to carry the mantle until 1976, when the band broke up. David Johansen would go on to record a couple of solo albums with Sylvain Sylvain in his backing band, allowing him to keep performing New York Dolls songs. The two collaborated on the song “Funky but Chic,” which would serve as the single for Johansen’s self-titled solo album.
Trying to distance himself from his Dolls persona, David Johansen developed an alter ego for himself with Buster Poindexter in the early 1980s. Complete with a big pompadour, suit, and a bowtie, Johansen pivoted to a more lounge-lizard identity than punk or glam rocker. The pseudonym allowed him to spread his wings a bit and explore other genres of music. During this time, Johansen was also a regular with the Saturday Night Live house band. Finally, in 1987, a Buster Poindexter album was recorded and released. It included the calypso-tinged, “Hot Hot Hot.” There was no escaping this song for at least five to ten years, if not longer.
Like a lot of musicians tend to do, David Johansen dipped his toe into the acting pool. He appeared in guest roles on TV shows like The Adventures of Pete & Pete and the prison drama Oz. Along with a starring role in a film adaptation of the 1960s comedy cop show Car 54, Where Are You?, in the mid-1990s. However, his most popular role was as a cigar-chomping, cab-driving Ghost of Christmas Past in Richard Donner’s modernized adaptation of A Christmas Carol, Scrooged, starring Bill Murray.
The Sweet Relief Music Fund has been helping to raise money for David Johansen’s medical bills. Celebrities who were both friends and fans donated to help David Johansen in his time of need. Los Angeles punk rock band Fear released a cover of the New York Dolls’ song “Trash,” with all proceeds from the sales of the CD or vinyl going towards the fund.
David Johansen lost his battle with cancer on February 28, 2025, one that he had been fighting in secret. It had been revealed at the beginning of the month that Johansen had a brain tumor and was receiving treatment for stage four cancer for the better part of the last decade. Rest in peace, David.
