NEW YORK—David Johansen, the iconic frontman of the influential glam and protopunk band, the New York Dolls, has passed away at the age of 75. The news of his death was confirmed by a family spokesperson on Friday, stating that Johansen had been battling stage 4 cancer and a brain tumor since early 2025.
Johansen, known for his flamboyant style and larger-than-life stage presence, was a true pioneer in the world of rock ‘n’ roll. Along with his bandmates, he inspired the glam movement and paved the way for punk and heavy metal music. With their teased hair, women’s clothes, and heavy makeup, the New York Dolls were a force to be reckoned with, challenging societal norms and redefining what it meant to be a rock star.
Despite not achieving commercial success, the New York Dolls left a lasting impact on the music industry. Their unique blend of old-school rock ‘n’ roll, blues, and show tunes, along with their wild and unpredictable performances, captured the hearts of fans and critics alike. In fact, Rolling Stone once referred to them as the “mutant children of the hydrogen age,” while Vogue dubbed them the “darlings of downtown style.”
Johansen’s passion for music and his desire to inspire others was evident throughout his career. In a 2011 interview with The Knoxville News-Sentinel, he expressed, “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.”
The New York Dolls may have disbanded after just two albums due to internal conflicts and drug addictions, but in 2004, they reunited for the Meltdown Festival in England at the request of former Smiths frontman, Morrissey. This led to three more studio albums and a resurgence of their music.
In the 1980s, Johansen embarked on a new persona, Buster Poindexter, a campy, pompadour-styled lounge lizard. He gained mainstream success with his hit single “Hot, Hot, Hot” in 1987 and also made appearances in various films, including “Candy Mountain,” “Let It Ride,” and “Married to the Mob.” His memorable role as the Ghost of Christmas Past in the hit movie “Scrooged” solidified his status as a multi-talented performer.
In 2023, Johansen was the subject of the documentary “Personality Crisis: One Night Only,” directed by Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi. The film showcased his two-night performance at the Cafe Carlyle in January 2020, interspersed with interviews and flashbacks from his illustrious career.
Johansen’s raw and powerful voice, combined with his ability to embody different characters on stage, made him a true artist. In a 2023 interview with The Associated Press, he shared his approach to performing, saying, “At some point in my life, I decided: ‘Just sing the (expletive) song. With whatever you got.’ To me, I go on stage and whatever mood I’m in, I just claw my way out of it, essentially.”
Born into a large, working-class Catholic family on Staten Island, Johansen’s love for music started at a young age. He filled notebooks with poems and lyrics and was influenced by a variety of genres, including R&B, Cuban, and rock icons like Janis Joplin and Otis Redding.
The New York Dolls’ rise to fame came during the early 1970s in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, where they rubbed shoulders with the likes of Lou Reed and Andy Warhol. Their name was inspired by a toy hospital in Manhattan, and they were often compared to the Velvet Underground, expected to take over their throne as the next big thing in rock ‘n’ roll.
But despite critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base, the Dolls never achieved mainstream success. Their self-titled debut album was listed at Number 301 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, with the magazine stating, “it’s hard to imagine the Ramones or the Replacements or a thousand other trash-junky bands without them.”
The Dolls’ influence continued to be celebrated decades later, with several nominations for The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. However,
