David Johansen, the legendary frontman of the New York Dolls and the last surviving original member of the band, has passed away at 75. His death was confirmed on Saturday by a spokesperson, who stated that Johansen died at home in New York on Friday afternoon, holding hands with his wife, Mara Hennessey, and his daughter, Leah. He had been battling illness for nearly a decade and passed away from natural causes.
A pioneer of glam punk, Johansen rose to fame in the early 1970s as the charismatic leader of the New York Dolls, a band that blended rebellious attitude with a groundbreaking mix of proto-punk and glam rock. Their albums New York Dolls (1973) and Too Much Too Soon (1974) are now considered essential records that helped shape the punk movement.
Johansen was known for his sharp wit, distinctive vocals, and unapologetic stage presence. Alongside guitarist Johnny Thunders, he co-wrote classics like Personality Crisis, Looking for a Kiss, and Jet Boy, capturing the raw energy of the underground New York music scene. Despite critical acclaim, the Dolls struggled to achieve mainstream success, and internal struggles led to their breakup in 1976—just as the punk movement they helped inspire began to take off.
After the Dolls disbanded, Johansen launched a solo career before reinventing himself in the 1980s as Buster Poindexter, an alter ego that embraced a swing and lounge music aesthetic. Under this persona, he scored an unexpected hit with Hot Hot Hot, though he later expressed frustration with the song’s mainstream ubiquity. His charisma also led to a successful acting career, with notable roles in Scrooged (1988) and Let It Ride (1989).
In 2004, Johansen and surviving New York Dolls members reunited for a special performance curated by Morrissey at the Meltdown Festival in London. Though tragedy struck again with the loss of bassist Arthur “Killer” Kane soon after, Johansen and guitarist Sylvain Sylvain carried on, releasing three more Dolls albums before officially disbanding in 2011.
Following Sylvain’s passing in 2021, Johansen became the last living member of the band’s original lineup. He continued performing and telling his story, most notably in the 2022 Martin Scorsese-directed documentary Personality Crisis: One Night Only, which captured his unique artistry and lasting impact.
David Johansen’s influence on punk, rock, and music culture at large is immeasurable. His fearless spirit, genre-defying career, and unforgettable stage presence cement his legacy as one of rock’s true originals.