New York Dolls Lead Singer and Punk Pioneer David Johansen Dead at 75
David Johansen, the charismatic frontman and last surviving member of the New York Dolls, died at age 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
Born on Staten Island, Johansen emerged as a pivotal figure in the early glam and proto-punk scene. The New York Dolls, formed in the early 1970s, became influential pioneers with their distinctive style of teased hair, feminine clothes, and heavy makeup - a look that would later influence '80s hair metal bands.
Despite releasing only two albums during their initial run (New York Dolls in 1973 and Too Much Too Soon in 1974), the band's impact on music was profound. Their self-titled debut album earned spot #301 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, influencing artists from Mötley Crüe to Blondie.
After the Dolls' breakup, Johansen reinvented himself as lounge singer Buster Poindexter and later formed The Harry Smiths. In 2004, the band reunited at England's Meltdown Festival at former Smiths frontman Morrissey's request, leading to three more albums.
"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," Johansen told The Knoxville News-Sentinel in 2011. His legacy lives on through the countless artists he inspired and the groundbreaking music he created.
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