Morrissey leads heartfelt tributes to New York Dolls lead singer David Johansen after death at 75
David Johansen, the flamboyant frontman of influential punk band New York Dolls, has died aged 75 after battling serious health issues.
The singer passed away on Friday at his home in New York, leading to a flood of tributes from fellow musicians.
Johansen had been suffering from stage 4 cancer for nearly a decade, along with a brain tumour and a recently broken back.
A spokesman confirmed: “David Johansen died at home in NYC on Friday afternoon holding hands with his wife Mara Hennessey and daughter Leah, surrounded by music, flowers, and love.”
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“He was 75 years old and died of natural causes after nearly a decade of illness,” the statement added.
Former Smiths frontman Morrissey was the first to break the news of Johansen’s death, posting a tribute on his website before the family’s official announcement.
Morrissey, who once ran the UK New York Dolls fan club, shared a photo of Johansen with the simple caption: “All Hollow. David Johansen, RIP.”
He had previously helped reunite the New York Dolls for London’s Meltdown festival in 2004, which he curated.
Later, Morrissey also posted a picture of himself to his Instagram story showing the former Smiths singer on stage at a New York Dolls tribute concert accompanied by the band’s song Subway Train.
Tim Burgess of The Charlatans posted a picture of Johansen during his glory years with the New York Dolls, writing: “Safe travels, David Johansen”.
E Street Band member Stevie Van Zandt called him “One of the most unique legends of our business and a very good friend”.
Johansen formed the New York Dolls in 1971, pioneering a theatrical style that blended glam rock with punk sensibilities.
The band’s makeup and women’s clothing challenged the macho rock star image of the era.
Despite never breaking into the Top 100 charts in the US or UK, their music proved hugely influential on generations of artists.
Their songs, including Personality Crisis, are considered among the greatest rock tracks of the 1970s.
After the New York Dolls disbanded, Johansen enjoyed a successful solo career and later reinvented himself as Buster Poindexter.
He also established himself as an actor, most notably appearing as the Ghost of Christmas Past in the 1988 comedy film “Scrooged” opposite Bill Murray.
Johansen’s health struggles began in 2020, though he kept his condition private for years.
In February, his stepdaughter revealed he had been “in intensive treatment for stage 4 cancer for most of the past decade”.
His condition worsened when he fell down stairs after Thanksgiving, breaking his back in two places.
The injuries left him bedridden and requiring 24-hour care.