David Johansen, the singer from seminal punk band the New York Dolls, has died on the age of 75.
Shaped within the early Seventies, the New York Dolls redefined rock and roll, offering the blueprint for British punk bands such because the Intercourse Pistols and The Conflict, and galvanizing the glam-metal motion.
Johansen died “peacefully” at his dwelling in New York Metropolis on Friday, his household stated.
He was “holding the hands of his wife Mara Hennessey and stepdaughter Leah, in the sunlight surrounded by music and flowers”, they added.
Johansen’s demise comes simply weeks after the singer’s household stated he had stage 4 most cancers and a mind tumour.
His daughter Leah shared the analysis as she launched a crowdfunding marketing campaign to assist cowl healthcare prices.
Picture:
Johansen along with his spouse in 2016. Pic: AP
“He knew he was ecstatically loved.”
There might be “several events celebrating David’s life and artistry” introduced sooner or later, they added.
Johansen started his profession as a singer with the Vagabond Missionaries within the late Nineteen Sixties, earlier than being invited to affix the New York Dolls in 1971.
Whereas the band – whose tracks embody Character Disaster and Wanting For A Kiss – have been critically acclaimed, they by no means discovered industrial success and broke up after two albums by the center of the last decade.
Regardless of their break up after simply 5 years, the Dolls’ presence within the early punk scene had an plain affect on the music world.
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The New York Dolls (Johansen in white) performing in NYC in 1973. Pic: AP
Shortly after their demise, the band have been quoted as a significant affect on British bands together with The Conflict, The Damned and the Intercourse Pistols – whose deprecating observe New York is concerning the Dolls.
Their fashion – ladies’s garments, heavy make-up and teased hair – impressed the glam-metal motion that emerged with acts similar to Mötley Crüe a decade later.
Johansen launched into a solo profession after the band break up and launched albums below each his personal title and the pseudonym Buster Poindexter.
In 2004, the band’s three surviving members – Johansen, Arthur ‘Killer’ Kane’ and Sylvain Sylvain – reunited and continued performing till 2011.
Johansen is survived by his spouse, Mara, and stepdaughter, Leah.
