David Johansen, the gravelly-voiced singer and last surviving member of the influential glam and protopunk band the New York Dolls, has died at the age of 75.
Johansen, who later gained fame as his flamboyant alter ego, Buster Poindexter, passed away on Friday at his home in New York City, according to family spokesperson Jeff Kilgour. In early 2025, it was revealed that Johansen had been battling stage 4 cancer and a brain tumor.
Johansen’s career spanned decades, leaving an indelible mark on rock music, punk, and pop culture.
As the frontman of the New York Dolls, he helped pioneer a raw, rebellious sound that would inspire countless bands, from the Ramones to Mötley Crüe.
With their teased hair, bold makeup, and androgynous fashion, the Dolls became icons of the 1970s glam movement, blending rock ‘n’ roll, blues, and theatrical flair into a sound that was as chaotic as it was captivating.
The New York Dolls emerged from Manhattan’s Lower East Side in the early 1970s, rubbing shoulders with luminaries like Lou Reed and Andy Warhol.
Named after a Manhattan toy hospital, the band—featuring Johansen, guitarists Sylvain Sylvain and Johnny Thunders, bassist Arthur Kane, and drummer Jerry Nolan—quickly became a cultural phenomenon.
Though their first two albums, New York Dolls (1973) and Too Much Too Soon (1974), failed to chart, their influence was undeniable.
Rolling Stone once described the Dolls as “the mutant children of the hydrogen age,” while Vogue hailed them as the “darlings of downtown style.”
Their music and aesthetic broke down barriers, challenging societal norms and creating a space where fans of all backgrounds could feel welcome.
“I just wanted to be very welcoming,” Johansen said in the 2023 documentary Personality Crisis: One Night Only. “This society was set up very strict—straight, gay, vegetarian, whatever… I wanted to bring those walls down and have a party.”
Despite their lack of commercial success, the Dolls’ impact on rock music was profound.
Rolling Stone ranked their debut album at No. 301 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, noting that it was hard to imagine bands like the Ramones or the Replacements without them.
Blondie’s Chris Stein credited the Dolls with “opening a door for the rest of us to walk through,” while Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee called them an early inspiration.
After the Dolls disbanded in the mid-1970s, Johansen embarked on a solo career before reinventing himself in the 1980s as Buster Poindexter, a campy, pompadour-sporting lounge singer. As Poindexter, Johansen scored a hit with the 1987 party anthem “Hot, Hot, Hot” and became a beloved figure in pop culture.
He also pursued acting, appearing in films like Married to the Mob and delivering a memorable performance as the Ghost of Christmas Past in Scrooged, starring Bill Murray.
Johansen’s versatility as an artist was unmatched. In addition to his work with the Dolls and as Buster Poindexter, he formed the Harry Smiths, a group dedicated to blues and American folk music, and toured with legends like Hubert Sumlin and Levon Helm.
He also hosted the weekly radio show The Mansion of Fun on Sirius XM and explored painting.
Born on Staten Island to a working-class Catholic family, Johansen grew up surrounded by music. His father, an insurance salesman, and his large family provided a rich backdrop for his creative pursuits. As a young man, Johansen filled notebooks with poems and lyrics, drawing inspiration from R&B, Cuban music, Janis Joplin, and Otis Redding.
Throughout his career, Johansen remained true to his artistic vision. “I used to think about my voice like, ‘What’s it gonna sound like? What’s it going to be when I do this song?’ And I’d get myself into a knot about it,” he told The Associated Press in 2023.
“At some point, I decided, ‘Just sing the 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.”
The New York Dolls reunited in 2004 at the urging of Morrissey, a longtime admirer, and released three more studio albums.
Though they were never inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, their legacy as pioneers of punk and glam rock remains secure.
Johansen is survived by his wife, Mara Hennessey, and stepdaughter, Leah Hennessey. His death marks the end of an era, but his music and influence will continue to resonate.
As guitarist Steve Stevens wrote on X, “The Dolls did it to perfection. Safe travels, David Johansen.”
From the gritty streets of New York to the glittering stages of the world, David Johansen lived a life of unapologetic creativity and passion. His voice, his style, and his spirit will forever be remembered as a testament to the power of rock ‘n’ roll.
