David Johansen, New York Dolls frontman, dead at 75
New York Dolls frontman David Johansen has passed away at the age of 75. His death was confirmed by his stepdaughter, Leah Hennessey.
A spokesperson issued the following statement: “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. He was 75 years old and died of natural causes after nearly a decade of illness.”
The punk frontman had been battling stage four cancer, announcing in 2020 that he had been diagnosed with a brain tumour. While seeking support from fans, Johansen also faced multiple complications—including breaking his back in two places.
The announcement of the punk icon’s death was seemingly first confirmed by former Smiths frontman Morrissey, who had posted on his website that he had passed away, sparking a run of tributes before Johansen’s family communicated the news.
While details regarding the singer’s death remain scarce, Johansen’s health issues had left him incapacitated for the past few years.
After breaking his back, Johansen had been “bedridden and incapacitated” and required constant care for his ailments. In a press release, Johansen asked his fans to provide him with financial help for his medical bills, saying, “We’ve been living with my illness for a long time, still having fun, seeing friends and family, carrying on, but this tumble the day after Thanksgiving really brought us to a whole new level of debilitation. This is the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my entire life. I’ve never been one to ask for help, but this is an emergency.”
As his problems continued to mount, Johansen’s daughter revealed that he had been living with a brain tumour for years but never felt the need to make it public until he could no longer refuse help. In an effort to support the punk rock icon, the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund launched the David Johansen Foundation, seeking to raise money for his medical expenses.
Hennessey’s description on the fundraiser stated: “David has worked continuously as a singer and actor for the better part of six decades, to the delight of his fans all over the world. However for the past five years, David has been unable to work as a performer”.
The funds were being raised because Hennessey’s mother was also suffering from health issues. “To continue his treatment and give him the best chance of recovery, David and Mara will need full-time assistance,” she said. Johansen, however, remained in high spirits despite the severity of his situation. “As hilarious and wise as David continues to be, he is physically debilitated, and his care exceeds what we are capable of providing without specialized professional help”.
In the final years of his life, Johansen had been very private about his personal matters, living a quiet life with his wife, Mara. His last major public appearance was in the Martin Scorsese documentary Personality Crisis, which explored his life as one of the major members of the New York Dolls.
Johansen is survived by his wife, Mara Hennessey, and his daughter, Leah Hennessey.
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