David Johansen, who led New York Dolls as its prominent singer, passed away from cancer at age 75 after maintaining a private fight with the disease. The confirmation about his passing came from his daughter, Leah Hennessey, who stated the rock star died at his New York residence on Friday, February 28th, according to The New York Times.
A Decade-Long Fight Against Cancer
Through previous statements, Hennessey revealed her father endured stage 4 cancer throughout the past ten years while he suffered from a brain tumor diagnosis. In February 2020, Hennessey announced the details regarding his illness.
“David has been in intensive treatment for stage 4 cancer for most of the past decade. There have been complications ever since.”
The infamous status of David Johansen remained untouched when he and his spouse Mara decided to hide his disease diagnosis. Realizing that their financial situation became too burdensome, the family announced their disease for the public to know.
A Heartbreaking Final Chapter
During an interview with People Magazine, Hennessey discussed the worsening situation of her father.
“He’s very, very sick, but he’s reading all the messages and reconnecting with people he hasn’t spoken to in years.” She added, “The connection is probably the best thing for him right now — as it is for all of us.”
Although his mind and spirit remained strong, Leah painfully admitted,
“He’s totally with us — mentally, emotionally, [but] he’s physically incapacitated.”
A Career That Defined Punk Rock
David Johansen first entered the music business through his leadership position in the New York Dolls, which became an early punk rock band that shaped many musicians who followed. The Dolls’ success allowed David Johansen to start performing as a solo artist, and then he adopted the stage persona Buster Poindexter while performing cabaret music in the 1980s. His passing concludes an era while creating a lasting impact on punk rock that motivates musicians all over the world.
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