David Johansen, New York Dolls Frontman, Dies at 75

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/arts/music/david-johansen-dead.html

 

Puss 'N' Boots

 

Thanks for the great music - Rest in Peace

David Johansen - Melody (1979)

David Johansen - She (1979)

David Johansen - Big City (1979)

At the end of 1984 he resurfaced as Buster Poindexter.
The music style was now more towards R&B and jazz. In 1987 Poindexter had a big hit with Hot Hot Hot.

 

Scarlet's dad..

Rip David Johansen...didn't really care for NY dolls, but Buster was interesting.

Surprised Keith Richards has outlived him..

 

I haven't really listened to their music, but I know what a huge impact they had on the scene and how many bands have cited them as an influence. RIP.

 

Even Keef would be in trouble with suffering from Stage 4 cancer, a brain tumor and a broken back

 

Heart of Gold

 

yeah ben gay and a band aid aint gonna help much when those things come to town.

 

Another one of my inspirations gone. Fooled everyone who thought he was just a proto-punk rocker when he switched personas to the Buster Poindexter repertoire with such swag and elegance. Talking about the Greatest Rock'n'Roll Swindle for real haha. I think Richard Cheese for one, borrowed a lot from that epic switch. One of my old favorites of Johansen, is a cover live medley. RIP legend.

 

I was a little bit young to go into town to see these guys when I was a kid in New York, but watching them on Don Kirchner's Rock Concert scared the shit outta little me, LOL. I didn't know what to make of them.

 

R.I.P David Johansen - from Produce Like a Pro:

"David Johansen was a force of nature. Today, we remember not only his music but the essence of the man himself, someone who never stopped pushing boundaries, never stopped creating, and never stopped being unapologetically David Johansen. His influence reached far beyond his own music, even shaping the direction of legends like David Bowie. Bowie was captivated by Johansen's mannerisms and persona, which inspired the title character in his song 'Watch That Man'. The New York Dolls' sound also left an imprint on Bowie's music, and after seeing them perform at Max's Kansas City in 1972, he became an admirer of their raw energy and style. His music, his presence, his attitude, they all embodied the raw energy and rebellious spirit that changed rock and roll forever.

I had the privilege of meeting David Johansen several times when I co-owned Swing House Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles. The first time I met him at a Swing House event we were doing, I was overwhelmed, he exemplified what I grew up thinking a rock star was. He was a frequent collaborator of my dear friend and mentor, Jack Douglas, and every time he walked into the studio, he carried with him an electric energy. He was a storyteller, a provocateur, and above all, a true artist. Conversations with him were as unpredictable and thrilling as his performances, one moment, he’d be reminiscing about the early days of the New York Dolls, and the next, he’d be cracking a joke so sharp it could cut glass.

David Roger Johansen, born January 9, 1950, was more than just a musician. He was a pioneer. As the frontman of the New York Dolls, he laid the foundation for punk rock before it had a name. With their wild, androgynous style, their sneering attitude, and their raw, dirty rock and roll, the Dolls inspired a generation of misfits and outcasts who would later reshape music in their own right. Though they never saw massive commercial success, their influence was seismic. The New York Dolls were a glam street gang band that influenced the NYC punk scene. They were pioneers of both Glam Rock and Punk, blending outrageous fashion with a raw, streetwise sound that would pave the way for countless artists to come. Their sound was vastly different from the music of Laurel Canyon singer-songwriters and the rest of the US Rock music scene. Instead, they were closer in spirit to the Stooges, MC5, and Alice Cooper, delivering a gritty, unapologetic take on rock and roll. They were pioneers of Glam Rock, blending outrageous fashion with a raw, streetwise sound that would pave the way for countless artists to come.

In the UK, the Dolls were seen as the spark that would ignite the punk movement. When Malcolm McLaren managed them in New York, he saw something that stuck with him. He took that vision back to England, and when he formed the Pistols, it was clear that the DNA of the Dolls ran through them. You can trace a direct line from David Johansen to the explosion of punk culture, a movement that was less about perfect chords and more about attitude, defiance, and breaking the rules.

Beyond the Dolls, David reinvented himself time and time again. Whether as a solo artist, as the lounge-lizard crooner Buster Poindexter, or as a bluesman with the Harry Smiths, he never stopped exploring music, always finding new ways to express himself. His rendition of "Hot Hot Hot" may have brought him mainstream recognition, but to those who knew his body of work, he was so much more than that one song. He was rock and roll in its purest form—dangerous, soulful, and never predictable.

He wasn’t just a musician, either. He was a brilliant actor, stealing scenes in films like Scrooged and Let It Ride. He brought the same charisma and wit to the screen that he did to the stage, proving that his talents had no limits.

His later years saw him returning to his roots, reuniting with the Dolls, and continuing to perform with unrelenting passion. And let’s not forget Mansion of Fun, his radio show that showcased his endless love for music in all its forms, proving that his musical curiosity never wavered.

David Johansen left us on February 28, 2025, but his legacy is indestructible. His music, his spirit, and his impact will never fade. He didn’t just play rock and roll, he was rock and roll.

Rest in power, David. The world is a little less fun without you, but your music and your influence will echo forever."

 

Can't say I was ever really a fan of the Dolls or his solo work but I certainly deeply respect his importance to the punk scene and rock and roll in general so RIP David!
Edit- right, Scrooged I didn't realize it was even in a post up ahead of mine

 

Last edited: Mar 2, 2025

Unless you're talking about Scarlet Lipshitz. But if it's the actress, no he's not.

 

Scarlet's uncle?

 

If you're Lipshitz then my ass whistles! Baddoom.

David Johansen knew that one!

 

I've known it as 'if you're lipshitz, my ass talks'

One of my all time favorite 'bon mots' I often quoted in my youth

couple others....

A: "My face hurts"
B: "Well it's killing me"

A: "Have you got a match?"
B: "Yeah. My ass and your face."

 

Last edited: Mar 2, 2025

considering their last names are spelled different, I highly doubt it, lol.

 

Animals Medley: We Gotta Get Out of This Place / Don't Bring Me Down/ It's My Life