Set off warning: This text comprises mentions of loss of life.
David Johansen, the frontman of 70s hit punk band New York Dolls, handed away at 75. His daughter, Leah Hennessey, confirmed the tragic information to a number of shops on Friday, February 28, weeks after disclosing Johansen’s stage 4 most cancers.
Within the announcement, Hennessey revealed that her father died peacefully resulting from pure causes whereas holding her and her mom Mara’s fingers “within the daylight surrounded by music and flowers.”
The late musician had been coping with well being points for years. Final month, Hennessey shared a put up revealing her father’s deteriorating well being. She disclosed that 5 years in the past, in the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, his most cancers progressed right into a mind tumor.
The punk musician and his spouse Mara are non-public individuals who stored his well being points away from the general public eye, as per Hennessey. However they needed to disclose it as a result of “more and more extreme monetary burden” his household has been dealing with amid his intensive remedies over the previous decade.
Within the loss of life announcement assertion, Hennessey expressed gratitude for the outpouring of affection and help her household had been getting since they made the late singer’s prognosis public. “He was grateful that he had an opportunity to be in contact with so many family and friends earlier than he handed,” she added.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Johansen briefly spoke about his terminal sickness and gave a glimpse into his low-key life. He advised the outlet that he and his household have been “dwelling” with the sickness for some time however nonetheless handle to have “enjoyable,” meet up with associates and keep it up.
However a fall round Thanksgiving 2024 “introduced us to an entire new stage of debilitation,” he revealed on the time. New York Dolls was a short-lived however memorable punk band of the 70s.
After the band dissolved in 1975, Johansen launched 4 solo albums and two stay albums below his personal title, 4 albums below the pseudonym Buster Poindexter, and two extra albums as David Johansen and the Harry Smiths.
He additionally made performing cameos, most memorably within the HBO drama Oz, and appeared on Saturday Evening Dwell as a musical visitor. Johansen is survived by daughter Leah and spouse Mara Hennessey.