Punk PInation David Johansen Dies At The Age Of 75

JAKARTA - The vocalist of the punk New York Dolls, David Johansen, died at the age of 75. He breathed his last at his home in New York City, United States on Friday, February 28 afternoon.

Representative David Johansen stated that the musician died naturally, after nearly a decade of illness.

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, "said Johansen's representative, citing Billboard, Monday, March 3.

In early February, Johansen had revealed his health condition, which had to struggle with stage four cancer and brain tumors.

He got the diagnosis in 2020. After falling which resulted in his back broken in two places in November 2024, he decided to share his story.

"We've been living with my illness for a long time, still having fun, meeting friends and family, and continuing to live life, but falling ill the day after Thanksgiving really made us so weak," said Johansen.

"This is the worst pain I've ever experienced in my life. I've never asked for help, but it's an emergency. Thank you."

The family also asked for help by launching Sweet Relief funds on behalf of Johansen, to help with the ongoing maintenance costs at that time.

"He never announced his diagnosis to the public, because he and my mother, Mara, are generally very private people. But we feel we have to share this now, because of the increasingly heavy financial burden our family is facing," wrote the daughter, Leah on the fundraising page.

For information, Johansen joined New York Dolls as a punk pioneer in 1971, playing his first show with the group at the homeless shelter on Christmas Eve that year.

Outside of Dolls, Johansen released four solo albums between 1978 and 1984.