Before punk had a name, before glam got its glitter-soaked reputation, there were the New York Dolls
Wild, reckless, and wearing their gender-bending style like a badge of honour, the New York Dolls blazed through the early ‘70s, laying the groundwork for everyone from the Sex Pistols to The Strokes.
Their self-titled debut in 1973 was a riot of screeching guitars and lipstick-stained nihilism, with tracks like Personality Crisis and Trash defining a movement before it even existed. At the core of it all? David Johansen—the snarling, charismatic frontman who’s now facing the biggest fight of his life.
Johansen has revealed he is battling stage 4 cancer and a brain tumor, with his condition further complicated by a severe injury sustained last year. His daughter, Leah Hennessey, has launched a fundraising campaign to cover his medical treatment and care, as the family faces mounting expenses.
Hennessey shared that Johansen has been undergoing intensive cancer treatment for nearly a decade but kept his diagnosis private until now. In 2020, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and last November, a fall down the stairs left him with a broken back in two places. The accident has significantly worsened his condition, leaving him bedridden and in urgent need of round-the-clock medical support.
In a statement shared via Brooklyn Vegan, Johansen described the severity of his current situation: “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. Thank you.”
The fundraising site is seeking donations to provide full-time nursing care, physical therapy, and assistance with day-to-day expenses. Hennessey explained the difficult decision to make Johansen’s condition public, stating: “He’s never made his diagnosis public, as he and my mother Mara are generally very private people, but we feel compelled to share this now, due to the increasingly severe financial burden our family is facing.”
The New York Dolls have always been a revolving cast of larger-than-life figures. The classic lineup—Johansen, the late, great Sylvain Sylvain, Johnny Thunders, Arthur Kane, and Jerry Nolan—embodied rock ‘n’ roll excess and raw, untamed energy. Through countless reunions and reinventions, Johansen remained the lifeblood of the Dolls, keeping their spirit alive long after their heyday. Now, as he faces this immense challenge, it’s time for fans to give back to the man who helped shape modern rock as we know it.
Here are five reasons why the New York Dolls still matter:
1. They Were Punk Before Punk
Before the Ramones, the Dolls were already sneering through New York’s dive bars, turning trashy rock ‘n’ roll into an art form. Their influence on punk is undeniable.
2. Their Songs Are Still Electric
From Jet Boy to Looking for a Kiss, their music remains as thrilling as ever—dirty, dangerous, and impossible to ignore.
3. David Johansen’s Swagger is Legendary
His stage presence, his voice, and his wit made him one of the most charismatic frontmen of all time. Whether as Buster Poindexter or the Dolls’ leader, he’s always been unforgettable.
4. They Influenced Everyone
Guns N’ Roses, The Smiths, The Strokes—all of them owe something to the Dolls. Their DNA is in every great rock band that came after them.
5. Their Legacy is Untouchable
They weren’t just a band; they were a movement. The Dolls made rock ‘n’ roll fun, dangerous, and deeply personal all at once.
Johansen’s battle is a tough one, but fans can show their love and appreciation by contributing to his fundraiser. In the meantime, crank up the Dolls and remember why they were one of the greatest rock bands of all time.
