In Memoriam

David Johansen

January 9, 1950 – February 28, 2025 · aged 75

Proto-Punk · Glam Rock

David Roger Johansen was the sneering, charismatic frontman of the New York Dolls and a foundational architect of both punk and glam rock. Born in Staten Island in 1950, Johansen and the Dolls erupted onto the downtown New York music scene in the early 1970s. Dressed in chaotic, thrift-store drag and playing with sloppy, high-energy aggression, they completely rejected the polished stadium rock of the era. Tracks like 'Personality Crisis' possessed a raw, ragged brilliance that directly inspired the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, and the entire punk movement. After the Dolls imploded, Johansen proved his immense versatility by reinventing himself in the 1980s as the pompadour-sporting lounge lizard Buster Poindexter, scoring a massive mainstream hit with the calypso anthem 'Hot Hot Hot.' He was a true rock and roll chameleon, a brilliant lyricist, and a beloved fixture of New York City's musical underground. He passed away on February 28, 2025, at the age of 75, leaving behind a wildly colorful, boundary-smashing legacy.

Milestones

Personality Crisis, Trash, Hot Hot Hot (as Buster Poindexter)

Also remembered in 2025

In Memoriam: all legends