New York Dolls Frontman David Johansen Reveals He Has Stage 4 Cancer

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This ad for the New York Dolls’ debut album appeared in the August 18, 1973, issue of Record World magazine.

David Johansen, the legendary co-founder of the New York Dolls, announced today (February 10, 2025) that he has been living with stage 4 cancer and a brain tumor. Diagnosed in 2020, Johansen made the decision to keep his illness private, but due to the severe financial burden, he has decided to share. Last November, he fell and broke his back in two places, which required surgery. Despite a successful procedure, the performer, who turned 75 on January 9, is bedridden and incapacitated. For the best chance of recovery, he requires around-the-clock care.

Assisting in the Johansen family recovery efforts, Sweet Relief launched the David Johansen Fund. The most immediate needs are full time nursing, physical therapy and funding for day-to-day vital living expenses. With professional specialized care, the Johansen family remains hopeful that he can regain some mobility and independence. Sweet Relief is also offering a special Johansen T-shirt with all proceeds going to his treatment.

In a statement, Johansen said, “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.”

David Johansen (Photo: Bob Gruen; used with permission)

Johansen was recently the subject of Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi’s documentary Personality Crisis: One Night Only which brilliantly captured an evening of his songs and storytelling, while offering a little context to the wild tapestry of his life. Johansen was the lead singer and songwriter of the legendary New York Dolls, widely acknowledged as one of the first (and most dynamic) punk bands.

He later started his own group, the David Johansen Band, before reinventing himself yet again as a big band leader in the 1980s under the pseudonym Buster Poindexter. Although his 1987 recording of the song “Hot Hot Hot” wasn’t a significant chart hit, reaching only #45 on the Hot 100, it’s remained a cultural touchstone.

The personable entertainer has also dabbled in acting, perhaps most notably as the Ghost of Christmas Past in the 1988 Bill Murray film, Scrooged.

Inspired by his passion for the blues and arcane American folk music Johansen formed the group The Harry Smiths, and toured the world performing the songs of Howlin’ Wolf with Hubert Sumlin and Levon Helm. He continues to host his weekly radio show “The Mansion of Fun” on Sirius XM. He had an exhibition of his paintings in New York last summer at Elliot Templeton Fine Arts gallery. His recordings are available here.