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Otago Daily Times
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Obituary: David Johansen, musician
American singer, songwriter and actor, David Johansen, poses for a portrait circa 1980 at The Old Waldorf in San Francisco, California. Inspired by British glam rock and inspirational to the emergence of punk rock, David Johansen was the face of influential United States band the New York Dolls. A New York native, Johansen gravitated to Andy Warhol's Factory scene. Having cut his teeth in several bands and the theatre industry, Johansen's break came in 1971 when the Dolls then singer Johnny Thunders opted to stick to his bass. Their raucous lifestyle, androgynous look and wild-eyed hard rock earned them a cult following but not commercial success. The band's last show was in December 1976, just before the many bands who had taken their cue from the Dolls look and sound started to make it big. Johansen went solo, with limited success, although his blues/swing alter ego Buster Poindexter did trouble the lower reaches of the charts and one single, a cover of Hot Hot Hot, made the US top 20. The surviving New York Dolls reformed in 2004 for a London festival, touring until 2011. Johansen was also an accomplished actor whose credits included appearances in the films Scrooged and Freejack, as well as TV shows Oz and The Equaliser. David Johansen died on February 28 aged 75. — APL/agencies
Khaleej Times
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Toe-tapping King Charles reveals his favourite songs
Kylie Minogue's "The Loco-Motion", Ghanaian Highlife music and Diana Ross's "Upside Down" are the sounds guaranteed to get King Charles III on the dance floor, the UK monarch revealed Monday. The king has joined forces with Apple to launch "The King's Music Room", a radio show in which he shares his favourite songs from around the Commonwealth, and beyond. They reveal a surprising appreciation of disco, reggae and Afrobeats, and the songs which get the royal toes tapping. "The Loco-Motion", by Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue "has that infectious energy which makes it, I find, incredibly hard to sit still," Charles said as he introduced the song from Buckingham Palace, photographed behind a desk boasting an "On Air" sign. He also explained how he discovered Highlife music "and the urge to dance to that pulsating rhythm" when he first visited Ghana in the 1970s. "On my most recent visit to Ghana in 2018 I found myself dancing along to the next track, which is by Daddy Lumba -- who is regarded by some as the greatest musician Ghana has ever produced," he added, before playing "Mpempem Do Me". Although not from one of the Commonwealth nations, US singer Diana Ross' "Upside Down" is also "one of my particular favourites," said the king. "When I was much younger it was absolutely impossible not to get up and dance when it was played. I wonder if I can still just manage it," he joked. The king said that the songs evoked "many different styles and many different cultures" but that "all of them, like the family of Commonwealth nations, in their many different ways share the same love of life, in all its richness and diversity". The show was recorded to mark Commonwealth Day, which is being celebrated on Monday. The Commonwealth is a bloc of 56 nations, most of which are British ex-colonies. - 'Hot Hot Hot' - Jamaican reggae legend Bob Marley also makes the playlist, with his classic hit "Could You Be Loved". "I will tell you about a time when I met the great man himself. I remember when he came to London to perform when I was much younger and I met him at some event," recalled Charles. The 76-year-old monarch remembered Marley's "marvellous, infectious energy... but also his deep sincerity and his profound concern for his community. "I always recall his words 'the people have a voice inside them'; he gave the world that voice in a way that no-one who heard could ever forget," he said. Also from the Caribbean, Charles selected Millie Small's worldwide 1964 hit "My Boy Lollipop" and Montserratian musician Arrow's "Hot Hot Hot". "When I last visited the island, it certainly was," joked the king. On a more nostalgic note, the playlist also contains "The Very Thought of You" by 1930s crooner Al Bowlly. "For me there is something... irresistible about music from the 1920s and 1930s that reminds me of my much-loved grandmother. She used to play these sorts of music a lot, and also never fails to lift my spirits." Moving back to the present day, Charles confessed that there was a "performer so exceptional that I just could not resist including her music". "The incomparable Beyonce," said the king as he introduced the US pop star's song "Crazy in Love". Other songs to make the list include "La Vie En Rose" as sung by Grace Jones, "Love Me Again" by popular UK artist Raye and "KANTE" by Nigerian artist Davido. "It also features lyrics in pidgin, which I love in all its forms," said Charles. Miriam Makeba's "The Click Song", "My Country Man" by Jools Holland and Ruby Turner, Anoushka Shankar's "Indian Summer", Siti Nurhaliza's "Anta Permana", Kiri Te Kanawa's "E Te Iwi E" and Michael Buble's "Haven't Met You Yet" completed the list.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
David Johansen, influential singer for proto-punk New York Dolls, dead at 75
By Frank McGurty NEW YORK (Reuters) - David Johansen, the former lead singer for the New York Dolls, whose unvarnished sound and flamboyant style helped inspire punk and glam rock in the 1970s, has died at age 75, his wife Mara Hennessey said on Saturday. "We had a marvelous adventure of a life together," she said, confirming that Johansen had died on Friday afternoon. "He was an extraordinary man." See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Johansen, perhaps best known for the 1987 party hit "Hot Hot Hot" after he reinvented himself as the lounge singer Buster Poindexter, had been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and had a brain tumor, his daughter Leah Hennessey revealed last month. He had been dealing with cancer for a decade, she wrote in an online appeal for donations to help defray the cost of his medical care. His condition had worsened about five years ago, she said. A native of New York City, Johansen formed the Dolls in 1971 with bassist Arthur Kane, drummer Billy Murcia and guitarists Johnny Thunders and Rick Rivets, who was replaced by Sylvain Sylvain in 1972. Johansen was the last survivor from the band's classic lineup. In its early years, the band released two albums, "New York Dolls" (1973), produced by Todd Rundgren, and "Too Much Too Soon" (1974), with Johansen and Thunders writing most of the material. Neither of the albums were big sellers despite decent reviews. But the Dolls' buzzsaw sound and a style that featured heavy makeup, teased-out hair, high heels and spandex caught the attention of tastemakers and had an outsized influence on rock music in the 1970s and beyond. Critics say the band anticipated the emergence of punk, inspiring bands such as the Ramones, the Damned and the Sex Pistols, while fueling the genres of glam rock and heavy metal. Johansen had "guts" and "oozed style," said Todd Abramson, a music historian and DJ who hosts the Todd-O-Phonic Todd show on WFMU radio in Jersey City, New Jersey. "As ridiculous as some (or most) of his attire was, he made it work! You and I would look like absolute idiots but he looked cool," Abramson said. "And he was able to sound tougher with that New York accent and attitude wearing a dress than most people could have in jeans and a biker jacket." Morrissey, the singer-songwriter who fronted the Smiths and was once president of a New York Dolls fan club, posted a tribute to Johansen on his Morrissey Central website, captioned "RIP" and "NOSOTROS TE AMAMOS!" or "We love you." After the demise of the Dolls, Johansen performed an eclectic mix of jump blues, swing and other genres under the moniker Buster Poindexter, appearing frequently on "Saturday Night Live." Later, he focused on the blues with his band the Harry Smiths, and acted in television and films, notably appearing with Bill Murray in "Scrooged" (1988) as the Ghost of Christmas Past. Johansen's own life was the subject of a 2023 documentary co-directed by Martin Scorcese and David Tedeschi. The film -centered around a New York cabaret performance by Johansen, interspersed with archival footage of the Dolls - highlights the range of his musical tastes. "At his core he was a fan (and not just of music), and he wanted to share his passion with as many people as he could," Abramson said. (Reporting By Frank McGurty in New York; Editing by Nia Williams)
Reuters
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
David Johansen, influential singer for proto-punk New York Dolls, dead at 75
NEW YORK, March 1 (Reuters) - David Johansen, the former lead singer for the New York Dolls, whose unvarnished sound and flamboyant style helped inspire punk and glam rock in the 1970s, has died at age 75, his wife Mara Hennessey said on Saturday. "We had a marvelous adventure of a life together," she said, confirming that Johansen had died on Friday afternoon. "He was an extraordinary man." Johansen, perhaps best known for the 1987 party hit "Hot Hot Hot" after he reinvented himself as the lounge singer Buster Poindexter, had been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and had a brain tumor, his daughter Leah Hennessey revealed last month. He had been dealing with cancer for a decade, she wrote in an online appeal for donations to help defray the cost of his medical care. His condition had worsened about five years ago, she said. A native of New York City, Johansen formed the Dolls in 1971 with bassist Arthur Kane, drummer Billy Murcia and guitarists Johnny Thunders and Rick Rivets, who was replaced by Sylvain Sylvain in 1972. Johansen was the last survivor from the band's classic lineup. In its early years, the band released two albums, "New York Dolls" (1973), produced by Todd Rundgren, and "Too Much Too Soon" (1974), with Johansen and Thunders writing most of the material. Neither of the albums were big sellers despite decent reviews. But the Dolls' buzzsaw sound and a style that featured heavy makeup, teased-out hair, high heels and spandex caught the attention of tastemakers and had an outsized influence on rock music in the 1970s and beyond. Critics say the band anticipated the emergence of punk, inspiring bands such as the Ramones, the Damned and the Sex Pistols, while fueling the genres of glam rock and heavy metal. Johansen had "guts" and "oozed style," said Todd Abramson, a music historian and DJ who hosts the Todd-O-Phonic Todd show on WFMU radio in Jersey City, New Jersey. "As ridiculous as some (or most) of his attire was, he made it work! You and I would look like absolute idiots but he looked cool," Abramson said. "And he was able to sound tougher with that New York accent and attitude wearing a dress than most people could have in jeans and a biker jacket." Morrissey, the singer-songwriter who fronted the Smiths and was once president of a New York Dolls fan club, posted a tribute to Johansen on his Morrissey Central website, captioned "RIP" and "NOSOTROS TE AMAMOS!" or "We love you." After the demise of the Dolls, Johansen performed an eclectic mix of jump blues, swing and other genres under the moniker Buster Poindexter, appearing frequently on "Saturday Night Live." Later, he focused on the blues with his band the Harry Smiths, and acted in television and films, notably appearing with Bill Murray in "Scrooged" (1988) as the Ghost of Christmas Past. Johansen's own life was the subject of a 2023 documentary co-directed by Martin Scorcese and David Tedeschi. The film -centered around a New York cabaret performance by Johansen, interspersed with archival footage of the Dolls - highlights the range of his musical tastes. "At his core he was a fan (and not just of music), and he wanted to share his passion with as many people as he could," Abramson said.
USA Today
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
David Johansen, New York Dolls frontman with alter ego Buster Poindexter, dies at 75
David Johansen, New York Dolls frontman with alter ego Buster Poindexter, dies at 75 David Johansen, a punk legend and the last surviving member of the pioneering band the New York Dolls, has died. Johansen, who was 75, had been living with cancer for nearly a decade and a brain tumor for five years, according to a Sweet Relief Musicians Fund fundraiser. "David Johansen passed away peacefully at home, holding the hands of his wife Mara Hennessey and daughter Leah, in the sunlight surrounded by music and flowers," the family posted on the fundraiser site. "After a decade of profoundly compromised health he died of natural causes at the age of 75." Johansen's death was confirmed by his stepdaughter, Leah Hennessey, The New York Times and Rolling Stone reported. Academy Awards: Who are the 2025 Oscar nominees for best supporting actor? See the list, including Kieran Culkin David Johansen: A rock 'n' roll chameleon The New York Dolls, formed in 1971 and fronted by Johansen, were the forerunners of punk – thus, considered proto-punk pioneers – and glam rock as well, showing the way for bands such as Queen and Kiss. The band's 1973 self-titled debut – made by Johansen, guitarists Johnny Thunders and Sylvain Sylvain, bass player Arthur 'Killer' Kane, and drummer Jerry Nolan – is one of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. "Produced by Todd Rundgren, songs like 'Personality Crisis' and 'Bad Girl' drip with sleaze and style," reads its entry at No. 301. "Indeed, its hard to imagine the Ramones or the Replacements or a thousand other trash-junky bands without them." "What the Dolls did to be influential on punk was show that anybody could do it," Johansen is quoted as saying in the entry. Johansen, who had sung in other bands before joining the New York Dolls, embarked on a solo career in the late '70s after the Dolls' breakup. That led to his 1984 debut of musical persona Buster Poindexter, a lounge singer with a backing band that included horns. The first album yielded the hit single "Hot Hot Hot," a cover of a Caribbean dance song. His chameleon-like talent allowed him to move from punk to become "an ultrasmooth lounge singer," according to The Rolling Stone History of Rock & Roll. Johansen also explored country and folk-blues with his band David Johansen and the Harry Smiths (named after the chronicler of the Anthology of American Folk Music), releasing two albums the self-titled 2000 debut and "Shaker" in 2002. In the '80s, Johansen's acting career led to appearances on "Miami Vice" and "Oz." He also played the Ghost of Christmas Past in "Scrooged," which starred Bill Murray. The surviving members of the New York Dolls reunited in 2004, touring and making three studio albums, the last, "Dancing Backwards in High Heels" in 2011. It was followed by "Live from the Bowery 2011." Martin Scorsese chronicled Johansen's life in the 2023 documentary 'Personality Crisis: One Night Only,' co-directed by David Tedeschi. Johansen said in a statement to Rolling Stone earlier this month that he had broken his back in two different places when he fell down the stairs. That led the family to work with the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, "due to the increasingly severe financial burden our family is facing," Johansen's daughter, Leah Hennessey, wrote on Feb. 14. Two weeks later, the family posted about Johansen's death. "David and his family were deeply moved by the outpouring of love and support they've experienced recently as the result of having gone public with their challenges. He was thankful that he had a chance to be in touch with so many friends and family before he passed," the post on the Sweet Relief site said. "He knew he was ecstatically loved." Music fans and musicians took to social media to pay tribute to Johansen. Contributing: Taijuan Moorman. Follow Mike Snider on Threads, Bluesky and X: mikegsnider & @ & @mikesnider. What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day
