David Johansen, the charismatic frontman and last surviving member of the influential New York Dolls, passed away at 75 in his New York City home on February 28. Earlier this year, he had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and a brain tumor.

Photo Credit: New York Dolls at AVRO's TopPop in 1973 / CC by 3.0

Johansen's impact on music spans multiple decades and personas. Beyond fronting the New York Dolls, he gained recognition as his alter ego Buster Poindexter and later hosted SiriusXM's "The Mansion of Fun" radio program.

Born on Staten Island, Johansen showed early creative promise, writing poetry and lyrics while developing diverse musical influences from Cuban and R&B to artists like Otis Redding and Janis Joplin.

The New York Dolls, formed in the early 1970s, revolutionized rock with their groundbreaking combination of glam aesthetics and proto-punk sound. Though their original albums - "New York Dolls" (1973) and "Too Much Too Soon" (1974) - didn't achieve immediate commercial success, their influence proved immense. Their debut album later earned the #301 spot on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

The band's theatrical style, featuring teased hair, feminine clothes, and elaborate makeup, became a blueprint for '80s hair metal. Despite breaking up after just two albums due to internal conflicts and substance abuse issues, they reunited in 2004 at Morrissey's request for England's Meltdown Festival, leading to three more albums.

Johansen's artistic philosophy remained steadfast throughout his career. "When you're an artist, the main thing you want to do is inspire people," he told The Knoxville News-Sentinel in 2011. His influence continues through artists like Mötley Crüe's Tommy Lee and Blondie's Chris Stein, who cite the New York Dolls as a crucial inspiration.

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