I had the privilege of working with David between 2000 – 2003 in his \u201cHarry Smiths\u201d era. We played at the Bottom Line once a month and other NY area venues- and a short European tour. There\u2019s 2 albums \u201cDavid Johansen and the Harry Smiths\u201d recorded on Chesky records. They were both recorded at St. Peter\u2019s Church in NYC. I worked on the second record with him entitled \u201cShaker.\u201d The band name referencing the \u201cAnthology of American Folk Music\u201d by Smith. The music was old Americana, Blues, work songs, but with some very sophisticated arrangements and with an open, improvisational approach at times. It was a thrill for me- one of the most inspiring musical situations I\u2019ve been in. David was magical – I loved every minute of it. If you were there, you know for sure. RIP David Jo- much LUV<\/p>\n
Keith Carlock<\/p>\n
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When I was a teenager still attending high school in New Jersey my then-manager, Toby Mamis (aka the famous Toby Mamis) facilitated my band opening for the New York Dolls at several venues in Manhattan (we were so young that we had to be driven in to NYC)\u2026 and imagine our shock and surprise at being these clean-cut high school teenagers opening for David Jo\u2019s band! They were somewhat intimidating because they appeared like something out of another dimension. However, what I remember most was how friendly and gracious David was backstage to me and my band mates (in fact, when one of the other members was posing like he was gonna throw a water balloon at us while we were on stage just for fun, I saw David stop him). At one point in speaking with David backstage somewhere around 2am, it was he that was shocked and surprised to hear that I would be driven back to the suburbs and then attend high school the next morning.<\/p>\n
Somehow, over the years, David and I continued to encounter each other at various events and venues, through his subsequent incarnations, including one of my: Buster Poindexter. He always smiled when I would introduce myself and remind him of that early meeting as this opening act\u2026 or at least he feigned \u00a0remembering. Either way, that is an example of what a classy gentleman and a kind soul David Johansson was. The world needs more people like that. He will be missed.<\/p>\n
Wallace Collins<\/p>\n
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David Johansen was my friend.\u00a0 Johnny and Syl too.\u00a0 I was there from pretty much the beginning, helping them get press coverage by inviting all my rock press friends, and also industry folks, to see them.\u00a0 At the Diplomat, at Max’s, at the Mercer.\u00a0 Placing little ads in the Village Voice for their shows.\u00a0 Setting up photo sessions.<\/p>\n
When people say “you had to be there,” well that was absolutely true.<\/p>\n
I love those two Mercury albums, even though neither of them captures the live excitement of the band.\u00a0 They are great albums that have stood the test of time.<\/p>\n
Todd tried to tame them, Shadow Morton tried to frame them.<\/p>\n
Running into David over the years, all around the world, was always a hoot. I last saw him in 2011, when we had the re-formed Dolls (David, Syl, Earl Slick, Kenny Aaronson, and a drummer whose name I cannot for life of me remember tonight) open for Alice on a UK arena tour.\u00a0 I was still doing what I could for my friends.<\/p>\n
While the news was not unexpected, it still took my breath away today.<\/p>\n
When Syl passed away a coupla years ago, USA Today (I think) asked David for his thoughts on being the last living NY Doll.\u00a0 “I guess I’m next” was his reply.<\/p>\n
Toby Mamis<\/p>\n
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In the eighties I saw David perform at the now long gone Ripley Music Hall on South Street in Philly. It was a wintry week night and attendance was sparse.<\/p>\n
At the end of the band\u2019s set, David announced from the stage \u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to do this.\u201d And promptly walked into the audience, shook everyone\u2019s hand and personally thanked them for coming.<\/p>\n
He was a unique talent with a very playful personality. I know I will miss him but certainly not my memory of that moment.<\/p>\n
Rest in peace David.<\/p>\n
Best,<\/p>\n
Andrew Paciocco<\/p>\n
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David Johansen lived not far from me in Staten Island. Although we graduated from the same high school (Port Richmond), we were not friends and never interacted personally. He was thirty two years older than me. But occasionally I’d see him shopping at the local Key Food on Forest Avenue. Nobody would recognize him, he was just… there. Staten Island has few noteworthy people. He was one of them. And yet, he was always still a Staten Islander. No matter how inside he went, he remained an outsider ’till the end. Ultimate respect.<\/p>\n
Paul Cantor<\/p>\n
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The writing was on the wall when David Johansen\u2019s health issues went public a few weeks ago. We knew he wouldn\u2019t be around long, he had already been battling.<\/p>\n
It was then I reminisced about when David came onto my radar, when \u201cLive It Up\u201d was released. He absolutely slayed that Animals medley and the other covers and what a hot band he had! I had no idea he was a New York Doll in makeup and high heels just some years before!<\/p>\n
I worked backwards and loved and appreciated the Dolls and their influence.<\/p>\n
Like you said, he missed out on the riches of that one big payday, and there had to be some dark days of a rock-n-roll life lived in NYC, but he was a survivor, and he had that swagger into his later years.<\/p>\n
It was pretty telling that when he passed the tributes flowed freely and piled up from everywhere.<\/p>\n
These one-of-a-kind rockers that are passing are never going to be replaced, sadly.<\/p>\n
Warmest Regards,
\nBrian Friel<\/p>\n
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Beautiful tribute to David Johansen and a perfectly painted and accurate portrait of his career.<\/p>\n
Hard to forget how much pressure was on that first solo album in 1978. What do you do after the New York Dolls?? The songs were powerful and provocative and Johansen seemed both desperate and confident at the same time. But for me the secret weapon was the band behind him\u2014 A group of Staten Island musicians who approached him once on the ferry when he didn\u2019t have much going on. They begged for a shot and he gave it to them. Thomas Trask, Buzzy Verno, Frankie Larocca and Jonny Rao who all looked as if they had been cast by Martin Scorsese, stepped up and gave him what he needed at that moment: a gritty, no nonsense yet sparklingly \u00a0talented back up band that was funky, chic and could \u201cscrub him on down in any old Launderette.\u201d<\/p>\n
As I heard so many times in so many tri-state area clubs in the glorious high school summer of 1978, \u201cladies and gentlemen, the David Johansen group!\u201d<\/p>\n
And then it was off to the races.<\/p>\n
Rest in peace, Buzzy, Frankie, Johnny, Arthur, Jerry, Sylvain\u2026 And now David.<\/p>\n
Chris Epting<\/p>\n
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‘everyone’s going to your house \/ to shoot up in your room \/ most of them are beautiful \/ but so obsessed with gloom’<\/p>\n
rip to one of the great ones — great tribute sir<\/p>\n
cheers,<\/p>\n
David Williams<\/p>\n
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Dave\u2019s first group on Staten Island was the Vagabond Missionaries: all local neighborhood guys. Thats where he started.<\/p>\n
John Bennett<\/p>\n
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Undoubtedly, one of the best frontmen of all time! \u00a0Among my friends he is a God and will live on forever! \u00a0I was lucky to see them on the reunion tours a couple times and even had Sylvain Sylvain in my car once when he was on a solo tour. \u00a0The New York Dolls paved the way for so much I love about rock n roll! \u00a0Long Live The Dolls! \u00a0I also donated to the Sweet<\/p>\n
Relief fund and got a great shirt, how do you spell love? \u00a0Luv…<\/p>\n
Tim Pyles<\/p>\n
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Some of my greatest music memories were created around him… seeing the Dolls perform twice in one day in a tent at the Minnesota State Fair for two bucks a pop, and taking a couple of goes at a carnival game with\u00a0Johnny Thunders between the shows…joining a conga line down Kinzie street in Chicago while Buster passed bottles of vodka down the rank…having a nice chat with David after running into him in Union Square Park back in the early 90s. Just minutes after reading your email, I watched SNL for the first time in months, and was heartened to see the tribute, however brief, for the lonely planet boy.<\/p>\n
Thomas Wilson<\/p>\n
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I saw David Johansen open for The Ramones at Brandeis University and he and his band were fantastic. I have to hand it to his sound guy because he managed to get a great mix in that awful gymnasium.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, it was the worst possible venue to see The Ramones. It was too big, and the acoustics were brutal for punk. Halfway through the show we were looking around the audience for people we knew.<\/p>\n
It was the only time I saw The Ramones and I don\u2019t remember a single song from it. David\u2019s performance, however, is one that I will always remember.<\/p>\n
Cheers,<\/p>\n
Tom Quinn<\/p>\n
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Bob, you perfectly captured the story and the vibe.
\nI had the privilege of meeting David several times, the dude was a gentleman.
\nThank you,<\/p>\n
Michael Biondo<\/p>\n
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Nicely done Bob\u2026.<\/p>\n
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Never got to see the original lineup but got to see them a few times after they re-formed.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The first time at SXSW when they played a set ay Stubb\u2019s BBQ was one of my greatest rock & roll moments ever.\u00a0 After seeing all these wanna-be electronic and shoe-gazing bands\u2026as soon as they hit the stage with \u201cLooking For A Kiss\u201d it took me back to\u00a0 the greasy rock & roll I loved.\u00a0 I was so excited I almost felt like climbing over the wall and jumping up on stage.<\/p>\n
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For that one night I believed\u2026to quote Danny & the Juniors\u2026 that \u201crock & roll here\u2019s to stay\u201d.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Not so sure anymore.<\/p>\n
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God rest David and hopes he meets up with Sylvain, Johnny, Arthur, Billy, and Jerry up above.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That would be one wild reunion party in heaven.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
#LUV<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Brian Helgesen<\/p>\n
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I remember being a freshman in high school in the fall of 1973 and reading about the Dolls in Circus magazine. Their look got my attention, but they hadn\u2019t gotten airplay in Chicago yet, at least that I had heard, and buying an album was a financial commitment so I gave them no more thought.<\/p>\n
Then I saw them on The Midnight Special. The look was outrageous, but the thing that sold me was the raw rock and roll sound! \u00a0It was primal, far apart from Yes, Led Zeppelin, and the Eagles, and I loved it.<\/p>\n
In November of that year I turned 15 and my aunt gave me a $10 gift certificate to Gordons Department Store, on the corner of Broadway and Massachusetts, downtown Gary, IN.<\/p>\n
Like so many department stores of the time they had a small record department. \u00a0I remember going there and hoping there might be something that was halfway interesting to buy for my growing record collection but not being very hopeful<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t believe my eyes when I saw the Dolls debut album in the N section. I bought it and played it more than any album I bought that year.<\/p>\n
The second album came out and I heard it but it didn\u2019t move me like the first one did so I didn\u2019t buy it until many years later when I found a copy in a cutout bin.<\/p>\n
I saw David in the early 80\u2019s opening for the Who and remember being surprised that he was still around, but impressed with the set he and his band played.<\/p>\n
When he reappeared as Buster Poindexter a few years later I remember thinking that he had finally hit the big time, but it wasn\u2019t my cup of tea.<\/p>\n
I had forgotten about him again until I saw the Scorsese documentary last year. The thing that hit me the hardest was that it looked like he had worked really hard to keep from going under, to stay in the game and that he had succeeded, but that he had also paid a price, as evidenced by the lines on his face.<\/p>\n
But the film also reminded me that before the Ramones, before the Pistols, there were the Dolls, and for a brief moment they were the torch bearers for real, raw, rock and roll.<\/p>\n
Jim Blaney<\/p>\n
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Saw the Dolls in seventy-whatever on a double bill with Lynyrd Skynyrd at a converted bowling alley in Springfield, Missouri, both bands 100% intact and at the top of their game.<\/p>\n
Maybe a couple hundred people there, barely. Everybody sat on the floor. That way our faces were closer to our jaws.<\/p>\n
Feather boas meeting flannel denim. Both bands performed like they were at the Garden. It was fantastic, in spite of the cognitive dissonance.<\/p>\n
dale mccoy<\/p>\n
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Thank you for that refresher course on David. The Dolls were a band that you heard about but never saw. Mink DeVille was another. When I frequented New Orleans, Eric and Willie were hanging out and sitting in. Got to see Eric and Willie together.<\/p>\n
Flash forward to SXSW. The Dolls comeback. I shot the show at Stubbs. I was walking to my car after and David happened to be in front of me. He very kindly posed for a photo.<\/p>\n
I listened to the Dolls on Spotify, yesterday. Now I have to get the Live album thanks to your mention of it.<\/p>\n
John Kauchick<\/p>\n
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I didn\u2019t know David had died until I read your column and this news sucks. I saw the Dolls at Massey Hall (!) in Toronto in the summer of \u201974. Somehow KISS was the opening act and allowed to use their full range of tricks (which were many) in their set. They were virtually unknown in Toronto at the time (I\u2019d never heard of them) and to be honest I was pissed that The Stooges dropped off the advertised bill The Dolls simply couldn\u2019t follow KISS, which was a shame.<\/p>\n
That didn\u2019t deter me from my Dolls\u2019 fandom though and I followed Johansen\u2019s career and loved his solo stuff, even when he pivoted to Buster Pointdexter territory. The man was a born star with a huge personality – crisis or not – and I am very sorry he\u2019s left us.<\/p>\n
Mike Campbell<\/p>\n
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No TV ? The Dolls were on “Midnight Special” and<\/p>\n
“Don Kirschner’s Rock Concert”<\/p>\n