David Johansen has cancer of phase 4, brain tumor

  • David Johansen, the singer of Seminal Punk Band The New York Dolls who had a memorable role in 1988’s SCBOGED And solo hits under alter-ego buster poindexter, has fought phase 4 cancer, his daughter Leah Hennessy says
  • The music icon had a recent fall that left him ‘bedridden and incapacitated,’ left the family to launch a fundraiser to help pay his significant medical bills
  • The family has joined forces with Sweet Relief Musicians’ findings to raise money for his treatment

David Johansen, the singer of the sperm band New York Dolls, has cancer in phase 4, his daughter shared in a statement announcing collection efforts to care for his illness.

“David is a legend, but he is also my very really very sick father,” his daughter Leah Hennessy shared in one Instagram post On February 10, when she announced a partnership with Sweet relief Musician Fund – which provides financial assistance to artists and those in the music industry who are struggling with health challenges.

David Johansen in Los Angeles in 2023.

Matt Winkelmeyer/Deadline via Getty


On the charity website, Hennessey Johansen’s health struggle shared and explained: “David has been in intensive treatment for phase 4 cancer for most of the last decade.”

Although she did not offer details of his type of cancer, she shared it five years ago, it went on to a brain tumor. “There have been complications ever since. He has never published his diagnosis as he and my mother Mara are generally very private people, but we feel forced to share this now because of the increasingly difficult financial burden our family is facing. ”

“To make things worse, the day after Thanksgiving David fell down the stairs and broke his back in two places.” He underwent operation, but Hennessy explains that since then, ”David has been bedridden and incapacitated. Due to the trauma, David’s disease is advanced exponentially and my mother nurtures him around the clock. ”

David Johansen performs with New York Dolls in London in 2011.

Matt Kent/WireImage


As Johansen said in a statement reported by Rolling stones“We’ve been living with my illness for a long time, still having fun, seeing friends and family, going on, but this tumbled the day after Thanksgiving really brought us to a whole new level of weakening. This is the worst pain I have ever experienced throughout my life. I have never been one to ask for help but this is an emergency. Thanks. ”

The family collects money for full -time nursing and physical therapy as well as daily expenses. “With professional specialized care, we are hopeful that David can regain some mobility and independence,” Hennessey wrote.

Together with New York Dolls, Johansen is also known for his alter-ego Buster Poindexter; In 1987 he scored one Billboard Hit with Single, “Hot Hot” as the Outland Character, a year before his memorable turning as Ghost of Christmas Past in Bill Murry-Led Hit SCBOGED.

David Johansen (left) in “Scrooged” (right) as Buster Poindexter.

Moviestore/Shutterstock; Alamy


As Hennessy wrote in an Instagram post: “David is a legend, but he is also my very really sick father. I have so much to say, but I assume I am sending a lot about this and I don’t have to say it all now. I know how serious so many of our situations are right now and how much fundraising literally everyone is doing, but if you love David or one of the magick he has brought to the world, just take a minute to read this or share it. Thanks guys like always. ”

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