David Johansen passed away from cancer on February 28. In recent years I steadfastly listened to his Mansion of Fun show on SiriusXM. It was a program in which Johansen would select a theme, and then choose songs that fit within it. For example, if the theme was "New Years Day," he might select 'This Will Be Our Year' by The Zombies. (This is actually a real life example of something he actually once did on his radio show a few years ago).
David Johansen wore many hats during his career in the musical industry. He rose to prominence in the 70s as the lead singer of pioneering punk band, The New York Dolls. While Great Britain had their own parallel punk scene, The New York Dolls (along with The Ramones) were the "IT" band that brought the genre to the masses Stateside.
In the 1980s, Johansen temporarily assumed a new persona in the form of Buster Poindexter. B.P. enjoyed moderate success with 'Hot, Hot, Hot,' a Latin-inspired swing tune that employed horns and maracas.
Notwithstanding the many twists and turns his career took, David Johansen had an imposing and influential presence within the music industry. Countless modern-day acts undoubtedly point to him as inspiring their own foray into music culture.
If there is one thing that might be remembered of David Johansen, it was his deep and resonant voice. He had a smoker's vocal, and many believe it was cigarettes that caused the cancer. However, a brain tumor has been listed as the only official cause of death at this time.
Johansen's compelling voice is showcased in his 1982 medley of hits by The Animals. In the medley, he sang three songs: 'We Gotta Get Out of This Place,' 'Don't Bring Me Down' and 'It's My Life.' The command he has over the stage is impeccable, and it is merely a microcosm of his colossal effect he had on generations of music creators and fans.
You can watch 'Animals Medley' by David Johansen in the player below:
