Rock icon David Johansen, frontman of the New York Dolls, is battling Stage 4 cancer and a brain tumor while facing serious financial struggles after a fall left him bedridden.
Rolling Stone revealed Johansen's private struggles, reporting that he is "bedridden and incapacitated" after he broke his back in two places during a fall in November. The Sweet Relief Musicians Fund has now set up the David Johansen Fund to assist with the rock singer's mounting medical expenses, including physical therapy, round-the-clock care, and daily living costs.
His family hopes the donations will help him regain mobility and some independence as he fights cancer. To support the cause, Sweet Relief has also released a special David Johansen T-shirt, with all proceeds going toward his treatment.
"We've been living with my illness for a long time, still having fun, seeing friends and family, carrying on, but this tumble the day after Thanksgiving really brought us to a whole new level of debilitation," Johansen said in a statement. "This is the worst pain I've ever experienced in my entire life. I've never been one to ask for help, but this is an emergency. Thank you."
The Sweet Relief Musicians Fund was founded in 1994 by Victoria Williams after her multiple sclerosis diagnosis left her struggling with medical expenses.
"Sweet Relief is honored to help David and his family during this difficult time in their lives," said Aric Steinberg, executive director at Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. "Our Directed Artist Funds can provide a meaningful solution when the community rallies around the recipient, and we anticipate that David's community will be eager to help here.
"His influence on the musical landscape with the New York Dolls is indelible, and his career as an actor and an artist has touched many people around the world. He's been knocked down, but we're here to help him back up with the help of his family, friends, and wider community of supporters."
Johansen rose to fame as the frontman of the pioneering punk band New York Dolls before launching a successful solo career. In the early 1980s, he adopted the persona of Buster Poindexter, performing in small clubs and later releasing a hit in 1987 with a cover of Alphonsus Cassell's "Hot Hot Hot." A year later, he appeared as the Ghost of Christmas Past in "Scrooged" alongside Bill Murray.
Johansen reunited with the surviving New York Dolls in 2004, touring globally and releasing three more albums before the group disbanded in 2011.
After the 2021 death of guitarist Sylvain Sylvain, Johansen became the last surviving original member. His 2020 performance at New York's Café Carlyle was filmed by Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi and became the foundation for their 2022 documentary, "Personality Crisis: One Night Only," which chronicles his life and career.