David Johansen, who fronted the New York Dolls, dies at 75

David Johansen, the chameleonic and charismatic vocalist who fronted the New York Dolls and found solo success under the moniker Buster Poindexter, died on Friday, his publicist confirmed to NPR. He was 75.

Last month, his family revealed that he had been in “intensive treatment” for stage 4 cancer. The punk pioneer “died of natural causes after nearly a decade of illness,” according to the publicist’s statement.

Johansen died at his New York City home “holding hands with his wife Mara Hennessey and daughter Leah, surrounded by music, flowers, and love,” it read.

A full obit will follow.

The New York Dolls perform at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York on Oct. 31, 1973. At right is lead singer David Johansen, with guitarist Sylvain Sylvain.
The New York Dolls perform at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York on Oct. 31, 1973. At right is lead singer David Johansen, with guitarist Sylvain Sylvain. (Richard Drew | AP)

 

Colombia’s lone Amazon port faces drying river and rising tensions with Peru

Colombia's only Amazon port town could soon be cut off from the river that keeps it alive. As drought and a shifting river spark a tense border dispute with Peru, locals are scrambling to adapt—and politicians are raising flags, literally.

Sunday Puzzle: Common denominator

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with Weekend Edition puzzlemaster Will Shortz along with listener Cynthia Rose of Littleton, Colorado.

South Korea says it has reached a deal with the US for the release of workers in a Georgia plant

More than 300 South Korean workers were detained in an immigration raid on Thursday. Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said South Korea plans to send a charter plane to bring the workers home.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to resign

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has expressed his intention on Sunday to step down following growing calls from his party to take responsibility for a historic defeat in July's parliamentary election.

Fantasy or faith? One company’s AI-generated Bible content stirs controversy

"The AI Bible is a way to really bring these stories to life in a way that people have never seen before. Think of if we were like, the Marvel Universe of faith," said one of the site's creators.

A teen nicknamed ‘God’s influencer’ is becoming the first millennial saint

Carlo Acutis, who died of leukemia at 15 in 2006, is known in the Catholic Church as "God's influencer" for harnessing technology to spread the word about miracles.

More Front Page Coverage