The Pearl Jam guitarist pays tribute to the legendary New York Dolls frontman.
Mike McCready paid tribute to David Johansen, the iconic singer of the New York Dolls, who has passed away at the age of 75. In a social media post, the Pearl Jam guitarist highlighted the New York Dolls’ influence on Seattle’s early ‘80s music scene:
“Sadly, David Johansen of the incredibly influential New York Dolls died today. They were so ahead of their time. Too Much Too Soon, indeed. They were very important to me and my friends in the early ‘80s Seattle music scene. My band Shadow loved them and their wild clothes. They seemed free and dangerous while playing loud rock and roll. David Johansen at the helm – a singer with great attitude – and Johnny Thunders on guitar were great templates for the young bands of Seattle in the early ‘80s like Overlord, The Trids, Lipstick, Green River, and of course, Shadow.
Check out Personality Crisis, Trash, or Jet Boy.
Rest in Glam, David Johansen.
With LUV,
Mike McCready”
David Johansen’s Legacy
Born in Staten Island in 1950, Johansen founded the New York Dolls in 1971, revolutionizing rock music with a sound that laid the groundwork for both punk and glam rock. With their provocative aesthetic and rebellious attitude, the band had a profound influence on artists such as the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, and The Clash.
After the New York Dolls disbanded in 1976, Johansen launched a solo career, reinventing himself in the 1980s as Buster Poindexter, achieving mainstream success with the hit song Hot Hot Hot. Later, he explored blues music with David Johansen and the Harry Smiths, showcasing his versatility and solidifying his status as a cult figure in American music.
Alongside his music career, Johansen also pursued acting, appearing in several films and TV series, including Scrooged (1988) alongside Bill Murray. His life and career were recently chronicled in the 2023 documentary Personality Crisis: One Night Only, directed by Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi.
His impact on music remains undeniable, inspiring generations of artists, from the pioneers of punk to the Seattle scene of the ‘80s and ‘90s. McCready’s tribute is a testament to that enduring influence.
Born in Reggio Emilia in 1980. He created pearljamonline.it in 2001 and wrote the first edition of “Pearl Jam Evolution” in 2009 along with his wife Daria. Since 2022, he is behind 2 podcasts: “Pearl Jam dalla A alla Z” and “Fuori Orario Not Another Podcast”. He has collaborated with Barracuda Style, HvsR, Rolling Stone, Rockol and Il Fatto Quotidiano. He continues relentlessly to try to find “beautiful melodies that say terrible things”.
Favorite song: Present Tense
Favorite album: No Code
Favorite bands/artists other than PJ: Tom Waits, Soundgarden, Ramones, Bruce Springsteen, IDLES, Fontaines D.C., The Murder Capital, Dead Kennedys, Mark Lanegan, Cat Power, R.E.M.