David Johansen, the last living founding member of the New York Dolls, has stage 4 brain cancer. His daughter, Leah Hennessey, was the one who confirmed the sad news by posting stories on Instagram. She also detailed his father's case and health status on the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund.
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Hennessey revealed her father's diagnosis on her Instagram stories, reposting many other users' posts made in support of David Johansen.
"David is a legend but he's also my very real very sick Dad. I have so much to say but I guess I'll be posting about this a lot and I don't have to say it all now," she wrote on her story. "I know how dire so many of our situations are right now, and how much fundraising literally everyone is doing but if you love David or any of the magick he's brought into the world please just take a minute to read this or share it."
The story linked to an article in the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund named "David Johansen Fund." With David Johansen and his wife Mara Hennessey as the featured image, Leah went on to detail her father's battle with cancer.
Battling Cancer
According to her, David Johansen has been battling stage 4 cancer "for most of the past decade." However, it was at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, almost five years ago, that Johansen's cancer spread to his brain.
"There have been complications ever since," Hennessey wrote. "He's never made his diagnosis public, as he and my mother Mara are generally very private people, but we feel compelled to share this now, due to the increasingly severe financial burden our family is facing."
Not only is Johansen battling cancer, but he also suffered a serious fall last Thanksgiving. He broke his back in two places. Ever since he got out of the hospital, he has been "bedridden and incapacitated." Therefore, Leah Hennessey has asked people to donate to support her dad's wellbeing and his wife, who is supporting Johansen who has not been able to perform for five years.
"My mother's favorite acronym for God is 'Grace Over Drama.' Together we have endured crisis after crisis, but with the support of our community we hope to carry on laughing and loving our way through this most trying of times. Thank you for embracing our family, and for your love and generosity," Leah concludes.
