Why did David Johansen create Buster Poindexter? All we know about New York Dolls singer amid cancer diagnosis

Former New York Dolls frontman David Johansen has been battling with Stage IV cancer, as revealed by his daughter, Leah Hennessey. Recently, she launched a Sweet Relief fundraiser, disclosing the singer-songwriter’s health situation.

For those unaware, David Johansen began his singing career in the late 60s and got his initial recognition as the lead singer of the proto-punk band New York Dolls. However, Johansen rose to fame with his alter-ego Buster Poindexter, which he invented in the 1980s.

He created the alternate persona to do anything he wanted and to perform the music he liked. At the same time, Johnsen’s frequent touring was another reason behind Buster’s creation, as the role didn’t demand him to tour.

David explained the backstory behind the invention of Buster Poindexter during a 2015 interview with TheaterMania. In his own words,

“When I originally came up with Buster Poindexter, I was singing in rock-and-roll bands. We were touring two hundred and fifty nights a years.”

He further added,

“I decided I wanted to sing songs other than what I was singing. I wanted to refresh my palate, so to speak. I started at this little club down on Fifteenth Street called Tramps. I called myself Buster Poindexter because I didn't want people to come looking for David Johansen to sing "Funky But Chic."”

David concluded by saying,

“It turned out to be a great conceit. It gives me the opportunity to sing whatever I want and it doesn't have to fit into any genre or preconceived notion.”

Johansen was also the subject of Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi’s co-directed Showtime documentary Personality Crisis: One Night Only. In the docufilm, he said,

“With Buster, I can do anything I want. People aren’t expecting something else. They come because it’s unexpected what I’m gonna do. They kind of trust that it’s gonna be good, and it’s always good.”

Buster Poindexter’s role also gave him his first hit, “Hot Hot Hot,” a cover song featured in his self-titled 1987 album.

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David Johansen’s desire to sing “jump-blues” songs led to Buster Poindexter’s creation

As mentioned, Johnsen wanted to get rid of touring frequently while also being able to sing whatever he desired. It ultimately led to the birth of his beloved alter-ego, Buster Poindexter. In a 2013 interview with Vanity Fair, Johansen revealed how he created the persona. The Buster Goes Berserk singer revealed his desire to sing “jump blues” in the 1980s and was inspired by acts like Big Joe Turner and Big Mama Thornton. David Johansen said,

“I was playing in a rock band and I was listening to a lot of what I call pre–Hays Code rock ’n’ roll, what I call jump blues. I used to hang around in a saloon on 15th street called Tramps, where they had a lot of great acts like Big Joe Turner and Big Mama Thornton, who [did] residencies there. I had been itchin’ to sing some of these jump-blues songs, so I booked the place for four Mondays to do a little cabaret, and that’s how I started doing Buster.”

As Buster Poindexter, David Johansen released four albums between 1987 and 1997 before moving on to the Harry Smiths.

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David Johansen has been struggling with Stage IV cancer for years now

It has been years since David Johansen was diagnosed with cancer. The cancer progressed around 2020, resulting in a brain tumor. However, due to his privacy, the singer-songwriter never made his diagnosis public. Recently, his daughter, Leah, shared the news along with a fundraiser as a consequence of the “increasingly severe financial burden” that Johansen’s family has been facing.

Leah further revealed,

“The day after Thanksgiving David fell down the stairs and broke his back in two places. After a week in the hospital and a successful surgery David has been bedridden and incapacitated. Due to the trauma, David’s illness has progressed exponentially and my mother [Mara Hennessey] is caring for him around the clock.”

Describing David’s current condition, Leah explained how he is currently “physically debilitated,” and needs “specialized professional help.” She continued,

“Our most immediate needs are full time nursing, physical therapy and funding for day to day vital living expenses. With professional specialized care, we are hopeful that David can regain some mobility and independence.”

The fundraiser page on Sweet Relief’s official website also has a picture of David being hospitalized, while visitors can hit the “Donate Now” button to contribute.