David Johansen’s Cancer Treatment Fundraiser Lists Donations by Martin Scorsese, Colin Jost, More

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Notable figures from Hollywood and the music industry seem to be contributing generously towards a fundraising event for David Johansen, former member of the New York Dolls and an alumnus of Saturday Night Live, as he fights against brain cancer.

Martin Scorsese, Colin Jost, Rob Stringer from Sony Music, Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Merck Mercuriadis from Hipgnosis Song Fund, and the George Lopez Foundation are among those who have donated to Johansen’s Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. This organization offers financial aid to musicians facing health issues.

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A list of generous donors includes Martin Scorsese, Colin Jost, Sony Music’s Rob Stringer, Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, Hipgnosis Song Fund’s Merck Mercuriadis, the George Lopez Foundation, and more notables. They have all made contributions to Johansen’s Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, a charity that supports artists dealing with health difficulties.

David is well-known as a legend, but he’s also my father who is seriously ill,” Leah Hennessy shared on her Instagram Story on Monday. She made this statement in cooperation with Johansen’s Sweet Relief page, which discloses that he has been undergoing treatment for stage 4 cancer for most of the last ten years.

I’ve had the pleasure of discovering that some amazing individuals have contributed generously to this fund. Martin Scorsese (the brilliant mind behind the 2022 Johansen documentary “Personality Crisis”), George Lopez Foundation, Greg Whiteley, Ira Levy, Andrew Douglas, Craig Campbell, Yul Vasquez, R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, Kenny Sweet, and Lenny Kaye are among the contributors who have donated anywhere from $250 to $1,000. Mike Doughty from Soul Coughing upped the ante with a generous $2,500 donation, and Jost made a significant impact with a contribution of $5,000. It’s truly heartening to see such support for this cause!

Hennessy didn’t mention the exact diagnosis, but five years ago, her father developed a brain tumor. Since then, there have been ongoing complications.

Hennessy stated that he’s kept his diagnosis private, as he and his mother Mara are typically private individuals. However, they feel it necessary to disclose this information now, given the growing financial strain our family is experiencing. Unfortunately, the day after Thanksgiving, David suffered a fall down the stairs and fractured his back in two places.

Johansen additionally spoke with Rolling Stone, expressing, “We’ve been coping with my health issue for quite some time now, continuing to enjoy ourselves, socialize with friends and family, and carry on, but the fall the day after Thanksgiving took our struggle to a completely new depth of disability. This is the most intense pain I’ve ever felt in all my years. I’m usually self-reliant, but this situation calls for assistance. Thanks.

It’s not specified exactly how much money Johansen’s fund has collected so far. However, the website clarifies that the funds will be allocated towards covering full-time nursing care, physical therapy services, and daily essential living costs.

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2025-02-12 07:25