Sylvain Sylvain of New York Dolls has died
The New York Dolls guitarist was found dead at age 69. Sylvain, known as the guitarist of New York Dolls, died on Wednesday (January 13) after a long battle with cancer. He was 69 years old.
By Dimitris (Bari) Polyzois
The news was announced today (January 15) on the guitarist's Facebook page. Lenny Kaye, guitarist of Patti Smith Group, paid a huge tribute to the glam rock pioneer guitarist. "My friend has been fighting cancer for the past two and a half years," Kaye wrote. "Although he fought it bravely, he died from the disease yesterday. While we mourn his loss, we know that he is finally at peace and free of pain.
"Please listen to his music, light a candle, say a prayer, and let's all send our wishes together for the departure of our beloved friend."
See the full post below:
Sylvain's journey in and out of New York Dolls
In April 2019, the guitarist revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer and set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for treatment. It was unclear what form of cancer he had.
He was born Sylvain Mizrahi in Cairo, Egypt in 1951. Shortly after his birth, his family left the country to escape antisemitism. He eventually settled in New York after a period in Paris.
In 1972, Sylvain, being friends with New York Dolls drummer Billy Murcia, joined the band. He served as rhythm guitarist until the iconic group's breakup in 1977. He was also part of the Dolls' reunion in the mid-2000s, releasing a trio of albums. The One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This (2006), Cause I Sez So (2009) and Dancing Backward In High Heels (2011).
He was also a prolific solo musician. He released his debut solo album, Sylvain Sylvain, in 1979. He continued to play in bands like The Criminals and Batusis until 2010.
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