July 14, 2004
New York Dolls Bassist Dies

New York Dolls bassist Arthur Kane died last night (July 13) in Los Angeles
due to complications from leukemia, the group's manager confirms to
Billboard.com. He was 55. A memorial service will be held Saturday at the
Westwood chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The reunited Dolls were fresh off a well-received appearance at Morrissey's
Meltdown Festival in London last month and had also opened some of
Morrissey's concerts in May in New York. It is unclear if the David
Johansen-led group will still perform next month at Little Steven's
International Underground Garage Festival in New York.

"During rehearsal and the shows I was blessed to work with the Arthur I
first met and loved 30 years ago," Johansen said in a statement released to
Billboard.com. "The reunion was a source of great happiness for him, and the
dynamic between [guitarist] Sylvain [Sylvain], Arthur and myself was
brimming with unimaginable love. It's good to know that he went out on a
high point in his musical life, but he will be sorely missed. His bass
playing and presence were the heart & soul of the New York Dolls and the
secret ingredient of our sound."

The Dolls are scheduled to release an album for Morrissey's Attack imprint
in September, but no details have been revealed. "He was a very gentle soul
and I know he lived for many years with the hope of a Dolls reunion,"
Morrissey said in a statement released to Billboard.com. "When this
happened -- at the Royal Festival Hall in June -- I know Arthur was thrilled
to be back with David and Sylvain playing the music of the Dolls to such
enthusiastic crowds over two nights. I will always remember the look of
bashful happiness on Arthur's face as people in the audience constantly
called out his name. He was finally back where he belonged."

Kane is the fourth member of the pioneering glam rock outfit to pass away,
including guitarist Johnny Thunders, who died of a drug overdose in 1991.-- 
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.