David Johansen, who segued from being the New York Dolls frontman to his Buster Poindexter alter ego and back again, has died at age 75.

David Johansen has died at the age of 75 after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, PEOPLE can confirm. Johansen was known for his work as the lead singer of the New York Dolls and his cabaret career as Buster Poindexter.

"In the history books, it would always say, ‘They were trashy. They were flashy. They were drug addicts. They were drag queens,'" Johansen said. "I realized that, you know, it really is art.”