New York Dolls guitarist Sylvain Sylvain dead at 69

New York Dolls guitarist Sylvain Sylvain died of cancer on Wednesday. The news was confirmed on his official Facebook page with a tribute written by Lenny Kaye. He was 69 years old.

In April 2019, Sylvain revealed that he had been battling cancer for a year. He has launched a GoFundMe campaign in the hope of covering the medical costs associated with his treatment.

Sylvain Sylvain was born Sylvain Mizrahi in Cairo. Sylvain’s family fled Egypt after encountering anti-Semitism and ended up in New York after a brief residency in Paris. He joined the New York Dolls in 1972 after befriending original band drummer Billy Murcia at his school in Queens. Sylvain contributed guitar, piano and vocals on the Dolls’ first two albums, 1973 New York dolls and 1974 Too too soon.

Sylvain embarked on a solo career after his stint with New York Dolls, released his eponymous first album in 1979. He recorded many solo albums until the late 1990s. When the New York Dolls reunited, Sylvain was appeared on their latest albums One day it will please us to remember (2006), Because i am so (2009), and Dancing backwards in high heels (2011).