Sylvain Sylvain, guitarist for the influential New York Dolls, dies at 69

Sylvain Sylvain at a New York Dolls concert in 2011.

Sylvain Sylvain, guitarist for the influential 1970s rock band New York Dolls, died Wednesday at the age of 69 of cancer, according to the musician's family in a statement posted on Facebook.

“As most of you know, Sylvain battled cancer for the past two and a half years.

Although he fought bravely, yesterday he passed away from this disease, ”says the text.

“Although we mourn his loss, we know that he is now finally at peace and pain free.

Please kick up his music, light a candle, say a prayer and let's send this

on her way, "he added in a pun on the group's name, New York Dolls.

David Johansen, the New York Dolls singer and the only member of the band's classic line-up still alive, said goodbye to his former partner on Friday.

“I'm going to miss you, old man.

I will keep the house fires burning "wrote the 71-year-old vocalist on Instagram, adding:"

"(

, Syl, my old friend).

Born in 1951 in Cairo as Sylvain Mizrahi, the musician spent with his family in France before moving to New York.

He played in various bands before replacing guitarist Rick Rivets in the newly formed New York Dolls in the early 1970s. With David Johansen on vocals, Johnny Thunders and Sylvain Sylvain on guitars, Arthur Kane on bassist and Jerry Nolan on drums ( who replaced the deceased by an overdose Billy Murcia), New York Dolls were an exciting group that served as a bridge between different styles

They drank from the street rock of bands like The Rolling Stones and used the sexual ambiguity of

, but they also anticipated the provocation and rebellion that punk would bring in the second half of the 70s. Their fantastic debut album

(1973), featuring Songs like

, usually appear on the lists of best rock albums in history, is considered a clear precedent for punk, and was an important influence for groups like Ramones.

Very given to wearing

androgynous

in their appearances, the New York Dolls released their second album,

(1974)

a year later

, before going into crisis and finally disbanding in 1977. Sylvain Sylvain continued to play with Johansen for a time and He also launched his solo career after the New York Dolls.

In 2004, Morrissey, the former singer of The Smiths, invited the three living members of the New York Dolls (David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain, and Arthur Kane) to perform at the Meltdown Festival.

This meeting had a very sad epilogue as Kane died a few weeks later from leukemia.

With only Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain at the helm, New York Dolls released three albums with new material in the 21st century: One

(2006),

(2009) and

(2011).