Sylvain Sylvain, guitarist of the New York Dolls, died of cancer on Wednesday. The news was confirmed on his official Facebook page with a tribute written by Lenny Kaye. He was 69.
In April 2019, Sylvain revealed that he has been battling cancer for the past year. He has launched a GoFundMe campaign in hopes of covering medical costs associated with his treatment.
Sylvain Sylvain was born as Sylvain Mizrahi in Cairo. Sylvain’s family fled Egypt after confronting anti-Semitism, and ended up in a short home in Paris, New York. He joined the New York Dolls in 1972 after befriending a friend of original drummer Billy Murcia at his Queens school. Sylvain contributed guitar, piano and vocals to the Dolls’ first two albums, 1973s New York Dolls and 1974s Too much too soon.
Sylvain began a solo career after serving in the New York Dolls. He released his debut album of the same name in 1979. He recorded numerous albums as a solo artist until the late 1990s. When the New York Dolls reunite, Sylvain appears on their final albums One day we will please remember that too (2006), Because I see so (2009), and Dance backwards in high heels (2011).