While the late great David Johansen will always be synonymous with The New York Dolls, he went on to arguably greater pop-culture notoriety by reinventing himself with his kitschy alter-ego Buster Poindexter in the late 80s. Indeed, he accidentally scored a hit song via his cover of “Hot Hot Hot” in 1987, a tune he hilariously described as “the bane of my life” given its pervasive popularity at weddings and karaoke bars around the world. But that song is just the tip of the peculiar Poindexter iceberg, as practically every tune in his Buster catalog can be immensely entertaining if you’re in on the schtick.
But to truly get the whole Poindexter experience, you’ve got to see it live, complete with his trademarked pompadour style, backup singers, and horn-section, which this performance of “Cannibal” on Letterman back in 1988 manages to capture magnificently. Just seeing him strut out to take his place on stage is hilarious enough, and then, of course, the rest of the performance is classic Poindexter! Long live Buster, and R.I.P. to the late, great David Johansen, who was truly a man of many talents. He will be missed.
