He was a volunteer (missionary?) working at LDS genealogical services.

He was also the former bass player of the influential punk band New York Dolls, and a documentary was made about him titled "New York Doll"

Not sure if he was fried on drugs, or had some serious mental problems.

The documentary certainly made it look like LDS Inc exploited him.

I think the whole band stayed at my house near Santa Barbara, as guests of my roommate, in 1972 or 3. I saw a couple of them briefly. They mostly stayed in their rooms and went out after midnight. They looked very ill and I thought they were on heroin.

Really?! Do tell more. they are a legendary band.

Saw a few of them briefly in passing. They were white and pasty and had weird clothes. It crossed my mind that someone might overdose.

I was a vegetarian and got up at 5:30 and went for a run every day (with a couple of lifeguards.)

I was into Gram Parsons.

Don't get it.

I went to David Bowie at the Palladium in 1972 and fell in love - even though I couldn't see a darn thing because I didn't have platform shoes on.

I loved the Tubes (now I see where they got their look.)

Sorry, but I think this music isn't very good.

Just watched a couple of videos on Lester Bangs, rock critic. (A Box Full of Rocks and a couple of interviews.) Did this music make me feel alive (Bang's criteria)? No.

A friend of mine gave me the DVD - she was sure he died when he did because God wanted to save him while he was LDS - just in case he relapsed due to the renewed publicity and forsook the Church and went back to his old lifestyle. She thought it was an example of how much God loves us, that he'd call us home before we could walk away from him forever.

Pretty sad way of looking at things - but very Mormon.

The Dolls were a big influence on KISS and pioneers of what would become Glam. They are sort of rough to listen to in my opinion. But when your lead singer turns out to be the Buster Pointdexter, what more could you ask for?
As for Killer Kane...I saw the movie and thought it was tragic that he ended up in such bad shape. The doc did make the church look saintly for taking him in though. Even as an Apostate, I couldn't help but smile at the little old ladies that he worked with. They were just like my mother and aunts.