Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler attended the funeral of his ex-wife Cyrinda Foxe-Tyler on Monday (September 9) in New York City. She was known as the inspiration for David Bowie’s 1973 song, “The Jean Genie.”
Born Kathleen Hetzekian in Santa Monica, California, Foxe-Tyler died at 51 of a cancerous brain tumor. In the 1970s, she was a legendary scenester, making the in-crowd music and avant garde art rounds with Andy Warhol, turning up at nightspots like Max’s Kansas City. She also became an actress and appeared in Warhol’s movie Bad. She was later romantically linked with both Bowie and his former wife, Angela Bowie.
In 1977, she married New York Dolls singer David Johansen, then left him after a year to marry Tyler. They were together for a decade. She is the mother of his daughter Mia. On August 28 just prior to her death, she married musician/ artist/sculptor Keith Waa, who was at her side when she passed away.
In 1997, Foxe-Tyler wrote a tell-all biography, Dream On, about her life with the Aerosmith frontman. Tyler attempted to stop the publishing of the book, but was unsuccessful except for blocking an edition featuring nude photos of himself. However, the ex-husband and wife mended fences, and Tyler paid her medical expenses when he learned of her illness, as well as all funeral costs. He has also donated a guitar to be auctioned at a future charity fundraiser in her name.
At the service, Tyler was accompanied by Mia and Liv Tyler, his daughter with Bebe Buell.