Tom Verlaine

Verlaine fronted the ambitious and oblique New York band Television, with whom he made two of rock's most acclaimed albums.

That year, when a reporter asked him to describe his career, Verlaine said slyly, “Struggling not to have a professional career.” But the records didn’t sell and the band broke up, reuniting for a third album, called “Television,” in 1992 before disappearing again. The first two Television albums — “Marquee Moon,” released in 1977, and “Adventure,” a year later — were enough to cement the band’s enduring legend. But Verlaine himself seemed loathe to pursue the explosive, careening music that brought him renown. Although Television first attracted attention at the New York punk rock club CBGB, Verlaine wasn’t a fan of punk, which he described as “just amped-up bubblegum with angrier lyrics.” Among other things, punk bands eschewed solos, which Verlaine and fellow guitarist Richard Lloyd did not. “The personal loss, for me, is absolutely devastating.

Tom Verlaine, a founder, lead vocalist and guitarist for '70s N.Y. rock band Television, has died. He was 73 years old.

After the “Television” reunion album and the instrumental set “Warm and Cool” in 1992, he opted out on recording for nearly a decade and a half. In the studio, and on tour, he frequently served as accompanist to former paramour Patti Smith, and appeared on her albums “Gone Again” (1996), “Gung Ho” (2000), “Twelve” (2007) and “Banga” (2012). But, despite the fact that Television gelled into one of the most formidable live acts on the scene, neither the debut LP nor its successor “Adventure” managed to enter the American charts, and the group dissolved within weeks of the end of its 1978 U.S. (Some of Hell’s songs for Television were heard on “Blank Generation,” the 1977 debut by his band the Voidoids.) With Blondie’s original bassist Fred Smith enlisted to replace Hell, the band recorded a storming seven-minute track that was issued across two sides of a single released by Ork on his eponymous label in September 1975. “Up until then, the guitar was a stupid instrument to me,” he recalled in a 2001 interview with Mojo. But the New York Dolls’ glam scene inspired the pair to form a band, the Neon Boys, with Meyers on bass and Ficca recruited as the drummer. The two became close friends, and made an attempt to run away to Florida that was squelched by the police in Alabama. In 1963, he took up the saxophone after gravitating to the music of jazz avant gardists Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Roland Kirk and Albert Ayler. In 2007, Lloyd was replaced in the touring unit by Jimmy Ripp, who had for many years supported Verlaine on his solo albums and tours. A love of symphonic music led him to the piano as a child. It was a revelation and I was hoping my Jazzmaster could somehow channel his when I played the solo on ‘Halloween’ on the first Dream Syndicate album.

His band rose to fame in the 1970s New York punk scene, scoring UK hits including Marquee Moon.

Will Sergeant, guitarist of Echo & The Bunnymen, said: "Tom Verlaine's playing meant the world to me. He set me on my path as a guitarist, thank you Tom." That takes a special greatness."

NEW YORK (AP) — Tom Verlaine, guitarist and co-founder of the seminal proto-punk band Television who influenced many bands while playing at ultra-cool ...

“His vision and his imagination will be missed.” It has been a clear influence on such artists as Pavement, Sonic Youth, the Strokes and Jeff Buckley,” Billboard magazine wrote in 2003. “Tom Verlaine has passed over to the beyond that his guitar playing always hinted at.

“He died peacefully in New York City, surrounded by close friends,” Jesse Paris Smith told the website. “His vision and his imagination will be missed.”.

The 10-minute title track, with an extended solo by Verlaine, was a stark change from the shorter, stripped-down music performed by the Ramones and Talking Heads, [Variety](https://variety.com/2023/music/obituaries-people-news/tom-verlaine-dead-television-band-1235505443/) reported. [Rolling Stone](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tom-verlaine-television-dead-obit-1234670298/). “He died peacefully in New York City, surrounded by close friends,” Jesse Paris Smith told the website. [Rolling Stone](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tom-verlaine-television-dead-obit-1234670298/) reported. [Variety](https://variety.com/2023/music/obituaries-people-news/tom-verlaine-dead-television-band-1235505443/) reported. [>> Read more trending news](/news/trending/)

The founding father of American punk and a fixture in the 1970s New York rock scene died Saturday as the result of a brief illness.

"Tom and I had an hysterically funny conversation that lasted the last 42 years," guitarist and Television member Jimmy Rip wrote in a statement to NPR. "He was blindingly smart, incredibly well read as well as surreally silly! "I met Tom when I was a child, not long after my dad passed away," Jesse Paris Smith wrote in a statement to NPR. Verlaine developed a cult following throughout his career, but never quite achieved mainstream status and eschewed the limelight. Verlaine thought for a moment before offering his preferred self-deprecating epigram: 'Struggling not to have a professional career.' " Born Thomas Miller in Denville, N.J., Verlaine grew up in Wilmington, Del.

Tom Verlaine, singer and guitarist for punk legends Television who crafted the band's 1977 masterpiece 'Marquee Moon,' has died at the age of 73.

[Marquee Moon](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/marquee-moon-2-251950/), the centerpiece of which was the album’s twisty, mesmerizing title track. “And I liked that; I thought that was valuable.” In 1979, Verlaine released his self-titled solo album, which included the song “Kingdom Come,” recorded a year later by David Bowie for that icon’s 1980 LP Scary Monsters & Super Freaks. “As exhilarating in its lyrical ambitions as the Ramones’ debut was in its brutal simplicity, Marquee Moon still amazes,” Rolling Stone wrote. Television’s classic lineup would only release one more album during the Seventies, 1978’s Adventure, before Verlaine embarked on his solo career. Arriving in Manhattan’s Lower East Side at the dawn of punk, Verlaine and Hell first teamed up for the short-lived act Neon Boys before co-founding Television in 1973 alongside guitarist Richard Lloyd.

Verlaine influenced many bands while playing at ultra-cool downtown New York music venue CBGB alongside the Ramones, Patti Smith and Talking Heads.

"We wanted to be stark and hard and torn up, the way the world was." "He was noted for his angular lyricism and pointed lyrical asides, a sly wit, and an ability to shake each string to its truest emotion," said a statement from his publicist. Increasing tension between Verlaine and fellow guitarist Richard Lloyd led Television to disband after its second album "Adventure." It has been a clear influence on such artists as Pavement, Sonic Youth, the Strokes and Jeff Buckley," Billboard magazine wrote in 2003. That takes a special greatness," Mike Scott of The Waterboys "Tom Verlaine has passed over to the beyond that his guitar playing always hinted at.

Patti Smith and Billy Idol were among those to pay tribute to punk godfather and Television frontman Tom Verlaine, who died at age 73 on Sunday.

[Billy Idol](https://people.com/music/billy-idol-honored-star-hollywood-walk-of-fame/) penned in a tribute: "Sad 2 hear of @TELE_VISION_TV #tomverlaine passing today. Over the years, he collaborated with several big names in rock music. The group quickly disbanded before reforming months later as Television and adding guitarist Richard Lloyd. "He had long hair and came to my apartment with an acoustic guitar and played some songs he'd written," Stein, 73 continued. Smith, 76, shared an old black-and-white photo of the two of them on Instagram. Many paid tribute to Verlaine on social media, following the news of his death.

NEW YORK (AP) — Tom Verlaine, guitarist and co-founder of the seminal proto-punk band Television who influenced many bands while playing at ultra-cool ...

“His vision and his imagination will be missed.” It has been a clear influence on such artists as Pavement, Sonic Youth, the Strokes and Jeff Buckley,” Billboard magazine wrote in 2003. “Tom Verlaine has passed over to the beyond that his guitar playing always hinted at.

Tom Verlaine, guitariste et co-fondateur du groupe de protopunk Television qui a influencé de nombreuses formations alors qu'il jouait dans la salle de ...

« Il était connu pour son lyrisme anguleux et ses côtés lyriques pointus, son esprit sournois et sa capacité à secouer chaque corde à son émotion la plus vraie, a déclaré un communiqué de son agente. Il est né Tom Miller — prenant plus tard le nom de famille du poète français du XIXe siècle Paul Verlaine après avoir rencontré Richard Hell, né Meyers, dans une école du Delaware. La tension croissante entre Tom Verlaine et son collègue guitariste Richard Lloyd a conduit Television à se dissoudre après son deuxième album Adventure. « Nous voulions tout dépouiller davantage, loin de la théâtralité showbiz des groupes de paillettes, et loin du blues et du boogie », a écrit le cofondateur de Television, Richard Hell, dans son autobiographie. Bien que Television n’ait jamais connu beaucoup de succès commercial, le jeu inventif et déchiqueté de Tom Verlaine dans ce groupe à deux guitares a influencé de nombreux musiciens. « Tom Verlaine est passé dans l’au-delà que son jeu de guitare a toujours laissé entrevoir.

Bien que le groupe new-yorkais des années 1970 n'ait connu qu'un succès commercial relatif, l'Américain a influencé de nombreux guitaristes grâce à son son ...

Susanna Hoffs et Billy Idol ont déclaré que la musique de Verlaine avait influencé la scène punk américaine et britannique. Tom Verlaine a ensuite sorti une dizaine d’albums solo, tout en collaborant avec de nombreux artistes, tels David Bowie et Patti Smith. Cette dernière a partagé un message d’adieu sur Instagram, en postant une photo d’eux, accompagnée de la phrase : « C’était une époque où tout semblait possible. « Il était le meilleur guitariste de rock and roll de tous les temps, et comme Hendrix, il pouvait virevolter des sphères du cosmos au rock garage. « “Marquee Moon” est devenu une sorte de Saint Graal du rock indépendant au cours des années qui ont suivi, écrivait le magazine Billboard en 2003. « Nous voulions être austères, durs et déchirés, comme le monde l’était », explique-t-il.

Le guitariste de Television, qui a influencé toute une génération de musiciens, est décédé samedi à Manhattan. Il avait 73 ans.

[Pour Variety, ](https://variety.com/2023/music/obituaries-people-news/tom-verlaine-dead-television-band-1235505443/)il a “redéfini le guitar rock” dans les années soixante-dix avec son groupe Television. Il a de toute façon toujours été “une rock star réticente”, signale Variety. [La radio NPR en parle](https://www.npr.org/2023/01/28/1152357360/tom-verlaine-guitarist-and-singer-of-influential-rock-band-television-dies-at-73) comme d’“un père fondateur du punk américain”.

Patti Smith, Michael Stipe, Chris Stein, and many more artists have paid tribute to Television's Tom Verlaine, who died at age 73.

[Sleater-Kinney](https://www.rollingstone.com/t/sleater-kinney/) noted how the guitarist informed their playing and writing. The intertwining of notes, completing each other’s sentences, toying with consonance and dissonance, beautifully colliding then breaking away; telling us so much without a single word,” [the group wrote](https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn-jymJvdbV/). Both Tom and Richard Hell have told me that I auditioned for the Neon Boys but I don’t remember.” “Bless you Tom Verlaine for the songs, the lyrics, the voice! And later, the laughs, the inspiration, the stories, and the rigorous belief that music and art can alter and change matter, lives, experience. “Farewell Tom, aloft the Omega.”

Le musicien, figure phare de la scène underground new-yorkaise des années 1970, est décédé des suites d'une «courte.

Sa disparition ajoute au caractère mortifère du mois de janvier pour le monde de la musique, après celles récentes de Jeff Beck et de David Crosby. Né Thomas Miller, il décida de se faire connaître sous le nom de Tom Verlaine, en hommage à Paul, le poète français dont il tentera d’insuffler le lyrisme dans ses textes, tout en jouant de la guitare d’une façon bien à lui, à la fois éthérée et agressive. Sans lui, le punk-rock qui émergea de l’underground new-yorkais à la fin des années 1970 n’aurait jamais eu son hymne Marquee Moon, morceau-monstre et album-phare du groupe Television, aussi influent que son ex-leader Tom Verlaine, mort à 73 ans, a annoncé samedi sa famille.

Tom Verlaine, who redefined rock guitar in the punk era of the 1970s with his band Television, died Saturday in Manhattan.

But, despite the fact that Television gelled into one of the most formidable live acts on the scene, neither the debut LP nor its successor “Adventure” managed to enter the American charts, and the group dissolved within weeks of the end of its 1978 U.S. “Up until then, the guitar was a stupid instrument to me,” he recalled in a 2001 interview with Mojo. In 1963, he took up the saxophone after gravitating to the music of jazz avant gardists Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Roland Kirk and Albert Ayler. A love of symphonic music led him to the piano as a child. In 2007, Lloyd was replaced in the touring unit by Jimmy Ripp, who had for many years supported Verlaine on his solo albums and tours. It was a revelation and I was hoping my Jazzmaster could somehow channel his when I played the solo on ‘Halloween’ on the first Dream Syndicate album.

Le chanteur et guitariste Tom Verlaine est décédé à l'âge de 73 ans, des suites "d'une courte maladie", a annoncé samedi sa famille.

Bienvenue sur RTL Avec au bout un premier album majeur: "Marquee Moon", sorti en 1977. Figure majeure de la scène musicale punk-rock et co-fondateur du groupe Television, le chanteur et guitariste Tom Verlaine est décédé à l'âge de 73 ans a annoncé samedi sa famille.

Tom Verlaine – the singer, guitarist and songwriter best known for leading seminal New York rock band Television – has died at the age of 73.

Marquee Moon is not only one of the best albums ever, it also served as the soundtrack to my time living in New York. A sad sad day. his old schoolmate richard hell was the aesthetic and attitude of punk, but tom was the brains and the storyteller. He effected the way John and I play immeasurably. One of the founding fathers of punk rock. Rest in peace Tom x [January 28, 2023] Television made a new kind of music and inspired new kinds of music. Bless you Tom Verlaine and thank you for the songs, the lyrics, the voice! None of that material has ever surfaced. 1992 saw Verlaine release two albums – a self-titled effort with Television (which wound up being their final studio album), and the solo LP ‘Warm And Cool’. Born in New Jersey as Thomas Miller, Verlaine was spurred to pursue the guitar after hearing The Rolling Stones’ ‘19th Nervous Breakdown’ as an adolescent.

A hugely gifted and original musician, Verlaine kept up the exacting standards in his solo career.

Verlaine and Television honed their approach to perfection on 1977’s Marquee Moon, which was one of the greatest debut albums of its era and also so set apart from the prevalent trends of its era that it hasn’t dated at all in the ensuing 45 years. By the time Television re-formed in 1992, the extent of the influence they wielded was obvious. It was very much a DIY product – released on a label their manager, Terry Ork, had set up specifically to put it out, recorded in mono, pressed not on vinyl but the cheaper alternative styrene – but there its resemblance to anything we might think of as punk ends: it was a world away from the short, sharp shocks of the Ramones or indeed the nascent Sex Pistols. In 1975, Malcolm McLaren returned to England from a sojourn in New York with a selection of posters and set lists he had collected in the city. Television had been formed from the ashes of the short-lived Neon Boys by two childhood friends, Tom Miller and Richard Meyers, who had relocated to New York and renamed themselves Tom Verlaine and Richard Hell. Ostensibly managing the New York Dolls, he had become enamoured of another band, who appeared to be kickstarting a new movement in the city.

Visionary frontman of Television whose 1977 debut LP Marquee Moon is considered one of the most influential albums of its era.

The album was co-produced by the studio engineer [Andy Johns](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/apr/09/andy-johns-producer-dies), who had worked with the Rolling Stones, Free and Led Zeppelin, and who helped Verlaine achieve the clarity of sound for which he was searching. [Malcolm McLaren](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/apr/09/malcolm-mclaren-obituary)’s styling of the Sex Pistols, had already been sacked by Verlaine on the grounds of heroin-induced unreliability by the time Television made their first single. A second album, Adventure, made less impact and the band dissolved in 1978 after disagreements between Verlaine and Lloyd. Two albums of instrumental pieces, Warm and Cool (1992) and Around (2006), showed his gift for creating tone poems inspired by film noir. [Blank Generation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqsDXmmaEAk)) and the soaring interplay between the two lead guitarists quickly earned them a following among New York’s scenemakers. In 1995 he appeared as a guest with Smith’s band on a US tour with Bob Dylan. Smith, then beginning her rise to prominence, was another early supporter, and Verlaine played on her first single, a version of [Hey Joe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEkmoawOih0), in 1974. They had made their separate ways to New York by 1971, where they teamed up again on the Lower East Side, changed their names to Tom Verlaine and Richard Hell, scuffled for work and wrote poetry together under the nom-de-plume “Theresa Stern”. But among the artfully distressed apparel, defiant haircuts and painfully skinny silhouettes of their milieu, none of those serving apprenticeships in [CBGB](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/dec/11/cbgbs-rocks-backpages)s, Max’s Kansas City and other New York clubs showed more concern for the music itself than Verlaine. But it was his exploratory guitar solos that spoke of his early interest in, and deep knowledge of, the avant-garde jazz of the 1960s. He was born Thomas Miller in Morriston, New Jersey, into a middle-class family who moved to Wilmington, Delaware, when he was six years old. Although each of those groups pursued a very different musical path, together their impact would shape what became known as the punk movement, while Television’s debut LP, Marquee Moon, released in 1977, would secure a place among the most admired and enduringly influential albums of its era.

Guitarist and singer Tom Verlaine, a pioneer of the New York punk rock scene and co-founder of band Television, has passed away at 73.

[New Jersey](/topic/new-jersey), US. In addition to his work with Television, Verlaine released several solo albums, including "Words From the Verlaine's unique style of playing guitar and intricate melodies earned him recognition and respect as a pioneering figure in the punk rock genre.

Tom Verlaine, founding member of seminal New York punk band Television, died Saturday at age 73 "after a brief illness," according to a news release from ...

“He made incredible music that greatly influenced the US & UK punk rock scene in the ’70’s,” [wrote Idol.](https://twitter.com/BillyIdol/status/1619476443586756609) Grief is not an affliction, but a privilege.” [Blondie’s Debbie Harry](https://twitter.com/BlondieOfficial/status/1619450134819115008) and Billy Idol similarly honored the guitarist and songwriter on social media. “He was the perfect friend and support for me as a little girl.” The two were a couple in the 1970s and remained lifelong friends. The guitarist, raised in Wilmington, Delaware, was “noted for his angular lyricism and pointed lyrical asides, a sly wit, and an ability to shake each string to its truest emotion,” the release added. [picture of herself with Verlaine ](https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn-efDrJ29T/)as well [another of a vase of flowers](https://www.instagram.com/p/CoAEbjiO6qA/) with the caption, “This is morning thinking about Tom.