Music
Television frontman Tom Verlaine dead at 73
Verlaine, whose band Televison was one of the most influential to emerge in the 1970s New York punk scene, has passed away.
Tom Verlaine, who rose to fame as the as the founding member and frontman of rock band Television, has passed away at the age of 73.
The news was announced by Jesse Paris Smith, the daughter of long-time associate and collaborator Patti Smith. While no cause was given, she did say that he passed “following a brief illness.”
During their heyday, Television had three UK Top 40 hit singles and received critical acclaim for their albums ‘Marquee Moon’ and ‘Adventure’. Despite being part of the New York punk scene in the 1970s, the band achieved more success in Britain.
Born Thomas Miller on Dec.13, 1949 in Denville, New Jersey, Tom adopted the name ‘Verlaine’ in honor of French symbolist poet, Paul Verlaine.
He began to play the piano and saxophone at an early age before taking up guitar after hearing ‘19th Nervous Breakdown’ by The Rolling Stones according to Far Out Magazine.
Verlaine met classmate and friend Richard Hell (born Richard Lester Meyers) at Sanford School in Delaware, and the pair moved to New York. They formed the proto-punk band Neon Boys, which disbanded in 1973, but later reformed as Television a few months later with Richard Lloyd as guitarist.
Television and the punk scene
The group became big in the punk scene and performed at CBGB and Max’s Kansas City, but Verlaine later kicked Hell out of the band in 1975, replacing him with Fred Smith.
Television achieved critical success after recording two albums, ‘Marquee Moon’ (1977) and ‘Adventure’ (1978), but they proved to be commercial flops, with the band breaking up in July 1978.
The band reformed in 1992 and released a self-titled third album, and were sporadically active in later years. Verlaine also enjoyed a solo career in England.
Tributes pour in
Many paid tribute to Verlaine following news of his death. Smith shared a photo of the two of them on Instagram.
Billy Idol also shared his appreciation for Verlaine on Twitter, writing: “Sad 2 hear of @TELE_VISION_TV #tomverlaine passing today. He made incredible music that greatly influenced the US & UK punk rock scene in the ‘70′s RIP.”
“Peace and love, Tom Verlaine,” wrote founding member of The Bangles, Susanna Hoffs.