Television Frontman Tom Verlaine Dies At 73

Tom Verlaine, a guitarist who became well-known in the 1970s New York punk scene as the lead singer of the rock group Television, has passed away at the age of 73.In their prime, Television released the albums Marquee Moon and Adventure and had three UK Top 40 smash singles.However, they were more successful in Britain than in the United States, and they broke up in 1978.Jesse Paris Smith, the daughter of longtime friend and colleague Patti Smith, made the announcement of Verlaine's passing.She stated that he passed away "after a brief illness," although she did not give a cause.Along with Blondie, The Ramones, and Talking Heads, Verlaine was recognised as one of the most accomplished artists to come out of the now-gone CBGBs bar in New York City's Bowery.Although they gained notoriety as a result of the punk movement, Verlaine and fellow guitarist Richard Lloyd's music was more complicated than that of their competitors. They frequently traded extended solos and intricate jazz-inspired riffs.Verlaine, who was actually named Thomas Miller and was born in New Jersey, used the stage name Verlaine in honour of the French symbolist poet Paul Verlaine.Following the dissolution of Television, he put out a number of solo albums, and David Bowie included a rare cover of his song Kingdom Come on his Scary Monsters album.The alternative rock of the 1980s and 1990s was greatly influenced by Television, who regrouped in 1992 and released a self-titled third album. Television continued to perform on occasion in the years that followed. The Waterboys' Mike Scott tweeted in honour of Verlaine, saying, "Tom Verlaine has crossed over to the beyond that his guitar playing always hinted to.""Like Hendrix, he could dance from the spheres of the cosmos to garage music," said one reviewer of the greatest rock and roll guitarist ever. "A particular sort of brilliance is required,"Echo & The Bunnymen's Will Sergeant, who plays guitar, stated: "Tom Verlaine's playing meant the world to me." He started me on my road as a guitarist; thank you, Tom. "If I ever played something that sounded like him, I would be pleased."