Television frontman Tom Verlaine dies at 73 with music legends leading tributes

29 January 2023 , 08:12

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Television frontman Tom Verlaine dies at 73 with music legends leading tributes

Frontman and guitarist of iconic punk band Television Tom Verlaine has died at the age of 73.

The legendary singer-songwriter was behind landmark 1977 album Marquee Moon, regarded as one of the best records of the 1970s, and collaborated with the likes of David Bowie, Patti Smith and Sonic Youth during his illustrious career.

His death was announced by Jesse Paris Smith, the daughter of Verlaine's long-time collaborator Patti Smith.

According to Smith, Verlaine died of a 'brief illness.'

"He died peacefully in New York City, surrounded by close friends. His vision and his imagination will be missed,” Smith wrote.

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"I met Tom when I was a child, not long after my dad passed away. In him, I felt the energy of a father, a man to hug, to laugh with, to share in mischievous jokes and wild imagination."

Patti Smith, who once dated the rocker, also paid tribute on Instagram, including a photo with Verlaine.

Musician Tom Verlaine of the band Television has died at the age of 73. Pictured performing at the Bottom Line club in New York in 1978 (Getty Images)

"This is a time when all seemed possible. Farewell Tom, aloft the Omega."

Television were considered to have paved the way for punk and alternative music, drawing influence from jazz and 1960s rock.

Verlaine and Richard Hell, who met at school in Delaware, started the band after escaping to New York as teens with dreams of becoming poets.

The duo then met Billy Ficca who played on drums, and recruited Richard Lloyd as their second guitarist.

They released Marquee Moon in 1977 which debuted at number 28 in the UK album charts.

Verlaine was hailed as one of the pioneers of the 1970s New York punk scene (Redferns)

Television member Jimmy Rip, who joined the band in 2007, also pad tribute.

"Tom and I had an hysterically funny conversation that lasted the last 42 years. He was blindingly smart, incredibly well read as well as surreally silly!

"Standing 10 feet away onstage night after night year after year and STILL trying to figure how he did what he did was the great honour and pleasure of my life."

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Billy Ficca, Richard Lloyd, Tom Verlaine, Fred Smith of the band Television (Redferns)

Mike Scott of The Waterboys, also tweeted: "Tom Verlaine has passed over to the beyond that his guitar playing always hinted at.

"He was the best rock and roll guitarist of all time, and like Hendrix could dance from the spheres of the cosmos to garage rock. That takes a special greatness."

Will Sergeant, guitarist of Echo & The Bunnymen, said: "Tom Verlaine's playing meant the world to me. If I ever played anything that sounded like him I was happy. He set me on my path as a guitarist, thank you Tom."

Lucy Needham