During their peak, Television produced three hit singles that made it to the UK Top 40 and received critical acclaim for their albums Marquee Moon and Adventure. However, their success was greater in Britain than their home country, the US, and the band eventually split in 1978.
The death of Verlaine was announced by Jesse Paris Smith, the daughter of Patti Smith, who had been a long-time collaborator and associate of Verlaine.
The cause of death was not specified, and Smith only mentioned that Verlaine had died “after a brief illness”.
Verlaine was highly regarded as a skilled musician, and was one of the most prominent figures to come out of the now-defunct CBGBs club in New York’s Bowery, where other notable bands like Blondie, The Ramones and Talking Heads also got their start.
Though Television’s music was heavily influenced by punk, their sound was more complex than that of their peers, with Verlaine and fellow guitarist Richard Lloyd frequently performing lengthy solos and intricate jazz-inspired riffs.
Tom Verlaine, born Thomas Miller, was a musician from New Jersey who adopted his stage name in honor of the French symbolist poet, Paul Verlaine.
After Television disbanded, he released several solo albums, and his song “Kingdom Come” was covered by David Bowie on his album Scary Monsters.
In 1992, Television reunited, releasing a third album titled “Television” and occasionally performing together in later years. They are considered a major influence on alternative rock music of the 1980s and 1990s.
Many musicians have paid tribute to Verlaine upon his death, including Mike Scott of The Waterboys, who 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, also shared his condolences, saying: “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.”