RIP Tom Verlaine

 

Tom Verlaine, guitarist, frontman and co-founder of Television, one of the most influential acts of the CBGB scene in the late 1970s, died today after a short illness. He was 73. 

Per The Wall Street Journal: "Despite its modest sales, Television laid a sonic foundation for decades of punk, alternative and post-punk bands." 

You can read more about his life and work at Variety ... Pitchfork ... The New York Times... BBC ... NPR ... Billboard.

Here's a sampling of the tributes to Verlaine, a longtime East Village resident, on Twitter...

Tom Verlaine 1949-2023

"I've lost a hero.... You introduced me to a world that flipped my life upside down. I am forever grateful." - Michael Stipe pic.twitter.com/csmxXhKPht

— R.E.M. HQ (@remhq) January 29, 2023

Heartbroken and stunned to hear of the passing of Tom Verlaine. What an inspiration to so many guitarists, of which I was one. Brilliantly melodic, intense, orchestral, and groundbreaking. Thank you, Tom. R.I.P. 💔https://t.co/K8GVYEew6E

— Richard Barone (@RichardBarone) January 28, 2023

listened to Marquee Moon 1000 times. And I mean LISTENED, sitting still, lights down low taking it all in. awe and wonder every time. Will listen 1000 more. Tom Verlaine is one of the greatest rock musicians ever. He effected the way John and I play immeasurably. Fly on Tom.

— Flea (@flea333) January 29, 2023

No. Not Tom Verlaine. 💔

— Garbage (@garbage) January 28, 2023

such a fucking drag RIP Tom Verlaine. a wonderful goddamn curmudgeon and a unique talent. he will be sorely missed. pic.twitter.com/TzeTmayRCA

— Byron Coley (@ByronColey1) January 29, 2023

Beautifully lyrical guitarist, underrated vocalist. Television made a new kind of music and inspired new kinds of music. Marquee Moon is a perfect record. Requiescat.
🎈https://t.co/uxt7IMz2rO

— steve albini (@electricalWSOP) January 28, 2023

Playing this one loud for Tom Verlaine

pic.twitter.com/q8VfDOgUcO

— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) January 28, 2023

More 2023 fretted heartbreak 💔. One of the GREAT Punk lead stylists. Tom Verlaine was a True Downtown HERO. Saddened & bummed to hear it.

— Vernon Reid (@vurnt22) January 28, 2023

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. pic.twitter.com/wMTvkxuy04

— Will Sergeant (@Will_Fuzz) January 28, 2023

i didn't know him personally, but i felt that tom verlaine's music somehow knew me, if that makes any sense. the way he played guitar, the words he sang, the way he sang them, all resonated with me in a very natural and deep way. thank you for all the happy hours of listening TV pic.twitter.com/lm0892tGj7

— matthew caws (@nadasurf) January 29, 2023

A true original. No one played guitar like Tom Verlaine before or since. Sat crossed legged on the floor on his side of the stage in Roskilde as he played in Patti Smith’s band and that was as close to perfection as you can get. A sad sad day. Rest in Peace Tom 🥲 pic.twitter.com/445yrvH6m8

— Simon Raymonde (@mrsimonraymonde) January 28, 2023

Devastated by this news. Tom Verlaine was a true great. His role in our culture and straight up awesomeness on the electric guitar was completely legendary. Name 10 minutes of music as good as Marquee Moon. You can’t. It’s perfect. Rest in peace Tom x https://t.co/6HAwg5k9PS

— stuart braithwaite (@plasmatron) January 28, 2023

♥️ pic.twitter.com/nC0JkycLDg

— Debbie Harry/BLONDIE (@BlondieOfficial) January 28, 2023

Peace and love, Tom Verlaine. 💔 pic.twitter.com/zewZz0sJQn

— Susanna Hoffs (@SusannaHoffs) January 28, 2023

Went by the book stalls outside Strand yesterday thinking I’d see you as usual, have a smoke, talk about rare poetry finds for a couple of hours, downtown NYC racing by our slow meditations on music, writing - gonna miss you Tom. TV Rest In Peace.

— Thurston Moore (@nowjazznow) January 28, 2023

Definitely feeling weird about the idea of a New York where you might not bump into Tom Verlaine browsing books outside the Strand. Something ended right here.

— Bryan Waterman (@_waterman) January 29, 2023

Still crazy like a Fox...

Television is playing Sunday night at Irving Plaza... ahead of that, here's "Foxhole" from 1978...

On this date in 1974 Television played its first show at CBGB

Finished Richard Hell's memoir, "I Dreamed I Was A Very Clean Tramp," the other day... Recalled from the book that Television held the first of its "intitial venue-establishing series of consecutive Sundays at CBGB" on March 31, 1974.

(Side note: The Times reviewed the book today...)

Always dislike these audio-only videos... but this will do...



Previously.

Watching Television this morning

Been hanging out over at The YouTube early this morning... going through videos that I put in my favorites but never watched for some reason, like this grainy rehearsal footage of Television circa 1974 ... I like the one commenter who says "Verlaine is like a trobadour from the asylum who has never washed his hair."

The lineup at this time:

Tom Verlaine — vocals, guitar
Richard Hell — vocals, bass
Richard Lloyd — guitar
Billy Ficca — drums

Where you'll find me tomorrow night

Television from 1978 with "Foxhole."