Tom Verlaine Passes

[Killing Floor]

Don’t know what to say. Absolutely heartbreaking news. One of the reasons rock is cool. So sad.
Tom Verlaine, Founder of Influential Punk-Era Band Television, Dies at 73

 

[Michedelic]

Beck, now him, two of my favorite guitarists, for different reasons. Now I fear for Richard Thompson and Robert Fripp. Although it was Verlaine and company that found the little dive that was CBGB’s, and asked to play there, thereby creating a scene, it’s unfortunate that the band was stuck with the “punk” tag. They were nothing like The Ramones, and at their finest moments were ‘progressive’ in their own right. I took delight in the situation where Peter Gabriel had them as an opening act on his first solo album tour. He himself was off in a new direction, and Verlaine and company ruffled some audience feathers….
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Bowie, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Church, and others covered his stuff. I got to see Television three times, Velaine solo three times, and once when he was sitting in with Patti Smith.
If you don’t get it, fine, but there was no else like him, although a few tried…

 

[Killing Floor]

Just created a thread. Maybe they get merged. So utterly sad about this. One of the reasons rock music is cool.

 

[knumbskull]

RIP. Total game changer.

 

[Killing Floor]

Live at the Old Waldorf when the MC introduces them and the audience is crickets. They rocked it and not long afterwards Marquee Moon is one of the greatest songs of all time. Positively the best rhythm guitar in a rock song in my lifetime.

 

[Michedelic]

Here’s a more in-depth obit…
Tom Verlaine Dead: Leadman, Guitarist of Punk Band Television Was 73 - Variety

He brought back the Jazzmaster, after it had been written off as a passe’ relic of the surf era(way before Costello came along), which is funny as his playing was an edgy mash-up of surf, psychedelia, and angular free-jazz lines. I always heard a bit of the Quicksilver Messinger Service’s John Cippolina in what he did, especially on “Marquee Moon”. And this is total NYC nerves…


It always sounded like Duran Duran swiped the “Girls On Film” hook from their early indie single, “Little Johnny Jewel”…

 

[Dr. Cheese]

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R.I.P.

 

[Bob_Ross]

Crap...

Marquee Moon was an enormous touchstone in my early 20s music experience. And it still holds up like very few 40+ year old albums do. Arrgh, I'm gutted.

 

[Bob_Ross]

 

[Grinderman]

Damn, I just saw this news. Huge loss. Very sad.

I'm glad I got to see them in '92 in a 1,000 capacity club.

 

[Grinderman]

Beck, now him, two of my favorite guitarists, for different reasons. Now I fear for Richard Thompson and Robert Fripp. Although it was Verlaine and company that found the little dive that was CBGB’s, and asked to play there, thereby creating a scene, it’s unfortunate that the band was stuck with the “punk” tag. They were nothing like The Ramones, and at their finest moments were ‘progressive’ in their own right. I took delight in the situation where Peter Gabriel had them as an opening act on his first solo album tour. He himself was off in a new direction, and Verlaine and company ruffled some audience feathers….
Invalid Link Removed

Bowie, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Church, and others covered his stuff. I got to see Television three times, Velaine solo three times, and once when he was sitting in with Patti Smith.
If you don’t get it, fine, but there was no else like him, although a few tried…

Can't Like.

 

[Grinderman]

The mood fits.

 

[80jazz]

Adventure will be in my rotation for a while now.

RIP.

 

[ElectroVibe]

Adventure was an amazing album.

 

[ElectroVibe]

I don't know if there was a renewed interest in them around 86 or 87, but that is when I discovered Television and some of his solo albums, and i also remember recording this on TV at that time.

 

[mdlewis]

I was never a rabid fan, but I do still own the Marquee Moon LP. I recall seeing folks enthralled by Verlaine's performance when CB's was new, the layer cake stage was on left side, and the toilet was often just a hole in the floor. The diversity of the music in this scene was far greater than is often remembered these days. He kinda reminded me of an old LA band called Red Crayola at the time, but for me, Television and the Talking Heads were something very new and unfamiliar. Musically, I have always been old school, but Verlaine got me to stretch and appreciate some new sounds. RIP.

 

[Snaxster]

One of the reasons rock is cool. So sad.

Agreed. By chance, yesterday I met and spoke with a recordist who worked with Verlaine extensively. He didn't mention Verlaine's death, so I wonder if he knew.

 

[lermgalieu]

RIP. Television was the reason so many cool things came into existence. Marquee Moon was released in 1977! Brilliancy.

 

[ajkula66]

This one hurts really bad.



An absolutely brilliant musician Mr. Verlaine was, IMO.

RIP sir, and thank you.

 

[kobass]

RIP Tom.