Tom Verlaine, who co-founded the punk rock band Television and played guitar for them, has passed away. He was 73. After a short illness, the musician died in New York City with his friends by his side.
“He was known for his angular lyricism and sharp lyrical asides, a sly wit and an ability to shake any string to his truest emotion”
– said his publicist.
“His vision and imagination will be missed.”
Tom took the name “Verlaine” in honor of the French Symbolist poet Paul Verlaine. He was born Thomas Miller in New Jersey. Verlaine and his friend and classmate Richard Hell dropped out of high school and started the proto-punk band Neon Boys in the early 1970s. The band broke up in 1973. After a few months, the group reunited under the name Television.
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While the rocker didn’t have much commercial success, his guitar playing was important to the rock community and inspired other musicians, as evidenced by the many tributes to the rocker. Susanna Hoffs, a founding member of The Bangles, wrote, “Peace and love, Tom Verlaine,” adding a broken heart emoji.
“I Lost a Hero”
— wrote REM frontman Michael Stipe on Twitter.
Tom Verlaine 1949-2023
“I have lost a hero…. You introduced me to a world that turned my life upside down. I am eternally grateful.” – Michael Stip pic.twitter.com/csmxXhKPht
— REM Headquarters (@remhq) January 29, 2023
“You introduced me to a world that turned my life upside down. I am eternally grateful.”
Billy Idol also shared his appreciation for Verlaine, writing on Twitter:
Sad 2 hear of @TELE_VISION_TV #tomverlaine passing today. He made incredible music that greatly influenced the punk rock scene in the US and UK in the 1970s RIP pic.twitter.com/hbntmsLqMm
— Billy Idol (@BillyIdol) January 28, 2023
Verlaine and Television were on top when they played CBGB in New York City with Patti Smith, The Ramones and a host of other rock stars.
Smith shared one black and white photo of the duo on her Instagram write –
“This is a time when anything seemed possible. Farewell Tom, above the Omega.
Television broke up in 1978. Their first album, ‘Marquee Moon’, is what most people know them for. Hell had already left the group in 1975 when Verlaine kicked him out. The band reunited in 1992. Over the years they have played a few times in other countries.
