Tom Verlaine, punk-rock pioneer and legendary Tv frontman, dies at 73
Tom Verlaine, the influential guitarist and frontman of the pioneering punk-rock band Tv, died in Manhattan on Jan. 28, Patti Smith’s daughter Jesse Paris Smith confirmed to The New York Times. He was 73.
Whereas Smith didn’t disclose a trigger, she advised the outlet that Verlaine, born Thomas Miller, died “after a quick sickness.”
Born in Denville, N.J., in 1949, Verlaine expressed an curiosity in each writing and music from a younger age, choosing up the piano and saxophone earlier than transferring on to the guitar as a teen. Throughout his time as a scholar at Sanford College in Delaware, he struck up a quick friendship with fellow future punk icon Richard Hell earlier than he finally determined to flee to New York Metropolis within the late ’60s and tackle the title Tom Verlaine — a nod to the French poet Paul Verlaine.
Gus Stewart/Redferns Tom Verlaine, frontman of the pioneering Seventies punk-rock band Tv, has died.
Verlaine and Hell later reunited in New York Metropolis and shaped a band known as the Neon Boys alongside drummer Billy Ficca. The rock outfit disbanded solely to return in 1973 with a brand new title — Tv — and a brand new guitarist, Richard Lloyd.
Collectively, the band went on to form the sound of New York Metropolis’s burgeoning punk-rock scene and new-wave scenes, alongside different artists just like the Ramones and Blondie. They held a residency on the historic CBGB and carried out at a number of punk venues throughout the town, together with Max’s Kansas Metropolis. After Hell left the band in 1975, Tv added bassist Fred Smith to its lineup.
Tv launched two critically acclaimed albums — their punchy 1977 masterpiece, Marquee Moon, and 1978’s softer Journey — earlier than finally going their separate methods in 1978. Verlaine reunited with Tv to launch a 3rd, self-titled album in 1992 and the band continued to carry out collectively lately.
Along with Tv, Verlaine kick-started his solo profession in 1979, releasing 10 albums all through the next years. He was additionally a frequent collaborator with fellow artists, together with Patti Smith, and recorded guitar for 2 songs on Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha’s second solo report, Look to the Sky, in 2012.
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