Tom Verlaine — the frontman and lead guitarist for the band Television — has died.
His former accomplice’s daughter, Jesse Smith, confirmed his demise to the New York Times Saturday, saying he’d handed away in Manhattan after a short sickness. No different particulars have been shared.
Verlaine and co. have been a majorly influential group within the rock period of the ’70s, carving out a complete new sound that got here to be often called mainstream punk and alt rock in the present day. They obtained their begin as a mainstay act CBGB membership in New York … which was a music Mecca.
Television’s debut album, ‘Marquee Moon,’ is taken into account a masterpiece and their defining contribution to popular culture … having gone on to form the sound of bands after them.
The band broke up a bit after the ’70s, and Verlaine went ventured on with a stable solo profession by way of the ’80s and ’90s … cranking out a whopping 9 albums all on his personal. He and Television obtained again collectively in ’92 for his or her third and ultimate album. They’ve toured collectively on and off through the years as properly.
Verlaine is taken into account one of many best guitarists of the twentieth century … with savants placing up there with different G.O.A.T.S. like Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Eddie Van Halen and so forth.
He was 73.
RIP