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Tom Verlaine dies aged 73

Rest in peace

By Paul Sinclair

Comments

28

Television frontman Tom Verlaine had died aged 73 after “a brief illness”.

The New York band released two albums in the late 1970s before splitting up, and their 1977 debut Marquee Moon is of course highly acclaimed and massively influential.

Leave your tributes and thoughts in the comments.

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28 Comments

28 thoughts on “Tom Verlaine dies aged 73”

  1. A very sad loss. Love Marquee Moon – just magnificent all the way through – though my favourite is the beautiful ‘Guiding Light’. The guitar solo on the title track just the greatest – the way it builds gradually to the crescendo – the interweaving guitars of Verlaine and Lloyd. Verlaine shockingly under-rated as a guitarist – he’d be in my top five – instrumental in moving the guitar from the (often dull IMO) blues style and creating that spikier sound that set the template for post-punk/ new-wave. Love ‘Adventure’ as well. Unfairly maligned – it wasn’t quite MM but it was still pretty great – e.g. ‘The Fire’ is phenomenal.
    Some great solo stuff too – I used to have ‘Flash Light’ on tape as a kid and played it loads. No longer available in any form and not even on streaming (just his first three solo albums) – let’s get everything on streaming and then do a solo vinyl reissue campaign as a fitting tribute.
    At the moment 2023 is feeling like another 2016. RIP Tom.

  2. Continuing the one-a-day / dropping like flies theme (2023 is gearing up to be the most devastating year to the Arts community. ever.. Louise Harrison (sister of…) has died. Somewhat unfairly overlooked in The Beatles story, but she had probably the second greatest effect on breaking them in the USA (after Ed Sullivan). I’ll leave it up to the SDErs to discover her story for themselves… you’ll probably be very surprised…

  3. Well, many bands struggle a whole career trying to make THE album that will change people’s lives. these guys made it right away. A timeless record. So timeless that the band -I had the privilege of chatting over the phone with Richard L a couple of years ago and he told me about his fave albums of all time- was thinking in jazz terms; they wanted to record in the Rudy Van Gelder studio! they knew they wanted to capture a live sound, a live experience, live songs, something that will remain forever. love the album, one of my all time faves. RIP Tom. a legend.

  4. Coincidentally I dug out my Television albums just a couple of weeks ago for the first time in a few years and thoroughly enjoyed revisiting them. Even the 1992 reunion LP has some great moments – ‘1880 Or So’ is an understated gem with a proper earworm riff. I recall that particular reunion being short-lived owing to the usual band tensions; Tom conducting an interview with Q strutting up and down on top of a coffee table with a scarf wrapped round his face probably didn’t help matters. Artists, eh?

    Definitely agree with other comments here though: his solo works really need a bit of love and renewed availability. And not just on vinyl.

  5. Verlaine was a master of his instrument, and will be dearly missed. People talk about the three Television albums, but while they’re great it’s his solo work that really hits home. Words from the Front, Cover, The Wonder, and simply amazing. Can’t believe he’s gone. Apparently somewhat difficult to get along with, it’s a shame we didn’t get more wongs from him (his last solo album was 17 years ago! I’ll miss you, Tom!

  6. So sad. Was always looking for news of a new album. Been a fan since I saw them in Sheffield in 1977 supporting Blondie. Have all the Television and solo albums on vinyl and CD. The CD of Marquee Moon with extra tracks is one of my most favourite CDs.

  7. Genius.
    Anyone looking for the first two solo albums on cd and feeling horrified at the prices?
    Don’t forget BGO released a two on one cd that is still available at a nice cheap price

  8. How terribly sad. And how upsetting that this is happening more frequently and will continue to do so. Those vital post punk pioneers are now in their sixties and seventies and although I wouldn’t necessarily consider that to be very old in this day and age it’s tremendously upsetting to hear of another one gone. Sad too that it reminds me of the fact that none of us are as young as we once were. Thanks for the wonderful music Tom and my condolences to his family and friends

  9. Was gutted to hear this. My wife and I saw Television perform the Marquee Moon album in its entirety a number of years ago in the Belfast Limelight bar. It was fabulous and To was a very gifted player.

  13. Very sad news. Tom Verlaine was a unique musician. Elegant, powerful, shy, poetic and inspired. Not only in Television. I got to know him with his album “The Wonder” in 1990, and I loved how simple and straightforward it sounded. “5 Hours from Calais” should have been a hit. The other solo albums and in particular his instrumental works are also truly interesting. A reissue of all his discography would be very welcome. In 1984 he played a concert in Spanish public television (RTVE), for the beloved program “La Edad de Oro”. The full recording is available at the link below. At 1:32:00 you can see a very good version of Marquee Moon (followed by a that-would-not-be-allowed-these-days performance of La Fura del Baus). RIP Tom
    https://www.rtve.es/play/videos/la-edad-de-oro/tom-verlaine-y-la-fura-dels-baus/4247030/

  14. Of all the records l have, or have ever owned Marquee Moon is the one l’ve most played. I heard something. truly strange and magical when l first put that record on and l hear it still. Tom Verlaine’s solo records badly need reissuing, ‘ Words from the front’ is a masterpiece.

  15. Sad news and passings every week.

    I’m listening to Adventure now. As mentioned below, the album is considered a let down in comparison to Marquee Moon or at the very least just not as popular. It’s great in its own right and if an artist put out an album like Adventure today I imagine it would get critical recognition and great reviews.

    Adventure has moments that remind of and probably influenced great bands like Felt to name just one. I’ve always recommended when I can to friends that if you are going to do a marathon Television listening to listen to Adventure as a lead in to Marquee Moon.

    The song The Fire on Adventure has a haunting slide guitar part. I can’t recall which artist but there is a track by either M83 or LCD Soundsystem that may have sampled or recreates the slide guitar part on synthesizer or at least it sounds very close to it.

    I’m dismayed I can’t find or have misplaced my copies of the live albums Blow Up and Live At The Old Waldorf. Both are worth a listen.

    The 1992 self-titled Television album is also worth owning. There are some great tracks and singles like Call Mr. Lee.

    I must mention that the Elektra Rhino CD reissue of Marqueen Moon with bonus tracks is my preferred listening. Having the entire Little Johnny Jewel track to listen to after the album is great. The song wasn’t on the album but in my mind it is part of the album. Its hard to pick a favorite track by Television but for me it is probably Little Johnny Jewel Parts 1 & 2.

    I had all of the Tom Verlaine solo album CD reissues at one point. Collector’s Choice Music had reissued 5 or 6 of his solo albums. They are great and when I first got my hands on them I remember hearing a few songs that I think, along with Marquee Moon, had a huge influence on the band Interpol.

    I sent an email to Collector’s Choice Music this morning to see if they would consider reissuing Tom Verlaine’s solo album CDs or putting together a Box Set or Bundle if they are able to.

  17. I remember hearing Marquee Moon at school, out art teacher Mr Roy played this and asked us to paint what the music made you feel, I painted a question mark as I didn’t have a clue what this noise was, Mr Roy loved that lol, incredible album

  18. Tom Verlaine’s solo albums are pretty good as well. They go a little more to the 80’s sounds, but there are some great songs. Bowie even covered “Kingdom Come” on “Scary Monsters”. One of my favorite albums was “Flash Light”, maybe because I heard it in college. “At 4AM” has some very beautiful guitar work.

    1. When I had just become a teenager I’d come across a local DJ (cheers, Paul Buckhorn, if you are still out there) who was featuring albums on the radio (2REM FM) and I would tape them. Around 1987/88 they played Tom Verlaine’s “Flash Light” – listening back to the recording I didn’t get it at first, didn’t like his voice, didn’t really have any idea about Television until later on, but for some reason I kept listening to it and it suddenly clicked for me and I loved it. Still do. Still of the opinion that the guitar solo at the end of “The Scientist Writes A Letter” is one of the most moving things I’ve ever heard. I tend to think of that album and the other music I came across from that DJ as pivotal in the development of my musical interests. Just recently, I’d also been lucky enough to come across a copy of “Dreamtime” on vinyl too. I’ve been sorely tempted to get hold of “Adventure” on vinyl as I’ve seen it in my local record shop but would still prefer to get on cd. Have been revisiting The Blow Up too, that version of Little Johnny Jewel – fantastic! Here’s to Tom, thank you for the music.

  19. Marquee Moon, timeless album. Only the third Velvets album tops it for me . The second album, Adventure, was seen as a bit of a let down at the time. But how does anyone follow Marquee Moon? Listen to it these days, sounds pretty great to me.
    Would wholeheartedly recommend the live album The Blow Up. It’s superb.
    Was lucky enough to see them three times. Hoped to make it four times as they rather strangely were meant to be supporting Billy Idol last year but that was cancelled. Presumably due to Tom’s health.

  20. Very sad to hear this. Marquee Moon is a stone cold classic of course, great songs with the twin guitars interlocking superbly, and those jazz-influenced solos are just wow! The second album was better than its reviews suggested and Verlaine’s solo output was generally underappreciated outside of the diehards. Sad news, but perhaps time for a dedicated reissue scheme for his solo albums, some of which are out of print. RIP Tom.

  21. One of my many unforgettable music-related memories is from 1977, when I visited the Oxford Street Virgin Records store for the first time. The moment I entered, I heard a song that sounded like no other I knew and I stood there listening to it for what seemed like an eternity. I had to ask a member of staff what it was and he pointed to a big stack of Marquee Moon albums. It would be the first of my many purchases from there. Over 45 years later I still listen to the 10.31 title track regularly and I always remember that first hearing. If Tom Verlaine had never done anything else, this song alone would have given him a place among the greats. I’m going to play it again right now. Thanks Tom.

  22. And so the losses continue …

    I got into Marquee Moon and Adventure (the follow up) after a friend recommended them to me. Both albums are superb and of course the debut is a stone-cold classic.
    Great guitarist, songwriter. and vocalist (although that is controversial for some)

    RIP TV – I shall play both of the albums I own (on vinyl) today on honour.

  24. I bought Marquee Moon when I was 11 or 12 years old with “pocket money”,
    way back in 77 or 78.
    I still have that original vinyl copy.
    It’s one of my favourite LPs and has to be one of the greatest debut LPs.
    I’m wearing my Marquee Moon T-shirt today in Tom’s honour.

    Was lucky enough to see Television twice when they reformed and the gigs were brilliant.

    Rest in peace Tom.

  26. I bought Marquee Moon on virtually the day of it’s release following a review in the NME, and still have that original vinyl copy incidentally. To this day it remains one of my top ten albums, and still one of the most played. Tom was not just an innovative writer and band leader, but also a top-notch collaborator, witness his co-write and solo on ‘Break It Up’ from the first Patti Smith album. His later solo albums on Virgin and Fontana were also worthy additions to what is now his legacy, and following on from David Crosby’s passing a couple of weeks ago, this is another huge loss

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