Television
Television were one of the most creative bands to emerge from New York's punk scene of the mid-'70s, creating an influential new guitar vocabulary. While guitarists Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd liked to jam, they didn't follow the accepted rock structures for improvisation -- they removed the blues while retaining the raw energy of garage rock, adding complex, lyrical solo lines that recalled both jazz and rock. With its angular rhythms and fluid leads, Television's music always went in unconventional directions, laying the groundwork for many of the guitar-based post-punk pop groups of the late '70s and '80s.
In the early '70s, Television began as the Neon Boys, a group featuring guitarist/vocalist Tom Verlaine, drummer Billy Ficca, and bassist Richard Hell. At the end of 1973, the group reunited under the name Television, adding rhythm guitarist Richard Lloyd. The following year, the band made its live debut at New York's Townhouse theater and began to build up an underground following. Soon, their fan base was large enough that Verlaine was able to persuade CBGB's to begin featuring live bands on a regular basis; the club would become an important venue for punk and new wave bands. That year, Verlaine played guitar on Patti Smith's first single, "Hey Joe"/"Piss Factory," as well as wrote a book of poetry with the singer.
Television recorded a demo tape for Island Records with Brian Eno in 1975, yet the label decided not to sign the band. Hell left the band after the recording of the demo tape, forming the Heartbreakers with former New York Dolls guitarist Johnny Thunders; the following year, he began a solo career supported by the Voidoids, releasing a debut album, Blank Generation, in 1977. Hell was replaced by ex-Blondie bassist Fred Smith and Television recorded "Little Johnny Jewel," releasing it on their own Ork record label. "Little Johnny Jewel" became an underground hit, attracting the attention of major record labels. In 1976, the band released a British EP on Stiff Records, which expanded their reputation. They signed with Elektra Records and began recording their debut album.
Marquee Moon, the group's first album, was released in early 1977 to great critical acclaim, yet it failed to attract a wide audience in America; in the U.K., it reached number 28 on the charts, launching the Top 40 single "Prove It." Television supported Blondie on the group's 1977 tour, but the shows didn't increase the group's following significantly.
Television released their second album, Adventure, in the spring of 1978. While its American sales were better than those of Marquee Moon, the record didn't make the charts; in Britain, it became a Top Ten hit. Months later, the group suddenly broke up, largely due to tensions between the two guitarists. Smith rejoined Blondie, while Verlaine and Lloyd both pursued solo careers; Lloyd also played on John Doe's first solo album, as well as joined Matthew Sweet's supporting band with the 1991 album Girlfriend.
Nearly 14 years after their breakup, Television re-formed in late 1991, recording a new album for Capitol Records. The reunited band began its comeback with a performance at England's Glastonbury summer festival in 1992, releasing Television a couple months later. The album received good reviews, as did the tour that followed, yet the reunion was short-lived -- the group disbanded again in early 1993. In 2001, Television again reunited for a handful of shows in the U.K. as well as an appearance at the Noise Pop Festival in Chicago, and they continued to perform occasionally when the spirit moved them. In 2007, Richard Lloyd announced he was leaving Television under amicable circumstances; guitarist Jimmy Rip, who had played on Verlaine's solo albums and had sat in for Lloyd when illness prevented him from playing a concert with the group, became his permanent replacement for their occasional live appearances. Tom Verlaine died in New York City on January 28, 2023 after a brief illness. He was 73 years of age.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
Similar artists
Discography
18 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
-
-
Adventure
Punk / New Wave - Released by Rhino - Elektra on 1 Jan 1978
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live at the Old Waldorf (Live in San Francisco 1978)
Punk / New Wave - Released by Rhino - Elektra on 20 Aug 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Marquee Moon / Adventure / Live at the Waldorf: The Complete Elektra Recordings Plus Liner Notes
Rock - Released by Rhino - Elektra on 8 Nov 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live At The Academy NYC 12.4.92
Alternative & Indie - Released by Ohoo Music on 29 May 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live... Long Island 1978 (Live)
Rock - Released by timeline on 13 Nov 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Marquee Moon
Rock - Released by Elektra Records on 8 Feb 1977
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live In New York (Live)
Rock - Released by Wild Waters on 18 May 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Marquee Moon (Edit)
Rock - Released by Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group on 30 Mar 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Long Island, New York 1978 (Live)
Rock - Released by timeline on 6 May 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live in NYC 1974 - Part One (Live)
Rock - Released by BBM on 13 Nov 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Television - WLIR FM Broadcast CBGB's The Bowery New York City NY 27th December 1976 (2CD).
Rock - Released by Smash on 15 Sep 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live in NYC 1974 - Part Two (Live)
Rock - Released by BBM on 13 Nov 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Television - FM Radio Broadcast CBGB New York NY 27th December 1976 2CD.
Rock - Released by Symbol on 10 Aug 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
La chance (Chris Kaeser & D-fun'K Remix)
House - Released by D-TraCK's Industry on 4 Nov 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rhino Hi-Five: Television
Punk / New Wave - Released by Rhino - Elektra on 27 Mar 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Television Live in New York (Live)
Rock - Released by Grace Recordings on 18 May 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo