29 January 2023

TOM VERLAINE, born Thomas Miller in Denville, New Jersey
73 years ago died yesterday following a brief illness.

He began studying piano at an early age but switched to saxophone in middle school after hearing a record by Stan Getz. Verlaine initially was unimpressed with the role of the guitar in both rock music and jazz but was inspired to take up the instrument after hearing the Rolling Stones’ “19th Nervous Breakdown” during his adolescence.

In 1973 he went to New York and formed groundbreaking new-punk-wave
TELEVISION with Richard Hell as a one-time member. Verlaine‘s guitar play
was astounding and defined the band’s electrical sound.

They only recorded/released 2 LPs. Their innovative 1977 debut Marquee Moon
and follow-up Adventure a year later. They split up shortly after but reunited later,
1991–1993 / 2001–present.

Verlaine had a successful solo career too with several
albums and collaborated with numerous other artists.

R.I.P.

.
TOM VERLAINE: Bio – Discography