Tom Verlaine

Tom Verlaine (born Thomas Miller, December 13, 1949 - January 28, 2023) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the frontman of the New York City rock band Television. Verlaine had an interest in writing and poetry from an early age. As a teen he was friends with future bandmate and punk icon Richard Hell (Richard Meyers) at Sanford School, a boarding school which they both attended. They quickly discovered that they shared a passion for music and poetry.
After one failed attempt, Verlaine (with Hell) succeeded in escaping from school and moved to New York City. He then created his stage name, a reference to the French symbolist poet Paul Verlaine. He was quoted as saying this name was inspired by Bob Dylan's name change and was a way of distancing himself from his past.
He and Hell formed the Neon Boys, recruiting drummer Billy Ficca. The Neon Boys quickly disbanded after failing to recruit a second guitarist, despite auditions by Dee Dee Ramone and Chris Stein. They reformed as Television a few months later, finding a guitarist in Richard Lloyd, and began playing at seminal punk clubs like CBGB and Max's Kansas City. In 1975, Verlaine kicked Hell out of the band for his erratic playing and behavior, and they released their first single with Fred Smith replacing Hell. Verlaine dated poet and musician Patti Smith when they were both in the burgeoning New York punk scene. Television released two albums, Marquee Moon and Adventure, to great critical acclaim and modest sales before breaking up in July 1978.
(read more on wikipedia)
== Links to Peel ==
Peel played tracks from Tom Verlaine in the late 70's and early 80's on his shows, including one song called Yonki Time, which he regretted playing, when he mentioned it was awful. In the 90's and beyond, he never played any of his later materials.
The Family Cat in the late 80's released a single called Tom Verlaine, which was played by Peel on his shows as well as entering the 1989 Festive Fifty.
== Shows Played ==
;thumb|330x330px1979
*06 September 1979: Red Leaves (LP - Tom Verlaine) Elektra
*13 September 1979: Kingdom Come (LP - Tom Verlaine) Elektra
*11 October 1979: Yonki Time (LP – Tom Verlaine) Elektra (JP: "Why on earth did I pick that track? It's dreadful. Never mind. It's been done.")
;1981
*09 September 1981: Always (album - Dreamtime) Warner Bros. WB K 56 919
*Peel September 1981: Penetration (album - Dreamtime) Warner Bros. WB K 56 919
;1982
*01 June 1982: Coming Apart (album - Words From The Front) Virgin V 2227
*02 June 1982 (BFBS): True Story (album - Words From The Front) Virgin V 2227
;1984
*18 June 1984: Let Go The Mansion (7") Virgin
*20 June 1984 (BFBS): Let Go The Mansion (7") Virgin
*Peel August September 1984: Dissolve/Reveal (LP - Cover) Virgin
== External Links ==
*Wikipedia
*Discogs
Category:Artists