A representative of Tom Verlaine, a guitarist, and founding member of Television has confirmed Tom Verlaine has passed away at the age of 73 years old. He also said that Verlaine died peacefully and was surrounded by friends in New York City.
Originally born Thomas Miller in 1949, Verlaine was raised in Wilmington, Delaware, before he made his way to New York City in 1968 and took on his stage name instead. Tom Verlaine formed television and was a big part of New York City’s punk rock scene in the 70s. His unique guitar work and songwriting was used for two albums, 1977’s Marquee Moon and 1978’s Adventure before the group split in 1978.
Verlaine continued solo work releasing several albums over the decades starting with a self-titled record in 1979. He also would periodically reunite with Television. Back in 2015 he told Billboard that, “My first music experiences were with classical and then jazz, I played sax for three years, so my real roots are in instrumental music. In fact, when I hear the term ‘music’ I never think of ‘songs.’”
Meanwhile, upon hearing the news of his death fellow musician Patti Smith’s daughter, Jesse Paris Smith wrote a tribute to him on Instagram writing, Dearest Tom. The love is immense and forever. My heart is too intensely full to share everything now, and finding the words is too deep of a struggle. The feeling inside is so heavy, though your spirit is light and lifted, it is everywhere, completely and truly free, I love you always and forever, and will always remember and hold close the touch of your hand – hands of a beautiful creator and of a love more warm, tender, delicate, and true that one can ever dream, There has never been another like you and there never will be. What a blessing and gift I was given to share my time on earth with you. I will be grateful to the end of my life, and we will see you again beyond that, meeting you there wherever you’ve gone. Thank you leading the way.”
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