Biography
Lead guitarist/vocalist Tom Verlaine (Thomas Miller, 13 December 1949, Mount Morris, New Jersey, USA) first worked with bass player Richard Hell (b. Richard Meyers, 2 October 1949, Lexington, Kentucky, USA) and drummer Billy Ficca in the early 70s as the Neon Boys. By the end of 1973, with the addition of rhythm guitarist Richard Lloyd, they reunited as Television. Early the following year they secured a residency at the Bowery club, CBGB’s, and found themselves at the forefront of the New York new wave explosion. Conflicts between Verlaine and Hell led to the departure of the latter who later re-emerged with the Heartbreakers. Meanwhile, Television found a replacement bass player in Fred Smith from Blondie. The new line-up recorded the raw but arresting ‘Little Johnny Jewel’, a tribute to Iggy Pop, for their own label, Ork Records. This led to their signing with Elektra Records for whom they recorded their debut album in 1977.
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