Television

Bio

Television was one of the most creative bands to emerge from New York's underground 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 in New York City, New York, 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 to begin featuring live bands on a regular basis; the club would become an important venue for punk and new wave bands. Television was the first punk/new wave bands to play at CBGB. 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, self titled 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. . User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Similar artists

Tom Verlaine, Wire, Gang of Four, The Modern Lovers, Richard Hell and the Voidoids

Genres

post-punk,new wave,punk,proto-punk,rock,american,usa,art rock,art punk,classic pop and rock,alternative rock,art punk,experimental rock,indie rock,no wave,noise pop,post-punk,protopunk,punk,singer-songwriter,

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Infos

On Tour: No

country: US

city: New York

Begin Date: 1973

Last Update:

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Videography

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Artist discography

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Last FM

Live In New York (Live)

Live In New York (Live)

May/2020

Live in NYC 1974 - Part One

Live in NYC 1974 - Part One

Nov/2019

Live in NYC 1974 - Part Two (Live)

Live in NYC 1974 - Part Two (Live)

Nov/2019

Resume Transmission (Live 1992)

Resume Transmission (Live 1992)

Oct/2019

Television Live in New York (Live)

Television Live in New York (Live)

Sep/2019

Marquee Moon (Edit)

Marquee Moon (Edit)

Mar/2018

Sketches: The Demos 1974–75

Sketches: The Demos 1974–75

Jan/2015

Live at My Fathers Place

Live at My Fathers Place

Aug/2014

La chance

Nov/2013

La chance (Chris Kaeser & D-fun'K Remix)

La chance (Chris Kaeser & D-fun'K Remix)

Nov/2013

The procession of fish

The procession of fish

Feb/2012

Rhino Hi-Five: Television

Rhino Hi-Five: Television

Mar/2007

Marquee Moon/Adventure/Live At The Waldorf [The Complete Elektra Recordings Plus Liner Notes]

Marquee Moon/Adventure/Live At The Waldorf [The Complete Elektra Recordings Plus Liner Notes]

Nov/2005

Arches Glasgow 6/24/2004

Arches Glasgow 6/24/2004

Jun/2004

Live at the Old Waldorf

Live at the Old Waldorf

Aug/2003

Live At the Old Waldorf (San Francisco, 6/29/78) [Remastered]

Live At the Old Waldorf (San Francisco, 6/29/78) [Remastered]

Aug/2003

Live at the Academy NYC 12.4.92

Live at the Academy NYC 12.4.92

Jan/2003

Live At The Old Waldorf - San Francisco, 6/29/78

Live At The Old Waldorf - San Francisco, 6/29/78

Jan/2003

Marquee Moon (Expanded)

Marquee Moon (Expanded)

Jan/2003

Live at the Old Waldorf 1978

Live at the Old Waldorf 1978

Jan/2003

No We

Feb/2023

No We - Single

Feb/2023

Relaxing Mine - Single

Relaxing Mine - Single

Nov/2022

Diddy Hop - Single

Diddy Hop - Single

Nov/2022

Saturday Mix - Single

Saturday Mix - Single

Nov/2022

Business - Single

Business - Single

Nov/2022

Songs 2022 - Single

Songs 2022 - Single

Nov/2022

Relaxing Questions - Single

Relaxing Questions - Single

Nov/2022

Here Beats - Single

Here Beats - Single

Nov/2022

c'mon Hip Hop - Single

c'mon Hip Hop - Single

Nov/2022

Million Beats - Single

Million Beats - Single

Nov/2022

Else's - Single

Else's - Single

Nov/2022

Sorrow - Single

Sorrow - Single

Nov/2022

Nights 2022 - Single

Nights 2022 - Single

Nov/2022

Relax Hope - Single

Relax Hope - Single

Nov/2022

Stronger 2023 - Single

Stronger 2023 - Single

Nov/2022

Alright Hip Hop - Single

Alright Hip Hop - Single

Nov/2022

Burn Home - Single

Burn Home - Single

Nov/2022

Fight Lullaby - Single

Fight Lullaby - Single

Nov/2022

Cheatin Mix - Single

Cheatin Mix - Single

Nov/2022

Live At The Academy NYC 12.4.92 (Remaster)

Live At The Academy NYC 12.4.92 (Remaster)

Apr/2024

Live… My Father’s Place, Roslyn, 1978

Live… My Father’s Place, Roslyn, 1978

Aug/2024

See No Evil...Live 1978

See No Evil...Live 1978

Jun/2025

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