Tom Verlaine, Legendary ’70s Rocker, Dead at 73

Known for his lyricism and as a co-founder of the band Television, Verlaine passed away in New York City on Saturday.

Tom Verlaine, co-founder of the influential '70s punk rock band Television has passed away. He was 73.

Verlaine died on Saturday, Jan. 28, after a short battle with an undisclosed illness, according to statements made by the musician's PR representative, Cara Hutchison, first shared with The Associated Press (AP).

“He was noted for his angular lyricism and pointed lyrical asides, a sly wit, and an ability to shake each string to its truest emotion,” said a statement from his publicist. “His vision and his imagination will be missed.”

No other information regarding survivors or plans for a memorial service was immediately available.

The iconic guitarist and singer–born Tom Miller–adopted his last name from the 19th-century French poet Paul-Marie Verlaine who influenced many of the band's lyrics after meeting future Television co-founders Richard Lloyd and Richard Hell at a prep school in New Jersey.

Lloyd, Hell, and Verlaine became CBGB regulars, gaining a large following in New York City's birthplace of punk. They released their debut album, Marquee Moon, in 1977, which was met with massive acclaim and included the 11-minute ballad "Elevation."

A year later, Television followed up with a second album, Adventure, but after tension rose between battling guitarists Lloyd and Verlaine, the group disbanded only three months after its release. Adventure never saw the fame the band's first album did, but that didn't stop Verlaine from finding commercial success in his solo career.

Over the years, Verlaine released eight solo albums, and his 1981 second studio album, Dreamtime, peaked at No. 177 on the Billboard album chart, per AP. He also toured with a menagerie of other legendary artists, including Patti Smith.

Television later re-formed in 1992, releasing a third and final album: the self-titled Television. By then, it was clear that the band's first album yielded massive influence within the scene. Marquee Moon continued to win over "best of" lists in entertainment, and several other proto-punk bands–like Sonic Youth and Pavement–had begun rising to the top.

Though Television never formally broke up a second time, the band's performances became more infrequent, and other artists eventually took their place in the public eye. Then in 2011, Television announced the band was near-complete with a fourth follow-up album. But as The Guardian reported, that album has yet to be released.