Tom Verlaine's Real Cause of Death: Television Guitarist Dead at 73

Tom Verlaine has lived his life to its fullest; he was a star among stars and is now forever remembered as one of the most influential stars of the 70s.

The guitarist and co-founder of the 70s rock band Television, Verlaine, is dead at 73 in New York City, reports say.

A representative shared the devastating news on Jan. 29: ​​"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. His vision and his imagination will be missed."

None of the reports note what really caused the death of the guitarist, instead they simply noted that he died after suffering from a short illness.

Verlaine was born Thomas Miller in Denville in New Jersey; he changed his surname to Verlaine, paying homage to the 19th-century French poet Paul-Marie Verlaine.

Perhaps this is also why the statement announcing his sudden passing acknowledged his talent in writing and his way with words.

However, before he got into the guitar and writing lyrics, Verlaine began harboring his love for music through the piano and saxophone. He played these instruments as a child.

He was a teenager when he finally picked up the guitar, after hearing "19th Nervous Breakdown" by the Rolling Stones, released in 1966, The Guardian reported.

Fueled by his love for music and a new-found passion for the guitar, Verlaine decided to pursue a music career in New York City with his school friend Richard Hell.

They formed the group Neon Boys, with Verlaine as the guitarist and vocalist, Hell as the bassist and vocalist, and Billy Ficca as the drummer.

The Neon Boys disbanded quite quickly after they failed to find a second guitarist, and instead rebranded themselves as Television a few months later, with Richard Lloyd.

Tribute

Verlaine may have died, but his legacy will continue to live on-and his contemporaries, as well as the artists that came after him, will make sure of that.

"This is a time when all seemed possible. Farewell Tom, aloft the Omega," wrote the late guitarist's former partner and collaborator Patti Smith in an Instagram post.

"I have lost a hero. Bless you Tom Verlaine for the songs, the lyrics, the voice!" Michael Stipe wrote. And later, the laughs, the inspiration, the stories, and the rigorous belief that music and art can alter and change matter, lives, experiences. You introduced me to a world that flipped my life upside down. I am forever grateful."

Other artists like Blondie's Chris Stein, Flea, R.E.M, Susanna Hoffs, and Simply Red paid tribute to Verlaine through social media, Billboard reported.

Tags

Death, Television