Tom Verlaine Remembered by Patti Smith, Members of Wilco and More
On early Saturday morning, American singer, guitarist, songwriter and frontman of the New York City rock band Television Tom Verlaine died. He was 73 years old.
Verlaine, who passed after a brief illness, was responsible for Television’s iconic 1977 debut LP, Marquee Moon. Though he and his bandmates–Fred Smith, Billy Ficca and Richard Lloyd–only released two other albums: Adventure (1978) and Television (1992), the punk outfit would go on to influence not only the indie and post-punk music scenes for decades to come but also New York City as a whole.
Since his passing on Saturday, many of those changed by his deeply impactful life have expressed their feelings of reverence and grief.
Verlaine’s lifelong friend, contemporary and former partner Patti Smith shared a brief, beautiful caption along with a photo of them together on Instagram, which read, “This is a time when all seemed possible. Farewell Tom, aloft the Omega.”
Smith went on to share a statement with her fans, expanding on her feelings while giving some of the music she and Verlaine brought into the world together, in the form of “Break It Up.” She wrote, “On Saturday at 2:39 in the morning we lost Tom Verlaine. Words cannot express my sorrow for the loss nor the joy for having known him. All who loved his music may wish to play his records. I am offering Break it Up. It’s the song that Tom and I composed for Horses in 1975. The lyrics reflect a dream I had of the death and imagined resurrection of Jim Morrison. Tom’s uniquely beautiful and expressive guitar work can be heard throughout.” She went on to say that “grieving is not an affliction but a privilege.”
Michael Stipe of R.E.M. also shared his feelings on the loss of Verlaine, who he hailed as a musical hero, who created the inspiration for his outfit much like the other luminaries of CBGB’s like Smith and The Velvet Underground.
“I’ve lost a hero,” Stipe wrote. “Bless you Tom Verlaine and thank you for the songs, the lyrics, the voice! And later the laughs, the inspiration, the stories, and the rigorous belief that music and art can alter and change matter, lives, experience. You introduced me to a world that flipped my life upside down. I am forever grateful.”
Members of Wilco, Nels Cline and Jeff Tweedy shared their respects to Verlaine in their own ways as well. Cline shared an image and statement which read, “I am running out of words, though not out of love and respect, or tears. So crucially important to me, my music and playing – this goes beyond music to an aesthetic, a vision, a VIBE. I could write so much. Right now I just deeply bow to the beauty, to the enigma of Tom Verlaine.”
While Tweedy performed Television’s “Venus” with his son Spencer on drums during the latest episode of his show The Tweedy Show. Showcasing an entire generation connected with Television’s music. See both below.
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I am running out of words, though not out of love and respect, or tears. So crucially important to me, my music and playing – this goes beyond music to an aesthetic, a vision, a VIBE. I could write so much. Right now I just deeply bow to the beauty, to the enigma of Tom Verlaine. pic.twitter.com/Y7sIv1Qf43
— Nels Cline (@nelscline) January 29, 2023
The Red Hot Chili Pepper’s Flee added to the pile of reverence and homages to Verlaine’s life. “listened to Marquee Moon 1000 times. And I mean LISTENED, sitting still, lights down low taking it all in,” he wrote on Twitter. “awe and wonder every time. Will listen 1000 more. Tom Verlaine is one of the greatest rock musicians ever. He effected the way John and I play immeasurably. Fly on Tom.”
listened to Marquee Moon 1000 times. And I mean LISTENED, sitting still, lights down low taking it all in. awe and wonder every time. Will listen 1000 more. Tom Verlaine is one of the greatest rock musicians ever. He effected the way John and I play immeasurably. Fly on Tom.
— Flea (@flea333) January 29, 2023
Though he is gone, it’s deeply apparent the ripples caused by his music and life will continue to flow ever outward.
