Television (band)
| Television | |
|---|---|
(L-R) Ficca, Verlaine, Smith, Lloyd
|
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| Background information | |
| Origin | New York City, New York, United States |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1973–1978, 1991–1993, 2001–present |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | |
| Members | |
| Past members | |
Television is an American rock band, and considered influential in the development of punk and alternative music. Television was formed in New York City in 1973 by Tom Verlaine and Richard Hell.
Television was an early fixture of CBGB and the 1970s New York rock scene. Although they recorded in a stripped-down, guitar-based manner similar to their punk contemporaries, the band's music was by comparison clean, improvisational, and technically proficient, drawing influence from avant-garde jazz and 1960s rock. The group's debut album, Marquee Moon, is often considered one of the defining releases of the punk era.
Television's roots can be traced to the teenage friendship between Tom Verlaine and Richard Hell. The duo met at Sanford School in Hockessin, Delaware, from which they ran away. Both moved to New York, separately, in the early 1970s, aspiring to be poets.
Their first group together was the Neon Boys, consisting of Verlaine on guitar and vocals, Hell on bass and vocals and Billy Ficca on drums. The group lasted from late 1972 to late 1973. A 7-inch record featuring "That's All I Know (Right Now)" and "Love Comes in Spurts" was released in 1980.
In late 1973 the group reformed, calling themselves Television and recruiting Richard Lloyd as a second guitarist. Their first gig was at the Townhouse Theatre, on March 2, 1974. Their manager, Terry Ork, persuaded CBGB owner Hilly Kristal to give the band a regular gig at his club, where they reportedly constructed their first stage. After playing several gigs at CBGB in early 1974, they played at Max's Kansas City and other clubs, returning to CBGB in January 1975, where they established a significant cult following.
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