The dramatic history of the band Television

[@stephenedgecock]

oh yay another dude in his mom's basement with an iPhone and a $20 microphone...no thanks

[@reddotrecordings]

lol

[@SmokingInMyCar]

It's kind of punk, right?

What's your contribution?

[@ColfaxJones]

You sound bitter and jealous, seriously. What have you done besides bitch and moan anonymously while living in your moms basement

[@karenstinnett]

He’s telling an important story. Does it not count if he doesn’t have a corporate publicist?

[@bobistheowl]

I knew about the band Television years before I heard them, from reading Creem magazine in the mid 70's. The story about Tom Verlaine spinning around in a wheelchair while playing guitar solos impressed me a lot when I was 14 years old. Marquee Moon was such an amazing album to discover at age sixteen. In 1984, I found a copy of the ROIR, (Reach Out International Records), cassette tape of "The Blow Up", and i played it to death. I was fortunate to have been able to see the 1992 reunion tour.

[@anxiousmofo6673]

Television is an amazing band. Love the Minutemen shirt too dude.

[@soundofhistory_]

Thanks! It got destroyed in the wash. I miss it haha

[@anxiousmofo6673]

@@soundofhistory_ Damn. Sorry to hear dude

[@grantandrews4826]

Great vid dude. I'm a huge fan of Television, and actually managed to learn some new info! You've got some very admirable skills when it comes to spinning yarns. Not all people can do that. HOWEVER, the ukulele and toy piano music are not vibing with me, personally. If you'd like, I can whip something up for you. No pressure, no obligation to use it, just thought I'd offer. :)

[@kelleykelley22]

This is great, I discovered television because of Matthew Sweet who was influenced by Television and Richard Lloyd who played with Matthew Sweet for some years. This video taught me so much I didn’t know. Well done dude! Subscribed. Heading to the Sonic Youth one next.

[@soundofhistory_]

Thank you!

[@lperezduran]

Also Matthew sweet played with Robert quine, guitarist from richard hell and the voidoids

[@princebonnie1357]

Same here, Matthew Sweet via my brother's recommendation was my introduction (by association) to Television. Very happy to say I got to watch Richard Lloyd strut his stuff W/Sweet, I later got to see Television sans Lloyd in 2013. The self - titled album from 1992 is a guitar masterpiece!

[@M_C79]

I still have my original 45 of Little Johnny Jewel. It cracked soon after I bought it, but I'd listen to it anyway, just with the needle jumping every time it hit the crack. Funnily enough, I never saw them play live, even though I went to CBGB a lot. But of all the bands I listened to back then, Television is the band I listen to most. Marquee Moon is a monument, a perfect album.

[@jonathanreich6360]

The CGBG bands were very influential to me. Television the most. I played in some bands late 1970s and early 1980s and my guitar style was very much influenced by Verlaine and Lloyd as was the bands I was in. We covered "See No Evil" from MM and two of Verlaine's songs from his first solo: "Red Leaves" and "Breakin' In My Heart." They very rarely just played chords and usually played a fragment or a guitar line intermeshing with a fragment. They were melodic and rhythmic at the same time. You can appreciate both of their styles with Lloyd being the straight ahead melodic craftsman and Verlaine's style of wandering around until he picks up phrases and brings it home. Despite what Richard Lloyd said about Adventure, I absolutely think that "Days" is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard, lyrically and musically.

[@JamiePortside]

Did your bands record anything? I would love to hear it.

[@jonathanreich6360]

@@JamiePortside I thought I replied and sent you a link to some lofi recordings I did before. I don't know if it was removed. If someone can tell me whether my previous reply was removed and, if so, why, I'd appreciate it.

[@DMSBrian24]

@@jonathanreich6360 youtube very often blocks links posted in comments unfortunately, you can get around it by breaking it up into parts that won't be detected as links (or by just uploading it to your youtube channel or sth), i'd love to hear the recordings too btw ^^

[@jonathanreich6360]

@@DMSBrian24 I've tried several times to do this and they have all been deleted. Try going to soundclick and searching for "Degrees of Freedom".

[@jonathanreich6360]

@@DMSBrian24 I've tried in numerous ways to get you this site all seemingly deleted.

[@kazooplayer3]

I've enjoyed your history videos and Television are my favorite band right now, so this was very cool. I learned a few things that I didnt know before.

[@soundofhistory_]

Thank you!

[@Chuck-Bob]

Richard Lloyd is brilliant.

[@jeffess2571]

I will be forever grateful to the friend who turned me on to Television.

[@davidcook7847]

First time on your channel. I ordered this album via Rhino Records on a recommendation of another KZbinr. Never heard it before or even the band. Wanted to get more of a background on the band before the album arrives. Well done video!

[@soundofhistory_]

Thank you! Hopefully knowing some of their story will help you appreciate the album more

[@nolagospeltracts8264]

Great video my friend. I learned a few things about the band I didn't;t know.

[@Andyanddiana467]

Great video. This band literally changed my life. I was a total metalhead up until that point, my early 20s, and Marquee Moon opened a whole new world to me. It also made me appreciate my old 'hood - I was born and raised in NYC in '77, and grew up just blocks from CBGBs.

[@robbiefischer43]

Awesome! Been wanting to dive into them for a while

[@jonathanhains814]

Fantastic video. Amazing!

[@soundofhistory_]

Thanks!

[@3340steve]

Thank you for sharing this history.

[@annahuse905]

I’m really enjoying watching your videos :) they are very well done. My suggestion is to do a video on pere ubu or wire

[@markbrooks7372]

Well done, nicely put together and really interesting. I know TV's story well but you gave it new life. Cheers, RIP Tom.

[@joesykes9728]

Dude these vids are so good

[@ethanmiller631]

Great! video i love how you include minor yet great details!

[@soundofhistory_]

Thank you!

[@Miauwen_]

I love these videos so much !! Could you do Talking Heads in future?

[@soundofhistory_]

Thank you! Id love to learn more about them, so I’ll for sure add them to the list

[@Miauwen_]

@@soundofhistory_ thankyou!!:D

[@kelleykelley22]

I second this! 💪🏼💪🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@Cheshireagusta]

One of my fave raves. Tom Verlaine is possibly the best lyricist we've ever had. I play in an instrumental band. I'm also a serious lyric snob. Ole Tom will live in my heart forever.

[@CheeseSentinel]

Honestly I would love to see a video about the history of the clash

[@soundofhistory_]

They’re one of my favorite bands, so I’d love to do that!

[@seantaylor3000]

Yo thanks for the video television marquee moon is a magical album for me it inspires me to make my own music subscribed thanks!

[@artgirlsreality]

I enjoyed this. Spotify put Television with my DJ mix just now. They reminded me of the talking heads in ways but more punk. I wanted to hear more about them and I found your video. One of my friends use to live on E 4th st. By CBGBs in the 80's and I got see my friend Wendy Wild perform when her band Pulsalama played there. She was also in the band phyidellic Furs. She was buddies with John Sex. It was a fun time in my 20's

[@soundofhistory_]

Thank you!

[@blakewhittington4336]

I got to see them in 2018 in "The old town school of folk music" in Chicago they were great. I was bummed Richard Lloyd wasn't there but still a great show. Got a picture with Billy the drummer it was such a small venue that they were all standing around after all of them but Tom.lol I never considered them punk they're something else to me. I love Adventure too it's just as good an album imo

[@JavierLuke-u2k]

Where do yo find video of them performance in bbc i can't find it please🙏

[@wk4max263]

You know your stuff mate ,liked and subbed

[@soundofhistory_]

Thanks!

[@kura2460]

Good video

[@soundofhistory_]

Thank you!

[@chlum6295]

You should do the minutemen

[@soundofhistory_]

Definitely on the list

[@rogierdailly1608]

Thanks for that! Nice one. I must add though that I think Tom's solo albums feature some great songs that arguably equal the Television output.

[@soundofhistory_]

I actually haven’t listened to much of his solo work, I’ll have to dig into that

[@lucasp.calheiros2755]

Very cool video!!

[@MichaelStefano-k3b]

First time I heard the album marquee moon, I was tripping on mushrooms. Needless to say, it was one of the most wicked experiences in my life. It ended and pretty things’ parachute came on. After that, I was a changed man.

[@ChrisSuswal-de9tj]

Love these stories. I can only imagine tripping listening to that masterpiece for the first time

[@keithmauger7355]

I discovered these guys at 59 and haven’t stopped playing my fender jazz master since. Totally inspired me to get back to playing electric guitars again after years of drumming and acoustic guitars. The duel guitar is freaking amazing and I’m embarrassed I heard of but ignored them for ever because I thought they were some weird 70 punk band. Turns out they were the best band of the late 70s New York scene. Check out the strokes as they ar awsome and obviously inspired by Television 😎🎼❤️

[@briansays2286]

Love those First 2 records.

[@elvergalarga4461]

1 and 3. 2 is okay in my opinion.

[@lolly_bread]

The song "Marquee Moon" was how I found Television back in the very early 80's, but later in life I dug listening to the '92 "Television" album. So cool.

[@hkkl1314]

Also Richard Hell's memoir "I Dreamed I Was a Very Clean Tramp" is an excellent read and can be had cheaply on the used market.

[@peryvalespark]

this is great man! would love to see one on silver jews!

[@soundofhistory_]

I’ll add em to the list!

[@karenstinnett]

Tom graduated and very briefly attended two colleges that sounded randomly chosen. One was in SC (I think it was Guilford) lasted a couple of weeks and the next one was in PA and I think he said it was military based or maybe just heavily ROTC. If he had gone to something like Columbia he might have stayed, but who knows. (Just filling in what he said he wasn’t sure of).

[@KINGMONKEY1989]

Love Television. For someone who was brought up on my parents records Marquee Moon just blew me away from.a young age.

[@niminkinen]

Tom and I were penpals in the late 80 s

[@constantin88]

I listened to Adventure yesterday and found it not too bad. The sound is softer and not that underground but the solos and the lyrics are good. Of course it is not on the same level as Marquee Moon but it just proves Marque Moon is something else. Now looking forward to listen to their reunion album. I liked your video, very informative, thanks. Nice channel, gonna check out that CBDB video and others. How about a video about the Stranglers, if you are interested?

[@soundofhistory_]

Thanks for checking it out! I'll definitely add em to the list

[@SuperOhdannyboy]

I’m really glad I saw the Bush Tetras last in Oakland Fourth of July 2024. They are great live and still performing , well at least most of them. Pam Place is probably the original noise guitarist. One dose not have to merely reminisce about the bands of this scene.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Check out the album “Fed Up !” By the Dogs. All but first two tracks are live and it rocks. Mid seventies proto punk garage style but better than you might think.

[@bonscott6353]

Ive only ever heard the debut are their other albums any good?

[@soundofhistory_]

I’ve definitely spent way more time with Marquee Moon, but Adventure is worth a listen for sure

[@donwest5387]

Marqee Moon earned a spot in my collection; I also have l.j.j.

[@anadraham2995]

Uhhhh - fuckin awesome video‼️

[@waynesteffen3262]

Good video, but I did get lost among the Richards figuring out which one was Hell.

[@coreyphillips6153]

Suggesting a video for Gang of Four 😎

[@briandavitt9640]

Great great band

[@otentas]

...and when we are ready to hear about Television's third record ... Tom dies at the age of 73...video ends...wtf...

[@danpetitpas]

Very good video. If you upgrade your video production, you'll have a first-class channel.

[@fiascodebacle9444]

Tom Verlaine was like Anton Newcombe of The Brian Jonestown Massacre. A genius who sabotaged himself because he was terrified of success. Tragic.

[@peterdaigle4772]

Another chapter in CBGB punk rock history book

[@chrisgmurray3622]

Surely the source of the name "Tele vision" is a reference to (Fender) " Telecaster or Tele for short.

[@gertpersson4271]

Tell a vision...

[@cedwardmassey]

RIP TV❤

[@karinannamaria2514]

I love this record, and Adventure aint bad either

[@soundofhistory_]

I need to spend more time listening to Adventure. I mostly stick with Marquee Moon

[@karinannamaria2514]

@@soundofhistory_ yeah it's quite different with a softer and warmer sound, and more melancholic. But great guitarplay and songwriting

[@MaterLacrymarum]

Tom Verlaine was a genius. I'd loved his sound since buying Marquee Moon in 77. His passing was devastating. That said, his career never took off because, by all accounts, he was just very difficult to work with. But for all that - man, the guy was something else. Lloyd was good, but his solo career wasn't a patch on what Verlaine did. IMO.

[@Saaf62]

Maybe so, but you should see Richard Lloyd now before you say that. He has been putting on amazing shows. Another genius guitar player.

[@aprendizdebrujo100]

Let's give credit to richard lloyd, he is as good guitar player as tom verlaine if not even better, and the secret of the artistic success of television is the union of this two original guitar players. I think he's totally underrated, as player, and in his importance in television sound. OK, tom verlaine was the composer, but man, some of lloyd's parts are pure magic, in venus, in guiding light, in marquee moon (except verlaine's solo) , prove it, days, ain't that nothing, in Call mr.Lee (his arrangemetds and soloes in this song of the third album are incredibly good) he is very good. Unfortunately he fell down in a hard hreoin addiction in 1978 and he was missed until 1985... so he only has two solo albums until 2001... He lost his best moment... Good albums both of them, alchemy (1979) and Field of fire (1985) despite in "alchemy" you can see his lack of evolvement and abandon due to his heroin addiction so theere are two of the songs that despite they are very good, they are poorly mixed, plus to the great songs "misty eyes", "alchemy" and "pretend"... the sogn "field of fire" from the sencond album is almost in "guitar hero" mode ... Fred smith is a very good bass player too, richard hell was an underground star, but fred smith was a BASS PLAYER. his bass lines are very good. Incredible for example in guiding light, one opf my favorite bass lines of all times... without him, television could hsve been forever an amateur band. his presene made them much better. I write this for all those who say that television was basically tom verlaine... and whish say "ohhhh... tom verlaine, even in the videos of the songs where lloyd's gguitar shines the same, or even more. (fcor example, venus de milo, guiding light, see no evil, elevation, days, aint that nothing, call mr.lee, or prove it)

[@JuliusGalacki]

Completely agree.

[@EugeneLorey]

They were cool when Richard was in the band.

[@RobertCawood-pf9nh]

No, Richard was born in 1951 not 1949

[@soundofhistory_]

Richard Hell was born in 1949. Richard Lloyd was born in 1951.

[@cchoi108]

" A band called The Waitresses" ??? I listened to them all the time. You say that like they are obscure LOL.

[@homealonewiththeimmortals]

I don't think his brother was a twin. That kind of thing would have gotten more attention, don't you think? A year or two younger, the brother, I seem to remember.

[@harvey1954]

Fick-a like kick-a, no long "i" sound.

[@iluvj50]

The Velvert Underground haha.

[@tspearce]

Hō-kes-sin

[@VonL]

He’d have been a far lesser light but for his relationship with Patti Smith

[@falica77]

Not too dramatic

[@billdauphine951]

"VELVERT"...😂

[@javierb5645]

what was that intro haha

[@soundofhistory_]

I guess it makes more sense if you watch our other videos 😂

[@johnbrowne9688]

the lucy show

[@Antoniopinto91]

oh yay another dude in his mom's basement with an iPhone and a $20 microphone...fuck yeah 🥲