What happened to Tom Verlaine? Tributes pour in as Television band frontman passes away at 73
Lily Fisher
Published Jan 18, 2026
The American vocalist Tom Verlaine, most popular for being the frontman of the New York City musical gang TV, died at 73 years old.
The insight about his demise was affirmed by vocalist Patti Smith’s little girl, Jesse Paris Smith, on January 28, who expressed that Verlaine died after a “brief sickness.”
“He died calmly in New York City, encompassed by dear companions. His vision and his creative mind will be remembered fondly.”
Born on December 13, 1949, Verlaine was a local of Denville, New Jersey. He fostered an interest in concentrating on piano at an early age yet ultimately changed to the saxophone in the wake of paying attention to a recording by Stan Getz.
He fostered a preference for guitar during his juvenile years after he heard the nineteenth Mental meltdown by the Drifters. Verlaine was born as Thomas Mill operator yet took on his stage name from French symbolist artist Paul Verlaine.
Tom Verlaine moved to New York City and, in 1972, framed a band called Neon Young men close by his school companion Richard Heck, with whom he shared an interest in verse and music. Neon Young men had Verlaine on vocals and guitar, Damnation on bass, and Billy Ficca playing drums.
In 1973, they changed their band’s name to TV and employed Richard Lloyd as a subsequent guitarist. In the wake of giving their most memorable authority execution in 1974, the gathering delivered Little Johnny Gem, their most memorable single, with Fred Smith assuming the job of Agony.
Verlaine composed the greater part of the tunes during his experience with the band and every now and again worked together with artist Smith, whom he dated in their underlying days of the New York punk scene.
TV delivered two profoundly acclaimed collections during their dynamic years: Marquee Moon and Experience, with the previous being hailed as one of the urgent records of the troublemaker period.
In July 1978, TV disbanded. Be that as it may, Verlaine sent off a performance vocation for some time and dwelled in Britain.
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.
— Nels Cline (@nelscline) January 29, 2023
After a year, in 1979, Verlaine delivered an independent self-named collection that highlighted the melody Life hereafter. The departed craftsman stayed useful as an independent craftsman over the course of the following twenty years, smoothly progressing from present troublemaker probes completely instrumental EPs and quiet film soundtracks to work with Smith and other old occupants from the now-dead CBGBs club.
TV rejoined in 1992 and delivered a third collection together, performing live here and there much of the time.
After fresh insight about Tom Verlaine’s demise turned into a web sensation, Twitter shared sympathies for the departed. A few Twitter clients and prestigious performers recalled the departed and respected his commitment to the troublemaker music scene.