Artist:Television
Song:Venus
Album:Marquee Moon
Though they never had the commercial success of other mid-70s punk bands, Tom Verlaine's group Television and especially the debut album Marquee Moon holds up very well. The group started with childhood pals Richard Meyers & Tom Miller running away from a Delaware boarding school. The two reunited as adults in New York City. Meyers was now called Richard Hell and Miller changed his name to Tom Verlaine. The two started a band called The Neon Boys with drummer Billy Ficca. in 1973, guitarist Richard Lloyd joined and the group name was changed to Television. They started building a fanbase playing New York clubs. Richard Hell left in 1975 to form The Heartbreakers with Johnny Thunder when Television failed to get a record deal. He was replaced by ex-Blondie bassist Fred Smith. They recorded for the British Stiff label and finally landed a deal with Elektra. Their 1977 debut album Marquee Moon sold well in England but Television never really broke through in the US. It's now considered a classic of punk rock and Rhino released an extended version on CD in 2003. Television split up after their 1979 album Adventure because Verlaine & Lloyd weren't getting along. Television has reformed occasionally and last toured in 2006. Tom Verlaine is one of the most interesting musicians of the punk era. Here's Television performing Foxhole on the Old Grey Whistle Test in 1978.
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