Founding member of the band Television and an early influencer on Punk, Post-Punk, and later the Alternative Rock movement, Tom Verlaine has died. He was 73. Tom died “peacefully” in New York City, “surrounded by close friends,” following a brief illness, according to a news release from Jesse Paris Smith, the daughter of Verlaine’s former partner Patti Smith. Originally teaming up with Richard Hell in Neon Boys, the band eventually became Television, along with fellow lead guitarist Richard Lloyd, helping transform Rock music with their inventive guitar playing and songcraft. Television was one of the first regular bands at CBGB’s which galvanized the Punk Rock movement. Even before Television, Verlaine has a 50-year of song-writing partnership with Patti Smith, a former romantic partner. Later Verlaine’s solo work had a massive effect on Post-Punk as well as Alternative, and he left his imprint on countless other bands he produced, wrote for, and side projects he participated in. RIP.

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