Tom Verlaine (born Thomas Miller, on 13 December, 1949, in Morristown, New Jersey) is a singer, songwriter and guitarist, and is often regarded as one of the most talented performers of the early punk rock era. He is probably best-known for his trailblazing work as the singer and guitarist for the seminal New York punk band Television, but has also carved out an acclaimed and eclectic solo career.

Biography

Verlaine was trained as a classical pianist, but gravitated toward rock music after an encounter with the Rolling Stones' "19th Nervous Breakdown." In 1968, he and childhood friend Richard Meyers moved to New York's Lower East Side, renaming themselves Tom Verlaine (a reference to French symbolist poet Paul Verlaine) and Richard Hell, and formed the group the Neon Boys with drummer Billy Ficca. After adding second guitarist Richard Lloyd, the band renamed itself Television.

Beginning with their landmark 1975 debut single "Little Johnny Jewel," Television became one of the most renowned groups on the burgeoning New York underground scene. Although lumped together with the punk phenomenon, the band's complex songcraft -- powered by Verlaine's strangled vocals, oblique lyrics and finely-honed guitar work -- clearly set them apart from their peers.

Verlaine's lyrics and accomplished guitar technique playing were highly influential and widely praised in the music media. He and Lloyd are one of rock music's most acclaimed and inventive guitar duos, and he is responsible in part for popularizing the Fender Jazzmaster, along with Elvis Costello.

After only two albums, 1977's classic Marquee Moon and the more subdued 1978 follow-up Adventure, Television disbanded, and Verlaine started a solo career.

He resurfaced in 1979 with a self-titled debut which featured the song "Kingdom Come," later covered by avowed fan David Bowie. 1981's dense Dreamtime earned significant acclaim, and even hit the U.S. album charts. Both 1982's diverse Words From the Front and 1984's Cover drew raves from the British press, spurring Verlaine to take up residency in London. After a three-year hiatus, he returned with Flash Light, regarded as one of his best solo efforts. Following 1990's The Wonder, Television briefly reformed for a self-titled album and tour; the group again broke up, however, and in 1992 Verlaine issued his first instrumental LP, Warm and Cool. In 1994, he composed the score for the film Love and a .45. Currently, he and his jazz-influenced punk guitar are touring.

Solo Discography

Albums

• Tom Verlaine (1979)
• Dreamtime (1981)
• Words from the Front (1982)
• Cover (1984)
• Flash Light (1987)
• The Wonder (1990)
• Warm and Cool (1992) (Reissed in 2005)
• The Miller's Tale: A Tom Verlaine Anthology (1996)
• Around (2006)
• Songs and Other Things (2006)

Singles

• Always (1981)
• Postcard from Waterloo (1982)
• Let Go the Mansion (1984)
• Five Miles of You (1984)
• A Town Called Walker (1987)
• Cry Mercy, Judge (1987)
• The Funniest Thing (1987)
• Shimmer (1989)
• Kaleidoscopin (1990)

References

• Guinness Rockopedia - ISBN 0-85112-072-5
• The Great Rock Discography (Fifth Edition) - ISBN 1-84195-017-3

External links

• The Wonder

American guitarists | American rock singers | American male singers | American singer-songwriters | 1949 births | Living people

トム・ヴァーレイン | Tom Verlaine