Born on December 13: Tom Verlaine, American new wave poet
Thomas Miller (real name), American singer and guitarist, was born in New Jersey in 1949. He didn't choose his stage name without reason...
With Lithuanian roots on his father's side (who quickly chose to Americanize and simplify his Miliszauckas surname!) and Polish on his mother's, Tom ran away from his boarding school with Richard Meyers. The same Richard Meyers who decided to become Richard Hell when they formed The Neon Boys, the slightly messy beginnings of what would become Television with the legendary “Marquee Moon” album in 1977. With 1978's “Adventure”, featuring Verlaine's nasal voice, incisive guitar playing and poetic verve, the quartet left their mark with their demanding yet enthusiastic artistic vision. Much like the Talking Heads, who debuted around the same time, Television entered the exclusive circle of cult bands.
Tom left the works of Arthur Rimbaud to Patti Smith, preferring the equally musical literary prowess of Paul Verlaine, the author of the famous Sanglots Longs that kicked off the Normandy landings in June 1944.
Barely five years after their first riffs, Television screens now display only an anonymous test pattern and a shrill crackle. In the wake of eternal ego squabbles, the plug was pulled. In 1975, even before the band's artistic blossoming, Richard Hell's teenage escapologist buddy, with a far more excessive temperament, was the first to jump ship and found The Voidoids. Tom Verline came to fame on his own, offering a repertoire that is extremely close to that of his former band. And with good reason, since he was the band's electric motor (with his favorite guitar, a Fender Jazzmaster) and artistic soul (as a songwriter-interpreter). This interlude gave rise to a dozen or so solo albums, containing barely polished diamonds such as “Breakin'My Heart” and “Kingdom Come” (1979), “There's A Reason” (1981), the more soothing “Postcard From Waterloo” (1982) and a few less notable ones.
In 1992, Tom picked up the phone to ask bassist Fred Smith, drummer Billy Ficca and rhythm guitarist Richard Lloyd to rekindle the Television flame. This kind of reunion rarely yields convincing results. And yet, with an eponymous album clearly indicating a new beginning, the band passes the test. Tracks such as “1880 Or So” and “Mars” are among the best in their repertoire.
Tom Verlaine sadly passed away in New York on January 23, 2023 at the age of 73, following a battle with cancer.
(MH with AK - Photo: © Etienne Tordoir)
Photo: Portrait of Tom Verlaine in Brussels (Belgium) on September 5, 1984, to promote his album “Cover”.