(TV) More on Television from Irving Plaza website

["Casey, Leo J" <CaseyL@VOLPE.DOT.GOV>]

March 21, 2003 
w/ Willard Grant Conspiracy 
 On Sale Now 
Doors: 8 PM 
March 22, 2003 
w/ Willard Grant Conspiracy 
On Sale Now 
Doors: 8 PM 
Television was one of the most creative bands to emerge from New York's 
punk scene of the mid-'70s, creating an influential new guitar vocabulary. 
While guitarists Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd liked to jam, they didn't 
follow the accepted rock structures for improvisation Q they removed the
 blues while retaining the raw energy of garage rock, adding complex, 
lyrical solo lines that recalled both jazz and rock. With its angular 
rhythms and fluid leads, Television's music always went in unconventional 
directions, laying the groundwork for many of the guitar-based post-punk 
pop groups of the late '70s and '80s.

In the early '70s, Television began as the Neon Boys, a group featuring 
guitarist/vocalist Tom Verlaine, drummer Billy Ficca, and bassist 
Richard Hell. At the end of 1973, the group reunited under the name 
Television, adding rhythm guitarist Richard Lloyd. The following year, 
the band made its live debut at New York's Townhouse theater and 
began to build up an underground following. Soon, their fan base was large 
enough that Verlaine was able to persuade CBGB to begin featuring live 
bands on a regular basis; the club would become an important venue for punk 
and new wave bands. That year, Verlaine played guitar on Patti Smith's first single, 
"Hey Joe"/"Piss Factory," as well as writing a book of poetry with the singer.

Television recorded a demo tape for Island Records with Brian Eno in 1975, yet the 
label decided not to sign the band. Hell left the band after the recording of the demo 
tape, forming the Heartbreakers with former New York Dolls guitarist Johnny 
Thunders; the following year, he began a solo career supported by the Voidoids, 
releasing a debut album, Blank Generation, in 1977. Hell was replaced by ex-Blondie 
bassist Fred Smith and Television recorded "Little Johnny Jewel," releasing it on 
their own Ork record label. "Little Johnny Jewel" became an underground hit, 
attracting the attention of major record labels. In 1976, the band released a British 
EP on Stiff Records, which expanded their reputation. They signed with Elektra 
Records and began recording their debut album.

Marquee Moon, the group's first album, was released in early 1977 to great critical 
acclaim, yet it failed to attract a wide audience in America; in the U.K., it reached 
number 28 on the charts, launching the Top 40 singles "Prove It" and "Foxhole." 
Television supported Blondie on the group's 1977 tour, but the shows didn't 
increase the group's following significantly.

Television released its second album, Adventure, in the spring of 1978. While its 
American sales were better than those of Marquee Moon, the record didn't 
make the charts; in Britain, it became a Top Ten hit. Months later, the group 
suddenly broke up, largely due to tensions between the two guitarists. 
Smith rejoined Blondie[sic], while Verlaine and Lloyd both pursued solo careers; 
Lloyd also played on John Doe's first solo album, as well as joining Matthew 
Sweet's supporting band with the 1991 album, Girlfriend.

Nearly 14 years after their breakup, Television re-formed in late 1991, 
recording a new album for Capitol Records. The reunited band began their comeback 
with a performance at England's Glastonbury summer festival in 1992, releasing 
Television a couple months later. The album received good reviews, as did the tour 
that followed, yet the reunion was short-lived Q the group disbanded again in early 
1993. In 2001, Television again reunited for a handful of shows in the U.K., as well 
as an appearance at the Noise Pop Festival in Chicago. Q Stephen Thomas Erlewine 
--------------
To post: Mail tv@obbard.com
To unsubscribe: Mail majordomo@obbard.com with message "unsubscribe tv"