Re: (TV) A message from Richard

[Russ <russvr@gmail.com>]

I'm sure the large majority of us, here, on the list, will support Richard.
You don't love Television and just only love Tom's playing. Television was
always greater than the sum of it's parts - everyone knows that. It's a
shock though. I guess it's an all or nothing proposition for Richard.
Television would never be the same without him and should Television find
another guitarist, no matter how good, it's like Van Halen with Sammy Hagar.
Just not the same. From the fan perspective, I certainly support what RL has
to express and look forward to hearing him when his band comes to Chicago or
Detroit. I'm glad I got to see Television twice! This might provoke groans
,but Richard should setup an official MySpace site. Now there's promotion.
I'm sure he's thought of that himself so I'm curious why he hasn't?
-Russ

On 5/4/07, Keith Allison <keith@marquee.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
> Dear Marquee Moon mailing list members:
>
> First of all, thank you for your continued support of our band and its
> members.  Although I read the list from time to time, and I notice it is
> a worship altar for the works of Tom Verlaine, I have never minded,
> because for 34 years within Television, I practiced a kind of magical
> invisibility -- you could look at me on stage and think that what I was
> doing was being done by Tom.  Of course, I took my own solos etc., but
> nonetheless I practiced a real yogic invisibility so that the band would
> have one leader and one central visionary.
>
> A man cannot ride two horses.  I am a great believer in my newest record
> which is about to come out, and I think it is as important a record as
> anything ever released -- not more important, but equal to absolutely
> anything you can name in rock-and-roll history.  It deserves my full
> attention and support.
>
> I'm going to ask the mailing list members a question.  It's a rhetorical
> question, and thereafter I will answer it myself: have any of you ever
> made a New Year's resolution?  Have any of you that have made a New
> Year's resolution kept your promise to yourself for the entire year?  I
> dare say that not many of you can answer yes to this.  Well, I made a
> vow in 1973 to subsume my will and my own personal charisma behind Tom,
> in order that Television have one face and one leader showing to the
> public.  At times this vow was very difficult on me.  I suffered public
> embarrassment and had to hide my own gregariousness and generosity
> behind a band identity that was nick-named "the ice kings of rock."
>
> Now that I have announced my severance from any involvement in the band
> Television, the other three are free to get a fourth member should they
> like, and continue under the name.  That was our original agreement and
> I stand by.  I am a man of my word.  I gave my word to myself and I kept
> my vow or 35 years.  Now I am released from that vow and can reveal my
> own talents and force.  I hope you will join me on an exciting
> adventure, which is more social phenomenon than musical, the music just
> being a part of my plans to conquer the earth and make the earthlings be
> nice to one another.
>
> Please refrain from mentioning the name of my forthcoming record.
> Please do not mention the phrase.  This will assist me in my well
> thought about promotional campaign.  There will be no advance copies
> sent to journalists.  There will be small listening parties and the
> record will be being played at my shows.  But if you do not get a copy
> directly from me, you don't get one.
>
> Sincerely yours,
> Richard
> --
> -----------------------------------------------
> http://www.marquee.demon.co.uk
> "The Wonder - Tom Verlaine, Television & Stuff"
> -----------------------------------------------
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