The television frontman was 73 years old.
It reports New York Times. They write that he died on Saturday, in Manhattan.
Verlaine’s death is confirmed to the newspaper by Jesse Paris Smith, the daughter of Verlaine’s former partner, rock legend Patti Smith.
She said that the musician passed away “after a short illness”.
Patti Smith pays tribute to Verlaine like this, on Instagram:
Verlaine became a school-forming artist as guitarist and frontman of the band Television, which belonged to the environment around the club CBGB in New York.
Television’s debut album “Marquee Moon” from 1977 often figures high in ratings of the best records of all time.
The band initially became a short-lived affair, which gave up after two albums. In the nineties they were reunited.
In between, Verlaine released a number of critically acclaimed solo records.
REM vocalist Michael Stipe is one of many artists who are now paying tribute to Verlaine on social media.
Michael Stipe on Instagram: “I’ve lost a hero
⚓️Bless you Tom Verlaine and thank you for the songs, the lyrics, the voice! And later the laughs, the inspiration, the stories, and the rigorous belief that music and art can alter and change matter, lives, experience. You introduced me to a world that flipped my life upside down. I am forever grateful 🌌🌌🌌”
Among others who report him are The Bangles frontman Susanna Hoffs, Waterboys manager Mike Scott, Echo & The Bunnymen guitarist Will Sergeant, punk/pop hitmaker Billy Idol and producer Steve Albini.
Morrissey has posted a “rest in peace” message to Verlaine on his website, quoting this from the Television song “Elevation”:
«I sleep light on these shores tonight»
Although Television is associated with the punk scene in New York, the band was particularly known for virtuoso guitar playing between Verlaine and Richard Lloyd – not least in the ten-minute title track from “Marquee Moon”.
In the last 30 years, Verlaine had a relatively low profile as an artist. But he played, among other things, on several of Patti Smith’s later records.
