Television

[Twill Bill]

^^ Oh well. I know that Fender made some clear jassmasters, but I've never seen Verlaine playing them. Maybe it's not true.

I've seen the old rehearsal video. It's pretty entertaining. Do you remember one part where Verlaine sings something and then Lloyd's all "too Lou Reed!" Which is ironic considering that later Lou Reed brought a tape recorder to a Television gig. He got caught by the band though, and Lou's tape got confiscated. Ha ha.

Yeah, that part was kinda funny. It was also funny when he got so pissed off that Lloyd didn't want to practise with one guitar.
Lloyd's haircut was so atrocious
I like when Tom Verlaine gets really into one of his solos (I think it was during The Girl Can't Help It or High Heeled Wheels) and sort of flops [can't think of a more appropriate word] around on the floor while he's playing. It's so rare to see him like that because he hardly moved around when he played.

 

[rollagasper]

Lloyd's haircut was so atrocious

Yeah, that haircut's pretty ridiculous.The boys have definitely had their fashion faux pas. Like Verlaine and Hell's drag getup, or that gross high cut shirt that Tom is wearing!!

.... is actually

http://www.richardhell.com/Theresa.html

 

[rollagasper]

I like when Tom Verlaine gets really into one of his solos (I think it was during The Girl Can't Help It or High Heeled Wheels) and sort of flops [can't think of a more appropriate word] around on the floor while he's playing. It's so rare to see him like that because he hardly moved around when he played.

Yeah, it was surprising to see Tom thrashing on the floor. Television definitely had some good moves back then! Earlier TV gigs probably involved a lot more bodily movements. I think later on Tom just became a lot more reserved and professional (for better or worse) because he didn't want all that dramatic flopping to distract from the music or whatever. I think a lot of journalists wrote them off as being "cold" and "unemotional", because at that time it was all about being crazy like the Pistols or the Dead Boys.

 

[Twill Bill]

From the richardlloyd.com news section:

After the possible Summer stage show in New York City on June 16, which is to be announced by the city of New York on May 15, Richard Lloyd will, after 34 years, be amicably severing all ties with the band Television, in order that he may concentrate his magnetic force and supernatural energies upon his own career in support of his forthcoming record, due out in the fall. This new record directly competes with Marquee Moon, Axis: Bold as Love, The Doors, Patti Smith's Horses, Bob Marley's Natty Dread, Neil Young's Harvest, or any other record you can name, as one of the greatest records ever made in the history of rock 'n roll. That being so, Richard needs to concentrate all of his energies to support it and its subsidiary philosophies.

To the fans of Television, from the very first show at the townhouse Theatre on March 4, 1974 till the hopeful last show here in New York at the Summer stage -- which by the way, is a free show, thank you for your support over these many years. I hope to see you follow both my own and the other members of the band in their own solo efforts for many more years to come.

Thank you,
Sincerely yours,
Richard Lloyd

I'm incredibly sad about this. There's no way I will be able to make it to their show in NY, so I will never get to see them live. EVER.

 

[rollagasper]

^ At first I was quite mad at Richard for quitting, as he came across a bit selfish. I mean, it's not like Television takes up much of his time. But I think this helps explain things a bit better in Richard's point of view:

...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

I can't get a ride to the show in NY either, so I guess i will have to come to terms with never being able to see them live either. Although I guess if i tried hard enough i could, but running away to NY isn't really the most appealing thing.

 

[rollagasper]

This article from the Guardian presents some interesting perspectives. Various musicans (and music related people) were asked to nominate a classic album which they think is actually not good. Marquee Moon made the list thanks to Alex Kapranos, who is obviously not very open-minded.

http://music.guardian.co.uk/rock/story/0,,2102991,00.html

 

[rollagasper]

Television is working on another album at the moment, and with luck they say it will be out sometime this year. Fingers-crossed.