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Tom Verlaine

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Tom Verlaine (born Thomas Miller, on 13 December 1949, in Morristown, New Jersey) is a singer, songwriter and guitarist, probably best-known as a founder of Television.

Verlaine is often regarded as one of the most talented performers of the early punk rock era.

Tom Verlaine’s poetic lyrics, and his accomplished guitar playing technique were highly influential and widely praised in the music media. He and Television bandmate Richard Lloyd are one of rock music’s most acclaimed and inventive guitar duos.

Verlaine’s stage name is a reference to French symbolist poet Paul Verlaine.

Famed for his trailblazing work as the singer and guitarist for the seminal New York punk band Television, Tom Verlaine also carved out an acclaimed and eclectic solo career. Born Thomas Miller in Wilmington, Delaware in 1949, Verlaine was trained as a classical pianist, but gravitated toward rock music after an encounter with Rolling Stones’ “19th Nervous Breakdown.” In 1968, he and bassist Richard Meyers (later Richard Hell) moved to New York’s Lower East Side, where they and drummer Billy Ficca formed the group The Neon Boys. After the addition of second guitarist Richard Lloyd, the band renamed itself Television.

Beginning with their landmark 1975 debut single “Little Johnny Jewel,” Television became one of the most renowned groups on the burgeoning New York underground scene; though lumped together with the punk phenomenon, the band’s complex songcraft — powered by Verlaine’s strangled vocals, oblique lyrics and finely-honed guitar work — clearly set them apart from their peers.

Tagged as:

post-punk, singer-songwriter, new wave, rock, indie
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The Miller's Tale: A Tom Verlaine Anthology
Tom Verlaine
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Tom Verlaine
Tom Verlaine
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Words From the Front
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Songs and Other Things
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Top Tracks

1	Cold Irons Bound	41
2	The Grip of Love	40
3	Without a Word	27
4	Kingdom Come	19
5	Five Miles of You	18
6	Flash Lightning	16
6	Souvenir From a Dream	16
8	Stalingrad	13
9	From Her Fingers	12
10	Red Leaves	11
10	The Earth Is In The Sky	11
10	Last Night	11
13	Blue Light	10
13	Yonki Time	10
13	Breakin' in My Heart	10

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bayamus wrote:
October 2009

"Her voice?" Verlaine doesn't sound like nor look like a woman.

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fireflies_ wrote:
October 2009

I must admit that I love her voice

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googleeyes wrote:
September 2009

love love love

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dethintwosec wrote:
April 2009

Totally brilliant.

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holysnakes wrote:
April 2009

love o' my life.

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aintgotno wrote:
April 2009

I'm just mad about his voice

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Prouders wrote:
March 2009

Would have expected more listens than this

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RobertJaz wrote:
December 2008

Hello all! I have a group for Tom Verlaine solo - please come over and join...here is the link: http://www.last.fm/group/TOM+VERLAINE

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MoogleFan wrote:
December 2008

Tom Verlaine turns 59...and I turn 19! :D

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distantfingers wrote:
December 2008

Funkatram: actually, Dreamtime just got re-released on cd. I got mine for $12. and vinyls can be found for pretty cheap.

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funkatram wrote:
December 2008

Yeah, too bad I'll probably never hear it because the scummy sellers on Amazon priced it at about 123 dollars.

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blesscurse wrote:
October 2008

Dreamtime is a masterwork of sublime genius.

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RobertJaz wrote:
October 2008

I have a group for Tom Verlaine solo. Please join at this link, thanks! http://www.last.fm/group/TOM+VERLAINE

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distantfingers wrote:
September 2008

I know a lot of people think Dreamtime is Tom's best solo output, but personally I find myself liking his other albums more.

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nicoinfurs wrote:
September 2008

HUHHHHH

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novemberland wrote:
September 2008

There is only one Tom Verlaine...he has an entirely unique and thoroughly impressive body of work.

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lmaster65 wrote:
August 2008

Didnt expect Grip of Love to be 1st.

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MoogleFan wrote:
August 2008

Wow, that's really fantastic news! I hope that generates some new interest in his music, and finally people who haven't heard Dreamtime will be able to understand while it's been hailed as the best for so long! :D

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morningside24 wrote:
August 2008

Good news, lmaster65 and others. 'Dreamtime' and 'Words from the Front' are being reissued in September: http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004542.html

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lindadox wrote:
August 2008

YES deep hatred for yonki time

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Teewee3 added Tom Verlaine to the lineup of Fusebox at Vooruit. yesterday evening
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