Gus Stewart/Redferns
Tom Verlaine, the lead singer of rock band Television, whose songwriting and instrumental expertise went on to leave a lasting influence on the punk rock scene, died Saturday at the age of 73.
Verlaine died “after a brief illness,” according to Jesse Paris Smith, the daughter of musician Patti Smith, who announced Verlaine’s death.
Verlaine formed the band in the 1970s alongside Richard Hell, who he had met in school as a teen. The group released two albums—their debut Marquee Moon in 1977 and Adventure in 1978—before disbanding, though Verlaine went on to release several solo albums, and his inventive style left an indelible imprint on future generations.