UPDATED: Legendary Television frontman Tom Verlaine has died

The Edge has spoken about the importance to him of Television's Tom Verlaine who passed away on Sunday aged just 73.

"Tom Verlaine was a huge influence on me as young guitarist," he says. "Television showed me how unique the guitar could sound if approached with a spirit of inventiveness. That insight has guided me ever since. Tom was a true legend. His music will live on."

Born Thomas Miller in New Jersey but renaming himself in honour of French symbolist poet Paul Verlaine, Tom was one of the more musically literate members of the CBGBs gang who gave American rock 'n' roll a much-needed kick up the arse in the mid-70s with Patti Smith, The Ramones, Talking Heads and Blondie among Television's contemporaries.

Their Marquee Moon debut was not only a call to arms for a new generation of guitar bands, but also reenergised the likes of David Bowie who later covered Verlaine's solo track, 'Kingdom Come', on his Scary Monsters album.

More recently, Television's DNA is woven deep into the likes of The Strokes, Sonic Youth, LCD Soundsystem, R.E.M., Radiohead, U2 and Mogwai whose Stuart Braithwaite observes of its title-track: "Name 10 minutes of music as good as 'Marquee Moon'? You can’t. It’s perfect."

Those sentiments are echoed by our man Pat Carty who opines of Marquee Moon the album: "Name a better side 1. I don’t know if you can. I bought this in the late 80s because The Edge kept mentioning it in interviews. I hadn't heard any of it so I was taking a chance with whatever little money I had. The cover looked cool and when I put it on the turntable, it took my teenaged head off. Good man Tom Verlaine."

Hot Press remembers the roar its choppy intro riff elicited in April 2001 when Television played a beyond sensational gig in Dublin's Vicar St. Peter Murphy wrote this atmospheric account: https://www.hotpress.com/music/once-in-a-marquee-moon-523987

Five years after that, Marquee Moon placed at no. 66 in our Greatest Albums Ever list.

Markedly more successful sales-wise in Europe than they were at home, Television released a second album, Adventure, before splitting and then reforming in 1992 and issuing a self-titled record, which confirmed that the old magic was still there in spades.

"Listened to Marquee Moon 1,000 times," says Flea from the Chilli Peppers. "And I mean LISTENED, sitting still, lights down low taking it all in. Awe and wonder every time. Will listen 1,000 more. Tom Verlaine is one of the greatest rock musicians ever. He effected the way John and I play immeasurably. Fly on Tom."

The word from Michael Stipe is: "I've lost a hero. You introduced me to a world that flipped my life upside down. I am forever grateful."

"I’ve spent so many hours from the 1970’s to the present day listening to, marvelling at and learning from this album - ecstatic amazing and life changing music," adds Lightning Seeds leader Ian Broudie. "To me guitars have never sounded so beautiful again. Thank you Tom Verlaine."

Here are some of the other heartfelt tributes that have been pouring in from the likes of Cait O'Riordan, Tim Burgess, Robert Forster, Dave Fanning, Billy Idol, Chris Stein and Waterboy Mike Scott.

Appears to be true: Tom Verlaine has passed over to the beyond that his guitar playing always hinted at. He was the best rock and roll guitarist of all time, and like Hendrix could dance from the spheres of the cosmos to garage rock. That takes a special greatness. #TomVerlaine https://t.co/e62cTZyYLF

— Mike Scott (@MickPuck) January 28, 2023

Tom Verlaine...proud to say he once played lead guitar on one of my songs, the most brilliant studio guitar playing I ever heard. 1 listen to master the song, invent an all-time killer riff + design its harmonic comet tail. Played 5 takes, each a monster. https://t.co/BptK2z7unJ

— Mike Scott (@MickPuck) January 28, 2023

Well there I stand neath the Marquee Moon 🙏 All quiet at Bowery and Bleeker tonight, maybe tomorrow there’ll be flowers and candles, or maybe it’ll be like nothing ever happened here 🙏✨💚 #tomverlaine #cbgbs pic.twitter.com/EI2LQUtZPX

— Cáit O'Riordan (@rockyoriordan) January 29, 2023

Playing this one loud for Tom Verlaine

pic.twitter.com/q8VfDOgUcO

— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) January 28, 2023

Rest In Love Tom Verlaine. Tom played guitar on my never released solo album. He was amazing. ❤️

— Clare Grogan (@claregrogan2) January 29, 2023

RIP Tom Verlaine.
‘77 really was one of the greatest years in music.. and Marquee Moon was up at the top. pic.twitter.com/KFcb4nbzzR

— Dave Fanning (@davefanning) January 29, 2023

Tom Verlaine’s playing meant the world to me. If I ever played anything that sounded like him I was happy. He set me on my path as a guitarist, thank you Tom. pic.twitter.com/wMTvkxuy04

— Will Sergeant (@Will_Fuzz) January 28, 2023

Most nights we walk onstage to Marquee Moon- RIP to Tom Verlaine, the realest deal

— Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) January 28, 2023

I met Tom Verlaine when he just arrived in NYC I guess '72. He had long hair and came to my apartment with an acoustic guitar and played some songs he'd written. Both Tom and Richard Hell have told me that I auditioned for the Neon Boys but I don't remember.

— Cʜʀɪs Sᴛᴇɪɴ (@chrissteinplays) January 28, 2023

Another of my heroes gone, away to the great Marquee Moon in the sky https://t.co/lVBPTOiKB6

— Thomas Dolby (@ThomasDolby) January 29, 2023

Sad 2 hear of @TELE_VISION_TV #tomverlaine passing today. He made incredible music that greatly influenced the US & UK punk rock scene in the ‘70’s RIP pic.twitter.com/hbntmsLqMm

— Billy Idol (@BillyIdol) January 28, 2023