I Dream About Punk Rock

Richard Lloyd

Last night I fell asleep listening to Marquee Moon. It made me dream about Television. And as dreams are...this was quizzical, involving real life elements and things that have nothing to do with Television or any of the band members, or music....

In my dream, Tom Verlaine had red hair (he does not) and was not singing (which he does do). "The New Guy" was singing. New guy, you ask?


Before Television played a free show at New York City's Central Park Summerstage, Richard Lloyd had already announced that he would be leaving the band after that show. Then Richard was hospitalized with pneumonia and could not play the show at all. Jimmy Rip, who has been playing with Verlaine for years on other projects substituted.

Thankfully, Richard has recovered and has announced his future plans. His website offers the following:

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 will miss the unique guitar combination of Verlaine and Lloyd, but each of them has a formidable catalog of solo works and achievements. Just have a look here at Richard's discography!

As for the new guy, Jimmy Rip, I've seen him perform with Tom Verlaine - they played music while silent films screened. Tres arty, to be sure, but the music was always brilliantly eclectic, incorporating elements from all genres; the playing was understated virtuoso stuff. Pure genius. The good news is that soon you will be able to own a DVD that includes the films and the music! Next month, Kino Video will release Tom Verlaine and Jimmy Rip: Music for Experimental Film. You should buy it, then watch it before you go to sleep, and you too will dream about punk rock, with Television as your soundtrack.