December 13: The great Tom Verlaine was born in 1949

photo: Hallgeir Olsen/BornToListen

Tom Verlaine

Tom Verlaine (born Thomas Miller, December 13, 1949):
Singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the frontman for the New York rock band Television.

Tom Verlaine
Birth name Thomas Miller
Born 13 December 1949 (age 69)
Morristown, New Jersey, United States
Genres Punk rock, art punk, post-punk, new wave
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, musician
Instruments Guitar, vocals, piano
Associated acts Television, Neon Boys
Notable instruments
Fender Jazzmaster
Fender Jaguar
Fender Stratocaster
Danelectro Shorthorn Deluxe


Television played their seminal album Marquee Moon at Bergenfest a few years ago, it was a lot of fun. It was great seeing them and they were still a great band. They seemed to enjoy themselves immensely on stage. Verlaine is regarded by many as one of the most talented performers of the early post punk era. His poetic lyrics, coupled with his accomplished and original guitar playing, are highly influential and widely praised in the music media. He and Television bandmate Richard Lloyd are known as one of rock’s most acclaimed and inventive guitar duos. His work with guitarist Jimmy Rip in Television since 2007  is also incredibly good.

Tom Verlaine is a legend!

He is also part of the Million Dollar Bashers, a supergroup also featuring Sonic Youth musicians Lee Ranaldo and Steve Shelley, Wilco guitarist Nels Cline, Bob Dylan bassist Tony Garnier, guitarist Smokey Hormel and keyboardist John Medeski. Their work appears on the original soundtrack to I’m Not There, a biographical film “freely” reflecting the life of Bob Dylan.

Tom Verlaine Bergenfest 2014 photo: AllDylan
Tom Verlaine Bergenfest 2014 photo: AllDylan

Put on Marquee Moon and celebrate a fine musician:

marquee Moon

– Hallgeir