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"Television, formed in New York City in 1973, is an American rock music band. Although Television never achieved mainstream commercial success, they are widely understood as one of the key founders of punk rock. Television was a part of the early New York punk rock scene, contemporaries of bands like the Patti Smith Group and the Ramones. In contrast to the Ramones's focus on minimalist amateurism, Television's music was much more technically proficient, defined by the dueling guitars of Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd. In retrospect, Television pointed beyond punk rock to new wave, art rock and post punk. Their first group together was the Neon Boys, comprised of Verlaine on guitar and vocals, Hell on bass and vocals, Bill Ayers (briefly) on guitar, and Billy Ficca on drums. The group lasted from late 1972 to early 1973. A posthumous 7" featuring 'That's All I Know (Right Now)' and 'Love Comes in Spurts' was released in 1980.
In late 1973 the trio reformed, calling themselves Television, soon recruiting Richard Lloyd as a second guitarist. They persuaded CBGB's owner Hilly Kristal to give the band a regular gig at his club which had just opened on the Bowery in New York. (Kristal had planned on dedicating the space to country music, bluegrass and blues music, but punk found a home there first). Television was the first rock group to perform at the club, which was to become, along with Max's Kansas City, the center of the burgeoning punk scene. The members of Television reportedly constructed the first stage at CBGB's where they quickly established a significant cult following.
Television's second album, Adventure was issued in 1978 to less fanfare. The band members had very independent and strongly held artistic visions, and this, along with Richard Lloyd's alleged drug abuse, led to the band's break-up in 1978. Both Lloyd and Verlaine pursued solo careers. Television reformed in 1992, recording an eponymous third album, and have performed live sporadically thereafter. Since being wooed back onstage together for the 2001 All Tomorrow's Parties at Camber Sands, England, they have played a number of dates around the world, and continue to perform occasionally in New York while touring on an irregular basis."
[reproduced or excerpted from the Wikipedia article "Television (band)" and its use is thus licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License]
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