Tom Verlaine Dead: Rockers Suffer Heartbreak After Losing 'Hero' in Music Industry

The music industry is mourning following Tom Verlaine's death.

Multiple news outlets, including The Guardian and Fox News, reported that the legendary guitar player of the New York City band, Television, has died. He was 73. Patti Smith's daughter, Jesse Paris Smith, confirmed his passing.

Verlaine's publicist also released an official statement in which they revealed that he died following a brief illness.

"He was noted for his angular lyricism and pointed lyrical asides, a sly wit, and an ability to shake each string to its truest emotion," his publicist said. "His vision and his imagination will be missed."

Following the announcement of his death, musicians took their time to pay tribute to him and honor him as their hero and New York guitar god.

Former R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe shared a black-and-white photo of Verlaine on Instagram alongside a heartfelt caption. He called him a "hero" he lost, before thanking him for his songs, lyrics, and inspiring voice.

More music artists, including Blondie's Chris Stein, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, Billy Idol, and Mike Scott, also shared separate statements to remember Verlaine and his career.

Tom Verlaine Became an Inspiration to Many

The Denville, New Jersey, native initially studied piano at an early age. However, he developed an interest in playing the saxophone after hearing Stan Getz's record.

He then started playing the guitar after hearing the Rolling Stones' hit song, "10^th Nervous Breakdown," when he was a teen.

Born Thomas Miller, the singer went on to change his stage name to Tom Verlaine in a reference to Paul Verlaine, a French symbolic poet.

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Verlaine left high school with his classmate and friend, Richard Hell, to form the proto-punk band Neon Boys in the 1970s. However, the group disbanded in 1973 before it ultimately reunited under the name Television months later.

The guitarist's skills inspired musicians despite his minimal commercial success compared to others, as proved by the outpouring of tributes he has been receiving since the announcement of his death.

Aside from his time with Television, Verlaine also had a blooming solo career. After dropping his first solo self-titled album in 1979, he went on to drop more music projects, including "Dreamtime," "Words from the Front," "Cover," "The Wonder," "The Miller's Tale: A Tom Verlaine Anthology," "Songs and Other Things," and "Around," among others.

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