His loving wife Sheila and his dog Willie Mays were with him at the end,
Lloyd’s family, in a statement to Rolling Stone
Richard Lloyd, the guitarist who helped define the intricate, dual-guitar sound of the New York art-punk band Television, died Saturday at his home in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was 75. His family confirmed the death was caused by cholangiocarcinoma, a form of bile duct cancer diagnosed in March.
From Percussion to a Hallucinatory Calling
Born Richard John Alt in Pittsburgh on October 25, 1951, Lloyd moved to New York City as an infant. He first studied drums but switched to guitar after a hallucinatory experience,
he wrote in his 2018 memoir, Everything Is Combustible: Television, CBGB’s and Five Decades and Roll.
The drums didn’t sound good anymore, and I heard a voice — an auditory hallucination that told me, ‘You need to play a melody instrument,’
Lloyd recalled.
Architect of the Downtown Scene
By the summer of 1973, Lloyd had joined Tom Verlaine, Richard Hell, and Billy Ficca to form Television. The band became a cornerstone of the emerging New York scene, centered at the Lower Manhattan club CBGB. Lloyd often claimed credit for the venue’s evolution, asserting that he arranged for the band to play there in 1974, which opened the doors for acts like the Ramones, Blondie, and Talking Heads.
CBGBs is the most famous rock ‘n’ roll club to have ever existed and I fucking created it! I was the invisible force behind it,
Lloyd stated in a 2007 interview.
Crafting the Marquee Moon Sound
Television’s 1977 debut, Marquee Moon, remains a seminal work of the era, moving away from the blunt power chords of the punk movement in favor of complex, interlocking guitar work. Lloyd described his role as providing the harmonic foundation for the band’s signature tracks, including the nearly 11-minute title song.
The fleshing out of all the songs. All the filigrees and arabesques on Marquee Moon are all mine. Even though the solos are maybe different, during the verses, when Tom’s singing, I’m playing all the melody. I brought a rock & roll heart,
he noted.
Solo Ventures and a Legacy Defined
Television’s initial run was brief, ending in 1978 shortly after the release of their second album, Adventure. Following the split, Lloyd pursued a solo career that spanned nine albums, beginning with 1979’s Alchemy. He also became a sought-after session musician, contributing to records by John Doe and Matthew Sweet, including Sweet’s 1991 album, Girlfriend.
Television reunited periodically, including for a 1992 self-titled album, though Lloyd’s relationship with Verlaine—who died in 2023—remained fractious. Lloyd left the group ahead of a 2007 tour commemorating the 30th anniversary of their debut.
In his later years, Lloyd documented his experiences with synesthesia, a condition where his senses overlapped, which he claimed influenced his approach to both music and painting. Lloyd remained active as a performer and teacher, releasing his final solo album, The Countdown, in 2018.
I wanted to make a dent in rock history,
Lloyd told Guitar World earlier this year. That was my goal, and that came true.
Lloyd’s death follows the 2023 passing of his former bandmate Tom Verlaine, marking the end of a partnership that fundamentally altered the trajectory of American guitar rock.
Earlier coverage: Television Guitarist Richard Lloyd Dies at 75
