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Richard Lloyd, the co-founding guitarist of Television, has died at 75, according to Rolling Stone, which reported he died Saturday morning at his home in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Lloyd disclosed in August that he had cholangiocarcinoma, a form of bile duct cancer. His playing on Television’s Marquee Moon and his solo and session work shaped his legacy in rock.
Richard Lloyd, the co-founding guitarist of New York band Television, has died at 75, according to Rolling Stone, as cited by Consequence. Rolling Stone reported that Lloyd died Saturday morning at his home in Chattanooga, Tennessee; in August, he had disclosed a diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma, a form of bile duct cancer.
Lloyd was one of the two guitarists whose interlocking parts defined Television’s sound alongside singer and guitarist Tom Verlaine. The band emerged in New York’s 1970s punk scene, playing at the club CBGB and releasing its debut album, Marquee Moon, in 1977. Lloyd’s lead playing on the title track combined angular melodies and harmonic tension with a sound less reliant on the power chords common in punk.
Television’s original run lasted from 1973 to 1978 and produced two albums. The group reunited in the 1990s, released a self-titled album, and later played together again in the 2000s. Lloyd left the band in 2007, according to the report, to focus on his own music.
Across a career spanning about five decades, Lloyd released nine solo albums. His 1986 record Field of Fire and 1987 follow-up Real Time drew critical attention to his guitar work. He also played on Matthew Sweet’s 1991 album Girlfriend and other recordings. Lloyd’s last album, The Countdown, was released in 2018.
A Distinctive Sound in Punk
Lloyd’s death marks the loss of a musician whose work helped expand the sound of early punk. Television brought a more intricate, melodic approach to a scene often associated with raw speed and stripped-down arrangements. On Marquee Moon, Lloyd and Verlaine’s guitar interplay gave the band a sound that was both tense and exploratory.
The report connects Lloyd’s playing to later groups including Fugazi, R.E.M. and the Pixies. That influence extended beyond Television: his solo albums and work with Sweet kept his guitar playing in circulation among listeners and musicians well after the band’s first period ended.
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From CBGB to Marquee Moon
Lloyd grew up in Pittsburgh and took up guitar as a teenager before moving to New York. He joined Verlaine, bassist Richard Hell and drummer Billy Ficca in 1973 to establish Television’s lineup. Hell departed in 1975 and was replaced by Fred Smith.
Lloyd also credited himself with helping turn CBGB into a venue for punk bands. In a 2007 interview, he said he helped secure Television a performance there in 1974 and described himself as the force behind the club’s development. That account is Lloyd’s own characterization; the source report does not independently establish that he was solely responsible. CBGB later became associated with acts including the Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads and Patti Smith.
““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.””
— Richard Lloyd, in a 2007 interview
Details of His Death
The reports cited in the source material say Lloyd died Saturday morning at home in Chattanooga, but do not specify the date or provide further details about the circumstances. Lloyd had disclosed his cholangiocarcinoma diagnosis in August; the available information does not state whether the cancer caused his death. No information is provided about funeral or memorial plans.
Tributes and Memorial Plans
Further information may come from Lloyd’s family, representatives, former bandmates or collaborators. The reports available here do not announce a memorial service or provide details about how he will be commemorated. Updates to the circumstances of his death and any public plans remain pending.
Key Questions
How old was Richard Lloyd when he died?
Lloyd was 75, according to the report.
What band was Richard Lloyd best known for?
He was best known as a co-founding guitarist of Television, the New York band whose 1977 debut was Marquee Moon.
What was Richard Lloyd’s illness?
Lloyd disclosed in August that he had cholangiocarcinoma, a form of bile duct cancer. The available report does not say whether it caused his death.
What was Richard Lloyd’s last album?
His last album listed in the report was The Countdown, released in 2018.
Where did Richard Lloyd die?
Rolling Stone reported that Lloyd died at his home in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Source: consequence.net
