Tom Verlaine of Television-RIP

What was he drinking?

 

His books are being sold. He had thousands of books in storage.

 

The magazine says he had over 50,000 books and they are being sold indeed, they give some examples of what could be found in his music section,

 

This is fantastic! Thanks for the info on this. I doubt it's here in the U.S. yet, but I'll be on the lookout for it.

 

He wasn't - just standing there waiting for the opening act. Oddly either no one recognized him, or didn't want to bug him, or were too cool to approach him. I'm not burdened by those inhibitions. This was right after Marquee Moon (pre-internet) so maybe no one knew he could be... distant. I thought, 'what's the ONE question' I wanted to ask him', and it had something to do with Marquee Moon - like 'how did you start writing - it and how did you know when you had it finished'. (see I snuck in two questions!)

He said it originally had 'like 25 verses' (I remember that clearly: 25). He might have been kidding but I imagine the basic song became the premise for his and Lloyd's explorations between verses.

Still one of the most amazing recordings I've ever heard. Yes, the live versions can be equally transcendent but the original recording is profoundly inspired and the best imo until or unless we get a better live version decently recorded. Better than "The Blow Up. Grateful I was able to have that 2 minute conversation with him. I don't have a lot of 'heroes' and actually like Lloyds playing better. But Marquee Moon reflecting Verlaine's 'vision' would be timeless if it was released in 1970... 1990... 20203... 2057... whenever.

 

Yesterday, I purchased his copy of Mirrorshades, the classic cyberpunk short story anthology edited by Bruce Sterling featuring stories by Sterling, William Gibson, Greg Bear, and others. I had a paperback copy years ago that went "astray", so I am stoked to be getting a proper hardback first edition with his unique lineage attached to it.

The two stores selling the collection are Better Read Than Dead Books in Brooklyn and Capitol Hill Books in D.C. These links go to their respective Tom Verlaine collections; more items will be added in coming weeks.
Better Read Than Dead: Results for: Tom Verlaine Collection
Capitol Hill: Results for: Tom Verlaine Collection

 

I wonder if he actually read the books.
Does anyone know where the money goes? He didn't have family.

 

Has anyone in the US seen the Uncut special edition out in the wild? To order it I am seeing two options, one is about $23, and the other about $28. I'm not sure it is worth that much.

Thanks!

 

It could take a month sometimes for new issues to make to the states. I’m going to wait another couple of weeks and then go to Barnes & Noble.

 

Cheers, thanks.

 

Heads up……..

I went to a Barnes & Noble (Menlo Park Mall, NJ) on the way home from work……and they had the Television Uncut.

So, it’s now available in the US.

 

Great news! I checked mine last week and they didn't have it yet. Thanks for posting this!

 

I got a copy from this seller on eBay: UNCUT Music Magazine | eBay ; still has four copies for sale.

 

Make it three. Thanks for the heads-up!

 

kinda see slint being influenced by television. esp. verlaine's mark on david pajo [guitar]

 

Make that two.

 

Found it at my Barnes and Noble as well. It is very well done all around. So glad this exists.

 

Unfortunately, the stuff that everybody seems to really want (the aborted fourth Television album recordings) is probably, in actuality, rather boring. Since Tom never recorded his parts, there's no vocals, no lead guitar. So it would just be backing tracks with Jimmy Ripp on guitar.

But there probably could be something pieced together from live recordings in the post-Lloyd era.

 

Until any such thing might happen officially, we already have this to be able to hear new (lost 4th album) material that was being played live, right now... Enjoy!
Earcandy Archive » Blog Archive » Television: Call Mr. Lloyd