Friction between Hell and Verlaine eventually saw Hell leave to join Johnny Thunders in the emerging Heartbreakers, and a replacement was found in Fred 'Sonic' Smith from Blondie. A single, 'Little Johnny Jewel', was soon released on Ork Records which led to a deal with Elektra and the release of the debut album 'Marquee Moon'. This has been recognised as a landmark in rock history, which was immediately apparent from the reaction in the UK music press, despite the U.S. showing virtually no interest whatsoever.
Verlaine was a friend of Patti Smith, who shared his love of literary references including the poetry of Rimbaud. Television's work was more experimental musically, however, with a guitar interplay between Lloyd and Verlaine that was only rivalled elsewhere in Neil Young's Crazy Horse.
The follow-up, 'Adventure', despite its title, was not any major step forward and despite retaining a sense of melody was a disappointment to fans of their debut as a result. The band subsequently split in 1978, and Verlaine and Lloyd pursued solo careers which went largely unnoticed by the general public, although Verlaine's guitar style remained consistently unique throughout. Billy Ficca joined new wave act The Waitresses who had a few minor hits in the early 80's.
A reformed version of Television recorded a live album in 1992 and appeared at the Glastonbury Festival the same year, with a new, self-titled album also appearing within the next 12 months.
IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU'LL LIKE TELEVISION: Patti Smith, Blondie, Talking Heads, Richard Hell & the Voidoids, Wire, Suicide, Gang of Four, XTC, Sonic Youth, U2, Radiohead, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Velvet Underground, Jeff Buckley, R.E.M..