TOM VERLAINE INTERVIEW
(Originally aired on January 1, 2009)
In 1973, Tom Verlaine founded the band Television, which soon became a driving force in the emerging New York punk-rock scene. Television's two albums, Marquee Moon and Adventure, showcased brilliant interweaving guitar parts played by Verlaine and Richard Lloyd. Though Television broke up in 1978, the group's bright, twangy tones influenced a host of new wave bands that emerged in the late '70s and early '80s.
Verlaine has explored instrumental sounds in recent years, including experimental film music he performs with guitarist Jimmy Rip. In our exclusive interview, Verlaine details his approach to guitar and composing, and how he recorded Warm and Cool — his magical 1992 solo album that was reissued in an expanded edition in 2005. He also explains how he and Rip perform live music to silent film in theater settings.