Television: four UK dates

TELEVISION 

One of the most influential and legendary of American punk era groups - will play four UK dates this November. Tickets are on sale now, full info below:

Friday 15th

Sage, Gateshead

St. Mary's Square, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead, NE8 2JR

£27.50

 http://www.sagegateshead.com/event/television/

7.30pm

No age restrictions

Sunday 17th 

Manchester Academy 2

University of Manchester Students' Union, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PR

Tel: 0161 275 2929

£25

 http://www.atpfestival.com/events/televisionmanchester2013.php

7.00pm

All Ages (under 14s must be accompanied by an adult)

Tuesday 19th

London, The Roundhouse,

Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1 8EH

Tel: +44 844 482 8008

£27.50 

http://www.atpfestival.com/events/televisionlondon2013.php

7.00pm

Strictly over 14s. Under 16s need to be accompanied by an adult (ID required for entry)

Saturday 23rd

ALL TOMORROW'S PARTIES

End Of An Era

Camber Sands Holiday Park, New Lydd Rd, Camber Sands, Sussex TN31 7RL

SOLD OUT

TELEVISION were one of the most innovative bands to emerge from New York’s underground scene of the mid-70s, creating an influential new guitar vocabulary. While guitarists Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd liked to jam, they didn’t follow the accepted rock structures for improvisation - they removed the blues while retaining the raw energy of garage rock, adding complex, lyrical solo lines that recalled both jazz and rock. With its angular rhythms and fluid leads, TELEVISION’s music always went in unconventional directions, laying the groundwork for many of the guitar-based post-punk pop groups of the late ’70s and ’80s.

In the early ’70s, TELEVISION began as the Neon Boys, a group featuring guitarist/vocalist Tom Verlaine, drummer Billy Ficca, and bassist Richard Hell. At the end of 1973 in New York City, New York, the group reunited under the name TELEVISION, adding rhythm guitarist Richard Lloyd. The following year, the band made its live debut at New York’s Townhouse theater and began to build up an underground following. Soon, their fan base was large enough that Verlaine was able to persuade CBGB to begin featuring live bands on a regular basis; the club would become an important venue for punk and new wave bands. TELEVISION was the first punk/new wave band to play at CBGB. That year, Verlaine played guitar on Patti Smith’s first single, 'Hey Joe'/'Piss Factory', as well as writing a book of poetry with the singer.

TELEVISION recorded a demo tape for Island Records with Brian Eno in 1975, yet the label decided not to sign the band. Hell left the band after recording the demo, forming the Heartbreakers with former New York Dolls guitarist Johnny Thunders; the following year, he began a solo career supported by the Voidoids, releasing a debut album, Blank Generation, in 1977. Hell was replaced by ex-Blondie bassist Fred Smith and TELEVISION recorded 'Little Johnny Jewel', releasing it on their own Ork record label. 'Little Johnny Jewel' became an underground hit, attracting the attention of major record labels. In 1976, the band released a British EP on Stiff Records, which expanded their reputation. They signed with Elektra Records and began recording their debut album.

'Marquee Moon', the group’s first album, was released in early 1977 to great critical acclaim, yet it failed to attract a wide audience in America; in the UK, it reached number 28 in the charts, launching the Top 40 single 'Prove It'. TELEVISION supported Blondie on the group’s 1977 tour, but the shows didn’t increase the group’s following significantly.

TELEVISION released their second album, 'Adventure', in the spring of 1978. While its American sales were better than those of 'Marquee Moon', the record didn’t make the charts; in Britain, it became a Top Ten hit. Months later, the group suddenly broke up, largely due to tensions between the two guitarists. Smith rejoined Blondie, while Verlaine and Lloyd both pursued solo careers; Lloyd also played on John Doe’s first solo album, as well as joined Matthew Sweet’s supporting band with the 1991 album Girlfriend.

Nearly 14 years after their breakup, TELEVISION re-formed in late 1991, recording a new, self titled album for Capitol Records. The reunited band began its comeback with a performance at Glastonbury summer festival in 1992, releasing 'Television' a couple months later. The album received good reviews, as did the tour that followed, yet the reunion was short-lived — the group disbanded again in early 1993. In 2001, TELEVISION again reunited for a handful of shows in the U.K., as well as an appearance at the Noise Pop Festival in Chicago.

Tom Verlaine: guitar & lead vocals

Jimmy Rip: guitar & backing vocal Fred Smith: bass & backing vocal Billy Ficca: drums