[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Lloyd/Heylin on Lloyd leaving in 1975/RE: (TV) New blog with Television content



Direct quote from Clinton Heylin's book, "From The Velvets To The Voidoids", (1st American
edition, 1993), middle of page 140 and all of page 141: 

The choice of 'LJJ' as a single incensed at least one member of Television.  Richard Lloyd
threatened to quit if Verlaine went ahead but, unconvinced by Lloyd's objections, he proceeded
with the release"

Richard Lloyd:  ... Of the songs that we had, I thought 'LJJ'  had the least chance and didn't
really represent the band.  At the time I said, 'If that comes out, I'm going, forget it.'  So
I left, and laid around.  In the meantime, we had a gig coming up [Clinton Heylin: at Mothers],
so Tom changed the ad to read Tom Verlaine instead of Television. 

Coming hard on the heels of Hell's departure, Lloyd's resignation might have finished
Television, but Verlaine was quick to recruit a replacement.  He knew Peter Laughner was a
devoted admirer of Television, at least the equal of Lloyd as a guitarist, and was blessed with
diverse musical tastes, and - whether Verlaine knew it or not - Rocket From The Tombs had now
disbanded.  They had played just one more show after their support slot at the Piccadilly
Penthouse before internal divisions finally rent them asunder.  Laughner was ready, willing and
able.  He flew to New York, where he spent three days rehearsing with Television.  Then Lloyd
decided that he didn't want to quit after all.

Richard Lloyd:  'We ran into each other at this restaurant - Tom and Fred were eating, and I
walked in and I asked how they were doing.  They looked at the floor and said, 'Well, you know
how it is  - it's rough.' And they asked how I was doing, and I said, 'Well, the same. You know
how it is - it stinks.'

Lloyd's version of Television's reunification naturally suggests that they were missing his
unique feel - yet Laughner was already conversant with much of Television's set (he had taped
their Piccadilly set to learn some of the songs) and regularly played 'Venus De Milo' [sic],
'Prove It', Verlaine's rewrite of 'Fire Engine', and 'Breakin' In My Heart' at solo gigs in
Cleveland.  He was also used to alternating rhythm and lead with Gene O'Connor (aka 'Cheetah
Chrome') in RFTT.

Laughner was crushed to have to return to Cleveland as an ex-member of Television.  Yet within
a month he had formed another band based around a twin-guitar sound.  Pere Ubu would prove as
important to the history of New Wave as the band he had wanted to join, though Ubu would also
spurn him before making their most significant vinyl statement.  

	Leo

> Behalf Of serovner@mindspring.com
> Sent: Friday, May 29, 2009 6:20 PM
> To: tv@obbard.com
> Subject: Re: (TV) New blog with Television content
> 
> Eh, what do they know?
> 
> Actually, what he says is "Was in NYC two weeks ago to help 
> Verlaine after Richard quit - we were supposed to audition 
> for Cale but it fell thru so I guess Tom has gone solo which 
> is what Bowie and myself advised him - only sad part is that 
> Tom and Richard's totally conflicting directions gave off 
> sweet sparks".   
> 
> Guess the whole Tom/Richard thing was quite evident, even in 1975.
> 
> From: Keith Allison
> > Subject: Re: (TV) New blog with Television content
> Sent: May 29, 2009 3:34 PM
> 
> Steve Rovner wrote:
> > handwritten letter from Peter Laughner describing being in 
> Television; 
> 
> According to tom and Richard, he never was.
> 
> -- 
> 
> 
> Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
--------------
To post: Mail tv@obbard.com
To unsubscribe: Mail majordomo@obbard.com with message "unsubscribe tv"