Thomas Miller

Thomas Miller was born in Denville, New Jersey. He studied classical piano and saxophone before falling under the spell of free jazz and Symbolist poetry, adopting the stage name Tom Verlaine after French poet Paul Verlaine. In 1973, he co-founded Television with Richard Hell and Richard Lloyd in New York City.

Television was the catalytic force that convinced club owner Hilly Kristal to book original underground bands at CBGB in 1974, launching the New York punk and New Wave movement alongside Patti Smith, the Ramones, and Blondie. In 1977, Television released their debut album, Marquee Moon. Far from simple three-chord punk, Verlaine and Lloyd traded crystalline, spiraling guitar improvisations, poetic lyrics, and angular modal structures on tracks like the ten-minute title epic. Marquee Moon is universally cited as one of the most influential post-punk records ever made. Verlaine also released eight solo albums and frequently collaborated with Patti Smith.