Richard Lloyd, the guitarist whose playing alongside Tom Verlaine helped make Television’s Marquee Moon a landmark of New York rock, has died at 75.
He died Saturday morning, November 7, at his home in Chattanooga, Tennessee, from cholangiocarcinoma, a bile duct cancer, his family said, according to USA TODAY. His wife, Sheila, and their dog, Willie Mays, were with him.
Lloyd helped form Television in 1973 with Verlaine, bassist Richard Hell and drummer Billy Ficca. The group became an early regular attraction at CBGB, the Bowery club that also provided a stage for Blondie, the Ramones and Talking Heads.
“I wanted to make a dent in rock history,” Lloyd told Guitar World in January. “That was my goal, and that came true.” He remained proud of the band despite disagreements that had strained his relationship with Verlaine.
Cancer Treatment Forced Lloyd to Stop Touring
Sean Seymour, bassist in the Richard Lloyd Group, launched a GoFundMe on August 21 after Lloyd’s diagnosis in March. The appeal described tumors in his liver, including one near a major blood vessel that doctors could not safely remove at the time.
By then, Seymour wrote, Lloyd had been in intensive care seven times, with complications affecting his liver and kidneys and two episodes of sepsis. He could no longer tour, cutting off his principal income, while Sheila had stopped working to become his full-time caregiver.
The campaign sought help with medical bills and everyday living expenses. Lloyd contributed his own message, acknowledging the pressure on the couple and asking supporters who could not donate to share the appeal. “I am usually a pretty upbeat person and I am taking this in stride,” he wrote.
Lloyd and Verlaine Shared the Guitar Work on Marquee Moon
By the time Television released its debut in 1977, Fred Smith had replaced Hell on bass. The record’s extended arrangements, particularly its roughly 10-minute title track, gave the musicians room to develop parts far beyond the short, fast songs associated with many of their punk contemporaries.
In his January interview, Lloyd explained that he and Verlaine divided the solos, with Lloyd also playing lead while Verlaine sang. He recalled disputes over whether his instrumental contributions deserved songwriting credit. On “Guiding Light,” he said, he refused to play the part he had written unless it was recognized, and received a shared credit.
He was equally particular about the recording itself. In an interview with Tape Op, Lloyd recalled producer Andy Johns initially setting up a huge, echoing drum sound. The band wanted something smaller and drier so the drums would not compete with the guitars. Lloyd remembered repeatedly questioning Johns about his studio adjustments and asking to hear the alternatives.
Lloyd Released Alchemy and Recorded With Matthew Sweet
Television released Adventure in 1978 and split later that year. Lloyd followed with Alchemy in 1979, deliberately moving toward a smoother pop sound with less emphasis on guitar solos, as he explained to Tape Op. He later recorded Field of Fire in Sweden.
His work as a collaborator included guitar on Matthew Sweet’s Girlfriend, Altered Beast and 100% Fun, as Guitar Player noted. He also played with X singer John Doe. Television reunited for a self-titled album in 1992, and Lloyd remained involved with the group until his departure in 2007.
He recounted his experiences in the 2017 memoir Everything Is Combustible. Speaking to KEXP, Lloyd explained that typing had bothered his wrists, so he used voice-recognition software to dictate the book. He spoke the punctuation aloud as he worked through stories he had been telling for years.
Johnny Marr and Lloyd Cole Remember Lloyd’s Playing
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Johnny Marr remembered Lloyd on Instagram: “A seeker and finder and a true inspiration with and without the guitar.” The former Smiths guitarist said it had been an honor to know him and a blessing to have been a fan, as NME reported.
Singer-songwriter Lloyd Cole recalled seeing Television only once, but vividly remembered Lloyd playing the riffs that drove the songs. The band’s own social media account offered condolences to his family and friends.
Verlaine died in January 2023, and Smith died in February 2026. Ficca is now the only surviving member of the quartet that recorded Marquee Moon. Lloyd’s survivors also include his son, Dylan, and his brother, Eric.