Richard Lloyd, co-guitarist of the New York band Television, died of cancer at age 75. Lloyd was best known for his distinctive guitar work alongside frontman Tom Verlaine, particularly on the band’s debut album Marquee Moon, released in February 1977.
Marquee Moon received critical acclaim upon its release, though it failed to chart on the US Billboard 200, reaching number 28 in the UK. The album’s innovative sound—blending elements of punk, art-rock, new wave, and progressive rock—became highly influential in music history and has since appeared frequently on greatest albums lists. The interplay between Lloyd’s and Verlaine’s contrasting guitar styles proved central to Television’s distinctive sound. The band’s second album, Adventure, followed in 1978 and achieved greater commercial success, reaching the UK Top 10, though it also failed to chart in the US.
Lloyd was born in Pittsburgh as the son of John Alt and Virginia Ewing. He adopted the surname Lloyd from his stepfather, David Lloyd, after his mother remarried. He became fascinated with guitar at age seven and developed his skills through exposure to leading musicians and concerts throughout his teenage years, including attendance at Woodstock in 1969. He eventually settled on the Fender Stratocaster as his primary instrument.
Lloyd met Verlaine and bassist Richard Hell in the early 1970s, and together with drummer Billy Ficka they formed Television in 1973. The group developed a following through regular performances at the CBGB club in New York before being signed to Elektra Records in 1976. Following Television’s disbanding, Lloyd released nine solo albums throughout his career, beginning with Alchemy in 1979. He also published a memoir titled Everything Is Combustible in 2018, in which he detailed his early life and musical journey.
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