Television Disintegrate

Rip It Up, Issue 16, 1 October 1978, Page 2

Television Disintegrate

Television, generally regarded as one of the key groups in the American New Wave vanguard, have disbanded. The split follows a critical backlash toward their second album, Adventure, and a disappointing European tour where they often played to half-full houses. Ironically, only three weeks before the split, Television presented six shows to capacity audiences at New York’s Bottom Line club and for the first time were gaining a popularity in America that went beyond cult status. Despite rumours of disharmony within the band, the members insist the split was amicable. Television’s four years together were marked by management problems and ego clash. A fierce battle between co-founders Tom Verlaine and Richard Hell resulted in the latter being forced out. Second guitarist Richard Lloyd has left twice, each time to return within a week. Verlaine and Lloyd are to record solo albums. Of the timing of the split, Verlaine says, “There was a full moon that night. Moby Grape broke up on a full moon. So we wanted to, too.”