Richard Lloyd, Television’s Fiery and Fluent Guitarist, Dies at 75

Richard Lloyd, the co-founding guitarist of the influential post-punk band Television, has passed away at the age of 75. The musician, known for his innovative guitar style and captivating musicality, revealed in August that he had been diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a severe form of bile duct cancer. He died on Saturday morning at his home in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Lloyd began playing the guitar in his teenage years and later studied under the legendary guitarist Velvert Turner, who was rumored to be a friend of Jimi Hendrix. Despite the unverifiable claim, Lloyd embraced the story, positioning himself as Hendrix's understudy. His unique guitar approach infused the raw, aggressive sound of punk with harmonic complexity, which was instrumental in shaping the nascent New York punk scene of the mid-1970s.

Lloyd joined Television in 1973, replacing Richard Hell after Hell left the band in 1975. His guitar work played a crucial role in carving out a place for the band within the CBGB scene, a famous club that nurtured punk rock's early years. According to Lloyd, he played a significant part in transforming CBGB into the punk haven it became, by securing a gig for the band in 1974.

Outside of Television, Lloyd released nine well-received solo albums over a 50-year career. His distinctive guitar skills earned him critical acclaim, with music journalists praising his ability to create a unique sound palette. Lloyd's 1986 solo album Field of Fire and its follow-up Real Time received widespread praise for his guitar prowess.

Despite his successful solo career, Lloyd maintained a strong connection to Television, with the band reuniting several times throughout the 1990s, 2000s, and beyond. In a 2007 interview, Lloyd claimed that he was the driving force behind CBGB becoming a punk club, positioning himself as the invisible force that made the legendary venue a reality.