Richard Lloyd, Co-Founding Guitarist of Rock Band Television, Dies at 74
Richard Lloyd, co-founding guitarist of the legendary rock band Television, has passed away at age 74 after a battle with cancer. Alongside Tom Verlaine, Lloyd shaped the groundbreaking sound of their classic debut album, Marquee Moon.
Richard Lloyd, co-founding guitarist of the legendary and influential rock band Television, has passed away at the age of 74 following a battle with cancer, according to a statement from his family. His wife Sheila and his dog Willie Mays were by his side in his final moments.
Lloyd was diagnosed with cancer in March 2026. According to a fundraising campaign launched on GoFundMe to assist with medical and living expenses, he developed liver tumors, including one situated too close to major blood vessels for surgeons to safely operate. Last August, amid his grueling treatment, Lloyd launched a crowdfunding campaign, noting that financial pressures and the illness had made life exceedingly difficult.
Formed in New York in 1973, Television became a foundational pillar of the early punk and alternative rock scene at the historic CBGB club. While many of their contemporaries favored raw aggression, Television offered a cleaner, highly technical, and mesmerizing guitar interplay between frontman Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd. Their acclaimed 1973 debut album, Marquee Moon, remains a timeless milestone in rock history.
