Thomas Joseph Miller (December 13, 1949 – January 28, 2023), known professionally as Tom Verlaine, was an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter, best known as the frontman of the New York City rock band Television.

[7] He began studying piano at an early age, but switched to saxophone in middle school after hearing a record by Stan Getz.

[8] Verlaine initially was unimpressed with the role of the guitar in both rock music and jazz, but was inspired to take up the instrument after hearing the Rolling Stones' "19th Nervous Breakdown" during his adolescence,[9] at which point he began a long period of experimentation to develop a personal style.

A later musical influence were Miles Davis' electric-period recordings, particularly the Japanese LPs Agharta (1975) and Dark Magus (1977), which he was able to obtain as imports.

In New York City, Miller created his stage name, a reference to the French symbolist poet Paul Verlaine.

They reformed as Television a few months later,[14] finding a guitarist in Richard Lloyd, and began playing at seminal punk clubs like CBGB and Max's Kansas City.

Television released two albums, Marquee Moon and Adventure, to great critical acclaim and modest sales before breaking up in July 1978.

Television had been asked to open a European tour for Billy Idol, but Verlaine's doctors told him he was not in good enough health to do so.

[17] Verlaine guested as guitarist on numerous releases by other artists, including the album Penthouse by the band Luna.

Verlaine was part of the Million Dollar Bashers, a supergroup also featuring Sonic Youth musicians Lee Ranaldo and Steve Shelley, Wilco guitarist Nels Cline, Bob Dylan bassist Tony Garnier, guitarist Smokey Hormel, and keyboardist John Medeski.

Verlaine was an advocate of guitar techniques and recording processes including close miking, delay, reverb, slap echo, phasing/flanging, tremolo, etc.

Verlaine used a thin pick and heavy strings; on later recordings .013 to .050 (.014/.015 to .056 in earlier years), and from the early 1990s onwards he tuned down a half-step or more.