I recently realized that Television has influenced a lot of English bands. Echo and the Bunnymen, U2, Teardrop Explodes - it's obvious what they've listened to and what they're going for. When I was sixteen I listened to Yardbirds records and thought, "God, this is great." It's gratifying to think that people listened to Television albums and felt the same.
Tom VerlaineThe first time I met Patti Smith was in a laundromat. We knew some of the same people, including Richard Hell.
Tom VerlaineThe Beat thing happened when I was younger. I used to run away from home, inspired by the Beats, like in '64 and '65.
Tom VerlaineStyle to me is incidental. The British are very adept at creating it for its own sake, but the best style is incidental. John Coltrane had a style but it was totally incidental to what he was.
Tom Verlaine