Sonic Transmission: Television: Tom Verlaine, Richard Hell (Paperback)

~ Tim Mitchell (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The complete story of Richard Hell, Tom Verlaine and Televison, from the very beginning, illustrated with iconic photographs, with a comprehensive chronology and discography. Television's leaders, Richard Hell and Tom Verlaine, were brought together as teenagers by a love of literature and rock and roll ‘ and contempt for almost everything else. At the end of March 1974, Television played for the first time at CBGB's, and punk rock was born. Soon they were followed by Patti Smith, the Ramones and Blondie, and Malcom McLaren used them as the blueprint for the Sex Pistols. Hell left in early 1975, and Verlaine developed Marquee Moon, arguably the most striking debut in rock history. After several splitups, Television still creates new music today.

About the Author

Tim Mitchell is a music journalist and the author of There's Something About Jonathan: Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers and Sedition and Alchemy: A Biography of John Cale. Also a musician, he has recorded CDs with poet Jeremy Reed. He lives in London, England.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 150 pages
• Publisher: Glitter Books (May 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1902588169
• ISBN-13: 978-1902588162
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #906,628 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars this book is a mess, October 14, 2007

By	S. Montes Miralles (MADRID) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

this book is a mess, not that the info it is bad, no... the thing is that who ever edited this book should be fired & burnt.
something i have never seen in my life happend with this book.
"Chapter 12. little johnny jewel" is totally omitited...yes
if you have in mind in buying this book, wait till they edit the second edition & they mend this error.... i want to say it's a good read

5.0 out of 5 stars A facinating peek into the CBGB crucible., June 27, 2009

By	afekete - See all my reviews

So many things -- personalities, trends, talent, lack of talent, pure dumb luck -- contribute to making a scene suddenly go supernova the way CBCBs did in the 1970s that any to attempt document them all is folly: even if you were there, you can only know a bit of everything that went down. So the only hope, then, of understanding what actually happened is follow any and all narrative threads.

Mitchell's book "SONIC TRANSMISSIONS" is one such narrative. It's not definitive (really, what could be?); it is, however, chock-full of delicious details about Television, and by extension, about the fertile downtown NYC scene of the 1970s that essentially became the cradle of punk.

If you don't know much about the role downtown NYC in the 70s played in American music, this book and Television's masterful first LP "Marquee Moon" is a fine place to begin. If you're already an adept, you'll fine this book a pleasurable, informative read, and terrific fun to debate with your tattooed friends...

Either way, Mitchell's "SONIC TRANSMISSIONS" is a winner.