Verlaine

It all started with a portrait of the poet Arthur Rimbaud, drawn in 1872 by his fellow writer and companion Paul Verlaine.

Verlaine fronted the singular New York band Television, with whom he made two of rock’s most acclaimed albums.

Their group, the Neon Boys, evolved into Television, with a roster that included Lloyd, drummer Billy Ficca and Hell, a bassist with whom Mr. Verlaine battled over creative control.

Television’s 1977 debut album, “Marquee Moon,” still reigns as Verlaine’s most significant work — a signature statement that would become a cornerstone of indie-rock.

Tom Verlaine, whose band Television was a pioneer in the New York punk scene of the 1970s, died at 73.