Richard Lloyd, Co-founder and Guitarist of Television, Dies at 75

Richard Lloyd Dies at 75 in Chattanooga Following Cholangiocarcinoma Battle

Richard Lloyd, the cofounder and guitarist of the influential punk band Television, died at his home in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at age 75, after battling cholangiocarcinoma, USA Today reported.

Lloyd had tumors in his liver, including one near a major blood vessel that doctors could not safely remove through surgery. Cholangiocarcinoma is a bile duct cancer.

Doctors Diagnose Lloyd with Inoperable Liver Tumors

Lloyd received his diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma in March 2026, according to details shared on a GoFundMe campaign organized by his friend and Richard Lloyd Group bassist Sean Seymour, as reported by USA Today. Medical evaluations revealed that Lloyd had tumors located within his liver, including one positioned near a major blood vessel that surgeons deemed unsafe to remove operatively.

Cholangiocarcinoma originates in the ductal system responsible for transporting bile from the liver into the gallbladder and small intestine, as detailed by the Mayo Clinic.

Early Life, Musical Beginnings, and the Formation of Television

Born Richard John Alt in Pittsburgh in 1951, Lloyd relocated to New York City as an infant and grew up in Greenwich Village, according to USA Today. He initially studied drums before transitioning to guitar during his youth. During this period in New York, he grappled with substance abuse and was treated at several mental health institutions.

By 1973, Lloyd had returned to New York City and joined forces with frontman Tom Verlaine, bassist Richard Hell, and drummer Billy Ficca to establish Television. The ensemble became a fixture at the Lower Manhattan club CBGB, sharing the scene with acts like the Ramones, the New York Dolls, Talking Heads, and Blondie. Their debut album, Marquee Moon, arrived in 1977 to critical acclaim, celebrated for its intricate arrangements and the distinctive interplay between Lloyd and Verlaine’s guitars.

Lloyd Launches Solo Career After Band Dissolves

Following the release of their sophomore record, Adventure, in 1978, the original lineup of Television dissolved. Lloyd initiated a solo career with his 1979 release, Alchemy. While struggles with substance abuse temporarily interrupted his trajectory, he achieved sobriety and returned with his second solo album, Field of Fire, in 1985. Over subsequent decades, he recorded extensively, released a memoir titled Everything Is Combustible: Television, CBGB’s and Five Decades of Rock and Roll in 2017, and put out his final solo studio album, The Countdown, in 2018.

Television reunited periodically over the years, including a self-titled third album in 1992, before Lloyd announced his departure from the group in 2007 to focus on his individual projects and teaching. In his final moments at his Chattanooga residence, his family confirmed that his loving wife Sheila and his dog Willie Mays were by his side.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.

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