Elektra/Asylum is of course famously associated with the earth-toned California sound of the ‘70s. Meanwhile, on the New York City underground, something both weird and wonderful was happening. Led by guitarists Tom Verlaine (née Thomas Miller) and Richard Lloyd, Television formed in 1973 from the ashes of the legendary Neon Boys, which featured Verlaine, drummer Billy Ficca, and a gifted poet/bassist by the name of Richard Hell. With Lloyd as second guitarist, Television persuaded CBGB’s owner Hilly Kristal to give the fledgling band a gig at his recently opened Bowery bar, making them the first rock band to officially play at the soon-to-be-celebrated venue.
A demo recorded with producer Brian Eno failed to get the band signed and by 1975, friction between Verlaine and Hell saw the latter leaving Television to co-found The Heartbreakers with Johnny Thunders and later, his own hugely significant Richard Hell & The Voidoids. Now counting original Blondie bassist Fred Smith among their ranks, Television began turning heads with their geometric dual guitar interplay, psych-garage energy, and Verlaine’s cryptic lyricism.

The band soon signed to Elektra, whose long history of releasing brave new artists continued with 1977’s milestone debut, Marquee Moon. Epic and eloquent, the album remains an all-time masterwork of forward-thinking rock‘n’roll. Television’s sophomore effort, entitled Adventure, followed in 1978, bearing a more textured sound than its esteemed predecessor.
Television broke up shortly after their second album’s release, with Lloyd and Verlaine each opting to pursue their own singular creative visions. In Verlaine’s case, that included a brilliant self-titled solo debut, released on Elektra in 1979.

By the 1990s, Television was appreciated as both pre-punk pioneers and one of rock’s all-time most important bands. As such, they reunited in 1992 for an eponymous third album and then continued performing live on a semi-regular basis. In 2007, Lloyd was forced to leave Television following an extended hospital stay that prevented him from performing at the band’s sold-out concert in New York’s Central Park. Though Lloyd was replaced on that evening by guitarist Jimmy Ripp, the gig now officially stands as Television’s last.

OPTION:(C) +The Illusion of Progress are a singularly unique collective of aspiring old and  talentless artists with rather mediocre but oh so melodramatic egotistical behavioural disorders. 

They currently comprise:

1.
2.
(C) - pretty much everything, so far
4.

 Apparently this space is for us to “Tell the World About Yourself. Mention your musical influences, gigs, and collaborations.”

(sigh)

Where to begin?

INFLUENCES:

#BRIANENO
#TALKINGHEADS
#SONICYOUTH
#PINKFLOYD
#SEXPISTOLS
#STEVEALBINI
#PIXIES
#THROWINGMUSES
#R.E.M.
#RADIOHEAD
#NIRVANA
#WILLIAMBURROUGHS
#JGBALLARD
#THEWEDDINGPRESENT
#DEVO
#AMYLANDTHESNIFFERS
#SBI
#THE FALL
#DAVIDCRONENBERG
#ALEXDELARGE
#if….
#NICOLASROEG
#BADTIMING
#BJÖRK
#THEVELVETUNDERGROUND
#ANDYWARHOL
#DAVIDBOWIE
#ROBERTFRIPP
#TONYVISCONTI
#VIVIENNEWESTWOOD
#SEDITIONARIES
#JORDAN
#SIOUXIESIOUX
#LAURIEANDERSON
#LEMMY
#ROBERTCALVERT
#FRANKZAPPA
#THEBEATLES
#BORDERLINEPERSONALITYDISORDER
#ADHD
#KARALINGA

Stand up. Breath Deep. Don’t relax and let it flow.
Rob Brett - Guitar and vocals
Nick Cook – Bass, a deluge of inspiration and taking it to the next level.
Martin Seabrook – Session sax, creative influence and a distinctive vibe.

Surprisingly likened to the Stone Roses and Happy Mondays, the songs have been thoughts and melodies in Rob’s head for a while. Inspired purely by a need for rhythm, living life and the pursuit of an album before you die, the work is a collective mix of musical inspiration heavily influenced by the likes of Talking Heads, Prince, U2, David Bowie, Elton John, the Cure, Benny Goodman, Cuban classics, Soul II Soul, Stereophonics, Ska, Reggae, the Doobie Brothers, George Benson, Jazz, AC/DC, ZZ Top, Pink Floyd, the Beatles, The Broken Family Band, Disco, Country, and even Status Quo. So stand up. Breath Deep. Don’t relax and let it flow.

OPTION:(C) +The Illusion of Progress is following