Richard Lloyd, Television guitarist and punk pioneer, dies at 75
The founding member of the influential New York band died Saturday at his Tennessee home after a battle with bile duct cancer.
At a glance
- Richard Lloyd, guitarist and co-founder of Television, died Saturday at 75 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
- He had been diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a bile duct cancer, in March 2026.
- Television's 1977 album Marquee Moon is ranked among the 500 greatest albums of all time by Rolling Stone.
Richard Lloyd, the guitarist and founding member of the seminal punk band Television, died Saturday morning at his home in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at the age of 75. His family confirmed the death to Rolling Stone, stating that his wife Sheila and dog Willie Mays were with him at the end.
The cause was cholangiocarcinoma, a form of bile duct cancer diagnosed in March 2026. A crowdfunding campaign earlier revealed that Lloyd had developed tumors in his liver, including one that could not be surgically removed.
Television formed in 1973 and became a cornerstone of the early punk scene centered around CBGB on New York's Bowery. The band was among the first punk acts to play the venue, which had previously hosted country and bluegrass. In a 2007 interview, Lloyd claimed credit for the club's transformation, saying: "CBGB's is the most famous rock 'n' roll club to have ever existed and I fucking created it! I was the invisible force behind it."
The group released two studio albums in the late 1970s. Their 1977 debut, Marquee Moon, is widely regarded as a landmark recording; Rolling Stone ranked it No. 107 on its 2023 list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The record remains a touchstone for guitar-driven rock.
A 2005 Guardian review highlighted Lloyd's distinctive playing: "Lloyd's guitar was the louder in a lopsided sound mix, so it was impossible to overlook the amount of ground he was covering. Crisp, crunchy chords, dextrous fills and torrential Van Halen-style solos tumbled from his fingers."
Source: The Guardian World.
Questions and answers
- What was Richard Lloyd's cause of death?
- Richard Lloyd died from cholangiocarcinoma, a form of bile duct cancer he was diagnosed with in March 2026.
- What band was Richard Lloyd best known for?
- Richard Lloyd was a founding member and guitarist for the influential punk band Television, known for their 1977 album Marquee Moon.
- Where did Richard Lloyd die?
- Richard Lloyd died at his home in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
