Television Bassist Fred Smith Dies at 77
Fred Smith, bassist for the influential New York City band Television, has died at 77. A cause of death was not announced, but the news was shared on Instagram by his his former bandmate Jimmy Rip, who said he had long fought an illness.
“The legendary bassist for Television, Tom Verlaine and many others, Fred Smith, was not only my bandmate for 46 years — he was my true friend,” Rip wrote. “He was a great running buddy and exactly the guy you wanted around when road life got wearisome. His sense of humor, much like his musical voice, was dry, subtle, to the point, hilarious and always left you wanting a more. Yesterday, he left this world, leaving so many who loved him wanting so much more…of him. If you are a lover of melodic bass lines and counterpoint, you could go to school on what Fred created so effortlessly. He was a natural — never flashy, always essential — always serving the song in ways that only the greatest musicians can.”
Smith was the original bassist for a band called Angel and the Snake, which would later change its name to Blondie. He joined Television in 1975 – the same year they began a historic residency at CBGB. “That residency was one of the key catalysts that launched the legendary ’70s New York punk scene,” Stereo Gum explains.
Television’s debut album, Marquee Moon, has proven to be a highly significant album, but its commercial success did not match its critical success. They’d release a second album, Adventure, in 1978 before breaking up in July. Smith would record on his bandmates’ solo projects, and eventually Television reformed in 1992. He would play the band and its individual members throughout the years.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Fred Smith.
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
