Goodbye to Fred Smith, bassist of Television

Fred Smith, bassist for Television, has died at the age of 77. The news was confirmed by the group with a post published on Instagram. Smith had played with Blondi but left the band in 1975 to replace Richard Hell in Television, continuing to collaborate with Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd after the end of the band, and returning to the line-up for the 2000s reunion. The band remembered him like this on Instagram, with a post signed by Jimmy Rip, guitarist in the last incarnation of the band

The legendary bassist of Television, Tom Verlaine and many others, Fred Smith, was not only my bandmate for 46 years – he was a true friend. He was the perfect person to have around when life on tour got tiring. His sense of humor, like his musical voice, was dry, subtle, direct, hilarious and always left you wanting more. Yesterday he left this world, and left those who loved him with a great desire to have a little more… of him.
We met in 1980 playing with Jay Dee Daugherty on drums in the Eve Moon Band, and soon after became the New York version of Holly and the Italians with Holly Beth Vincent. In 1981, when Tom Verlaine was preparing the tour for the Dreamtime album, in which Fred and Jay had participated, they recommended me as the second guitarist. From there, very long and deep musical and personal friendships were born.
If you love melodic bass lines and counterpoint, you might want to study what Fred created effortlessly. He was an authentic musician – never flashy, always essential – always at the service of the song, as only the greatest can do.
He has fought long and hard against the disease in recent years, always looking forward to new projects. We had big plans to play Tom’s music live this year… but it wasn’t meant to be. Luckily we were able to say goodbye: “I love you” were our last words. I will miss him more than anyone can imagine.