Guitarist Richard Lloyd, co-founder of Television, dies at 75

Richard Lloyd, the guitarist who co-founded the pioneering New York rock band Television, died at age 75. The family confirmed his passing in a statement to Rolling Stone, noting that his wife Sheila and his dog Willie Mays were with him at the end.

Lloyd received a diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma, a bile-duct cancer, in March. According to the Mayo Clinic, the disease is often identified at an advanced stage. A GoFundMe campaign for his medical expenses reported that he developed liver tumors, including one situated near a major blood vessel, which doctors said made surgery impossible.

Friends and fans posted tributes on social media. Bibi Farber wrote that Lloyd remained determined and upbeat after learning about the inoperable tumor. IndieSauce expressed admiration for his contributions to the early post-punk scene in New York.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Lloyd helped launch Television in 1973, a group credited with shaping the sound of American punk and alternative rock.