Neon Boys
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | Late 1960s or early 1970s in New York City, United States |
| Founder | Tom Verlaine, Richard Hell, Billy Ficca |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Music recordings (EPs) |
The Neon Boys were a short-lived proto-punk ensemble from New York City, consisting of members Tom Verlaine, Richard Hell, and Billy Ficca. This trio subsequently formed the seminal rock group Television in 1973. Additionally, Richard Hell went on to establish prominent punk outfits such as the Heartbreakers and Richard Hell and the Voidoids.
Background
In 1980, Shake Records issued an EP featuring two Neon Boys tracks, "That's All I Know (Right Now)" and "Love Comes In Spurts," alongside two songs by Richard Hell and the Voidoids. These recordings were later re-released in 1991 by Overground Records, which included the additional song "High Heeled Wheels."
History
Details about the Neon Boys' formation and their recorded material vary among sources; some mention only two songs, while others list as many as four. The band never performed publicly, which has resulted in scarce historical records.
Tom Verlaine and Richard Hell first met as classmates at the Sanford School located in Wilmington, Delaware. In 1966, Hell relocated to New York City, bringing with him a daring attitude that shaped the band's sound. Verlaine followed to New York toward the late 1960s, with reports placing his arrival between 1968 and 1969. Drummer Billy Ficca, who had previously worked with Verlaine, also made the move to New York.
Hell and Verlaine both found employment at Cinemabilia, a bookstore where they met manager Terry Ork, known for his connections to Andy Warhol and the New York music scene. Ork motivated them to form a band and offered rehearsal space. At his suggestion, guitarist Richard Lloyd joined the group, leading to the transformation of the Neon Boys into what became known as Television.
Discography
- EPs
- "Time"/"Don't Die"/"That's All I Know (Right Now)"/"Love Comes In Spurts" (1980; 7")
- "Time"/"Don't Die"/"That's All I Know (Right Now)"/"Love Comes In Spurts"/"High Heeled Wheels" (1991)