Fred Smith, Bassist of Television, Dead at 77
- - Fred Smith, Bassist of Television, Dead at 77
Yamillah HurtadoFebruary 9, 2026 at 10:55 PM
0
Fred Smith performing with Television at Lunar Festival in June 2016
Steve Thorne/Redferns/Getty
Bassist Fred Smith of the band Television has died at age 77
The rocker died from cancer on Thursday, Feb. 5
Smith joined Television, replacing founding bassist Richard Hell, after departing Blondie in 1975
Fred Smith, bassist of the New York punk band Television, has died. He was 77.
The band’s guitarist Jimmy Rip, who joined Television in 2007, announced Smith’s death on social media on Friday, Feb. 6. Smith’s wife, Paula Cereghino, later confirmed he died on Thursday, Feb. 5 from cancer, The New York Times reports.
“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 on Instagram along a video montage of memories with Smith. “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 more. Yesterday, he left this world, leaving so many who loved him wanting so much more… of him.”
Richard Lloyd and Fred Smith of Television performing in New York City in September 1979
Ebet Roberts/Redferns/Getty
— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“We met in 1980 playing, with Jay Dee Daugherty on drums, in The Eve Moon Band, and soon after, the three of us were the NYC version of Holly and The Italians with Holly Beth Vincent. In 1981 when Tom Verlaine was preparing to tour for his disc Dreamtime, which Fred and Jay had performed on, they recommended me as second guitar, leading to very long and rich musical, and personal friendships.”
He continued, “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…”
Rip explained that Smith had “fought his illness long and hard” over the past few years, yet remained hopeful of the future. He shared that they had made plans to go on tour this year “but it just wasn’t meant to be.”
“Thankfully, we were able to say goodbye, ‘love you’ were our last words to each other,” he concluded. “I will miss him more than anyone can imagine.”
View this post on Instagram
Smith began his career as the bassist for Angel and the Snake, which later became Blondie. In 1975, he left the band to join Television, replacing founding bassist Richard Hell.
“Blondie was like a boat that was sinking and Television was my favorite band,” Smith told MOJO Magazine in 2001.
Alongside frontman Tom Verlaine, guitarist Richard Lloyd and drummer Billy Ficca, Smith created Marquee Moon, Television’s debut album that went on to shape punk music.
The band split after the release of their sophomore album, Adventure, in 1978. Smith was part of the band’s 1992 reunion and continued performing with them until the 2010s.
Throughout his career, Smith contributed his talents to solo albums for Verlain and Lloyd, as well as to The Roches, Willie Nile, Peregrine, and the Revelons. Between 1988 and 1989, Smith toured and recorded with the Fleshtones.
Smith, whose real name was Frederick Edward Lefkowitz, was born on April 10, 1948. He is survived by his wife and brother, Arthur.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
