Overview
- Smith died on February 5, with his death publicly announced by longtime bandmate Jimmy Rip on Instagram on February 8.
- Rip wrote that Smith had battled an illness for years; outlets have not reported a specific cause of death beyond that.
- Smith joined Television in 1975 to replace Richard Hell, appeared on the single "Little Johnny Jewel," and helped forge the sound of the landmark 1977 album Marquee Moon.
- He began with Debbie Harry and Chris Stein’s pre‑Blondie project Angel and the Snake and later collaborated with Tom Verlaine, Richard Lloyd, The Roches, Willie Nile, Peregrins, The Revelons and The Fleshtones.
- Rip said plans to perform Tom Verlaine’s music live this year will not proceed following Smith’s passing.