Richard Lloyd, the co-founding guitarist of Television, has been diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a cancer of the bile ducts, according to a crowdfunding campaign posted to the band's social media accounts. Sean Seymour, Lloyd's bandmate in the Richard Lloyd Group, wrote that Lloyd was diagnosed in March and has since survived two bouts of sepsis and seven trips to the intensive care unit.
Lloyd co-founded Television in New York in 1973 alongside singer and guitarist Tom Verlaine, and the band's guitar interplay became a foundation of the city's punk and new wave scene, most notably on the group's 1977 album Marquee Moon. Lloyd has also released solo work and led the Richard Lloyd Group in more recent years.
Seymour said one tumor in Lloyd's liver sits dangerously close to a major blood vessel, making surgical removal unsafe. Lloyd is currently unable to tour, and his wife, Sheila, is serving as his full-time caregiver. "I am usually a pretty upbeat person and I am taking this in stride, but it has become very difficult on our own," Lloyd said in a statement shared with the campaign.
Lloyd asked fans directly for help covering costs. "That's why I'm asking for your help," he said, encouraging anyone who could contribute to the GoFundMe campaign or share it with others who might be able to. No timeline for his treatment or a possible return to performing has been given.
The facts
- Diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a bile duct cancer, in March
- Survived two bouts of sepsis and seven ICU visits
- Liver tumor sits too close to a blood vessel for surgery
- Wife Sheila serves as his full-time caregiver
- Crowdfunding treatment costs via GoFundMe
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