Long-time bassist for the punk band Television and co-founding member of Blondie, Fred Smith, passed away on Thursday at the age of 77. The exact cause of death has not been made public, but Smith had been dealing with a long-standing illness in recent years. Here is a look back at Smith’s 50-plus years in music, his other endeavors, and some of the tributes from his friends, fans, and bandmates.
The Early Years
Smith was part of the early New York City punk scene, co-founding the band Angel and the Snake in 1974 with ex-Stilettos members Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, and Billy O’Connor. After a couple of gigs together, the band changed its name to Blondie and the Banzai Babies, and eventually shortened it to just Blondie, while adding members Ivan Král, Tish Bellomo, and Snooky Bellomo. As Blondie evolved more toward new wave, Smith saw an opportunity to join his favorite punk band, Television, snagging the role of bassist when Richard Hell left in 1975.
Television and Beyond
Smith found a home in Television. He served as the band’s bassist until the death of founder/frontman Tom Verlaine ended the band in 2023, playing on all six of their releases, as well as their The Best of Television & Tom Verlaine compilation. Television was one of the bands featured in the 1976 New York punk scene documentary “The Blank Generation.” He also played bass for bandmates Verlaine and Richard Lloyd when they released solo albums.
Besides playing in Blondie and Television, Smith played bass for a number of other musicians and bands, including the Roches, Willie Nile, Peregrins, the Revelons, and the Fleshtones. He and his wife, Paula Cereghino, also started their own artisanal winery, Cereghino Smith.
Fred Smith: Legacy and Tributes
Tributes to the late bassist have begun to pour in on social media. Here are a couple of those tributes. Television bandmate Jimmy Rip paid tribute to his bandmate and friend on Instagram late Friday, saying:
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. 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 a more. Yesterday, he left this world, leaving so many who loved him wanting so much more…of him.
…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……Thankfully, we were able to say goodbye, “love you” were our last words to each other.
I will miss him more than anyone can imagine.–Jimmy Rip via Instagram
Television fan Mike Tilburn tweeted this tribute on X:
Smith was a natural talent on bass and well-known and loved in the punk world. His contributions will long outlast his time here. Rest in peace, Fred Smith, 1946 – 2026.
