Richard Hell was among the first punk rockers of the early to mid-‘70s. He is credited with being a major influence to subsequent punk bands through music, poetry, fashion, and his energetic, innovative stage presence.

Raised in Kentucky as Richard Meyers, he escaped school and embarked on a hitchhiking journey down south with friend Tom Miller before being caught by the police and sent back. Though cut short, Meyers’ time on the road was enough to inspire his desire to live in New York. In NY, he wrote poetry and started playing the bass guitar. Not long after moving to the city, Miller joined him. The two changed their names to Verlaine and Hell and formed the Neon Boys in 1974, which they soon renamed Television.

Television was an important part of putting New York’s punk scene on the map and was one of the first to play the CBGB. Hell became frustrated with being led by Verlaine and left in 1975. Hell was asked to join Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan (who had recently left the New York Dolls) in a band the Heartbreakers, but quickly discovered he would not be able to lead this band either. A few months after joining, despite its success, Hell left the Heartbreakers and formed Richard Hell & the Voidoids. After the independent release of their self-titled, three-track EP they signed to Sire. Blank Generation became a classic as the band toured, but after their success on tour, the band quit. The pause in their career is believed to be due to Hell’s substance use. Hell revived the band in 1982 with the album Destiny Street, and while successful, the Voidoids again faded into a period of quiet. During the 80’s Hell continued to write poetry and began to take small parts in movies. He became a part of the nonpermanent group Dim Stars issued a self-titled album in 1982.