NEW YORK — Fans and members of the New York City punk rock movement scene are stepping up to help Television trailblazer Richard Lloyd fight a rare form of cancer.

Along with bandmates including Tom Verlaine, Lloyd, 74, formed one of the more celebrated groups to come from a Bowery rock scene that launched Blondie, the Talking Heads and the Ramones more that 50 years ago. Rolling Stone ranked their 1977 recording “Marquee Moon” 107th among the 500 greatest albums of all time. They were superstars at the storied CBBG nightclub.

Verlaine died from prostate cancer complications in 2023.

A rare and serious form of bile duct cancer called cholangiocarcinoma has left Lloyd unable to tour, according to a GoFundMe campaign launched by Richard Lloyd Group bassist Sean Seymour.

“I am usually a pretty upbeat person and I am taking this in stride, but it has become very difficult on our own and financially we are strapped,” Lloyd said in a message included on the fundraiser page. “That’s why I’m asking for your help. If you can see your way clear to make a donation please do that. Otherwise, please pass it around to your friends that might help and people that know me.”

Well-wishers including singer Patti Smith, guitarist Lenny Kaye and Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy have contributed to the fundraiser, which had raised more than $70,000 by Tuesday morning.

Lloyd was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma in May 2026, according to Seymour. He has tumors in his liver and another that can’t be safely removed at this point because it is located “dangerously close to a major blood vessel.”

Lloyd’s illness is said to have landed him in the ICU seven times.

He and his wife Sheila are dealing with “crushing medical expenses” while the guitar player is unable to earn, Seymour said.

The National Cancer Institute says cholangiocarcinoma affects about 8,000 people annually in the U.S.

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