Anyone on here got info about the motivation behind the VU reunion tour? From what I have read Lou wasn't that into it and his vocals on the live album seem to contrast with his solo vocals which have a lot more passion. The playing is pretty good though. It can't have been money for Lou and John at this stage of their careers? Was it to help out Mo and Sterling? Whose idea was it? What did the band think of the venture? I imagine their was bitterness as Lou bailed before the US tour that must have cost them a lot of money. Did Lou start out enthused but then lose interest? Anyone attend any of the gigs in person? Any thoughts or history of this would be appreciated!
I always thought it was about money. Lou was coming off possibly his biggest success in the US, Cale had never sold well anywhere. The Velvets mythology had percolated for over 20 years the interest was still there as alternative became mainstream. There was still time to see if there was any checks/interest to be cashed in.
There is an article in french magazine Les Inrockuptibles recounting how it all started. There was an exhibition about Andy Warhol at the Fondation Cartier. The original VU lineup was there and Lou Reed and John Cage played a few songs from Songs For Drella. Later they spontaneously/awkwardly played a few VU songs with Sterling and Moe (or maybe just one). A few months later they announced the reunion.
My potted history of the tour and some comments: Reed and Cale recorded Songs For Drella at the end of 1989 They then met for the mid-1990 reunion in Paris at the NY Fondation Cartier, and performed Heroin. It worked and then they discussed reforming. Originally, as I believe Cale understood it, the idea was to create new work. As it turned out that Lou Reed wanted complete control. There would be no new material*. And thus it became the VU catalogue rejuvination tour, which set the template for many other rock acts. The end. I saw them in London. The actual show, the whole thing saddened me immensely. I'm only suprised that Cale's experience making Drella did not forwarn him that a VU reunion would become another Lou Reed solo project. *except for the throw-away 'Cayote' song.
If Lou hadn't been into it, at some point, it would never have happened. I saw them on the tour and Lou's vocals were hideous but his guitar playing was brilliant!
Opening for U2. Whose idea was that? Lou wasn't easy to work with and his vocals were off. At least we got Songs For Drella which is almost the VU in spirit.
Thing is, the tracks that works best on the re-union live album, are the tracks Cale didn’t appeared on, originally. As for the whole project, I think it was half-hearted. Maybe I’m wrong, but I think it was to financially helping out Sterling and Moe. Was Sterling Morrison diagnosed by this point? Surely, he didn’t look too healthy on the pictures and film.
Did Sterling’s non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma have anything to do with their decision to reunite? He died of cancer barely more than two years after the reunion tour finished. It can be a slow-moving cancer (or a quick one) and I’ve often wondered if ‘seizing the moment’ was one of their motivations. Anyone know when he was diagnosed? EDIT: @MHP beat me to it!
It's a pity Nico wasn't still alive to join up - though I suppose they still wouldn't have let her sing "Waiting For The Man".
It’s worth noting that Sterling kept in touch with Moe, and it was she who eventually persuaded him to go back on the road as part of her touring band. Without that connection, I doubt the 1993 reunion would have happened. This postcard, from my personal collection, shows Moe writing to Sterling during a 1991 solo tour of Europe:
Sterling was not diagnosed until after the tour was complete, and he died very soon after that. I don't think the tour was intended to "help" Sterl, but part of the idea might have been to help Moe, and Moe brought Sterl on board.
I thought Lou sounds ok on the live video of the reunion show. His skin looks fairly bad like someone with liver failure coming on. Aged skin beyond normal imo.
I feel the same way. Although Lou actually (kinda) sang “Sweet Jane” at the Rock Hall Concert after dedicating it Sterling who had already passed away. That was pretty much the end of his ‘singing’.
When are you dating this to? On the albums with Quine he is singing so hard much of the time it almost borders on over-singing. I'm thinking of things like "Heavenly Arms."
A cash grab, pure and simple, a last, highly paid, victory lap. It never felt like anything more. It never felt like a new beginning, or even that everyone was happy to be back together. It paid off for the participants, but, with apologies to Public Enemy, it never meant s--t to me.
John, Sterling and Moe performed at the Warhol Museum and played two songs behind the Warhol movies Eat and Kiss. My wife and I attended the second show. I had read somewhere that Sterling was diagnosed very soon after. This was his last live performance. There was a reason as to why Lou wouldn’t play this particular show, but I don’t want to turn this into a ‘Let’s bash Lou’ thread! Hahaha.
I remember being disappointed that they didn't tour in the U.S. Also, being shocked at how bad the vocals were on the live album.
I think the song I later heard from the CD, and that I felt had perhaps survived the resurrection process was Hey Mr. Rain. That and maybe I Heard Her Call My Name?
