FYI - Bootleg Series plans (2003) - Levenson email

[simonm]

In Dec 2002 I sent this email to Bill Levenson:
[edit - I put 2003 before, it was def 2002, but Levenson replied in Jan 03)


Hello Bill

You don't know me; I came across your email address on a
messageboard about Fairport Convention, but I'm more interested
on your work on the VU Peel Slowly And See and Quine Tapes sets.

I was wondering if you could give me any information about any
further releases in the Bootleg Series. It's been a while since the first
one came out and there has been a lot of speculation amongst fans
what might be next. The complete tape from the Gymnasium in April
67, or from the Valleydale Ballroom in Columbus OH in Nov 66, parts
of which you selected for the Peel Slowly set?

Rumours persist about further studio recordings also, as well as the
Warhol Museum's tapes. Is there any prospect of any of these seeing
the light of day at all? Is there any work ongoing to research archive
materials etc?

Well, I think that's enough questions for now. Just a few answers
would do. I appreciate that you are a busy man, and also appreciate
the work you have done on getting unreleased material out since the
days of the "VU" album. Thanks a lot.

Simon Murphy
London, England

A few weeks later I got this reply
Dear Simon,

Thanks for writing.

Unfortunately, everything has been put on hold pending resolution of some legal issues brought up by the band's representative. As soon as these get sorted out we will be thrilled to issue more projects.

All the the tapes you've mentioned have been readied for future release - I hope we will get the chance to issue them!

FYI #1 - The Matrix tapes are probably not going to happen - the owner of the tapes withdrew his offer to license them to us, which is too bad because they were very impressive!

FYI #2 - It is because of the above mentioned legal issues that we had to
remove MISS JOANIE LEE from the VU & NICO set. (It broke my heart to do it, I must add.)

Regards,

Bill

[tarbaby2]

Notice the words:

"All the the tapes you've mentioned have been readied for future release..."

They have them. They are ready. They are probably better sound than any of us currently have.

Is anybody else out there drooling and crying at the same time???

[GroovyMusic]

The curse of The Velvet Underground

[MJG196]

The curse of The Velvet Underground

I wouldn't call it a curse. It is more like members of the VU refusing to come to legal terms - perhaps for the same reason wthere was never that MTV Unplugged VU. Pretty shitty of 'em (or HIM?).

[GroovyMusic]

The curse of the Velvet Underground is that it's always held underground in everyway possible.

[Joe]

Somehow I have a feeling this is between Lou and John again.

[Elvis Plebsley]

"Somehow I have a feeling this is between Lou and John again."

That's not how Leveson's email reads.

[simonm]

- just for the sake of anyone searching this topic in future, on this thread Sal Mercuri has this to say on the legal problem:

"The issue is as boring as ever - legal hassles between the band's reps and Universal. The hold up has nothing to do with individual band members."

http://www.velvetforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=1189

[Doctor Bob]

- just for the sake of anyone searching this topic in future, on this thread Sal Mercuri has this to say on the legal problem:

"The issue is as boring as ever - legal hassles between the band's reps and Universal. The hold up has nothing to do with individual band members."

That's right

Don't mess wit Reed mg196, or ima cum after you GRRRR

[lostblues]

Simon,

the intro in your mail to Bill Levenson reminds me of someone:

"Hello Bill,
You don't know me."