Willie Alexander quote on the Velvets

Mark · Post by **Mark** » 20 May 2005 23:22

Found this with some interesting comments from Willie Alexander about his time with the VU:

we ended all the three of us touring as the Velvet Underground with the only original member left being Maureen Tucker on drums. In fact, I took Sterling Morrison's spot as he had gone back to his studies. We started touring in June '71 and we even came to Europe. I have mixed-up memories as the group was sometimes excellent, but was generally awful. I couldn't wait for this thing to end, as the Velvet was Lou Reed's band and we had no legitimacy to use this name. Two tours, no one cared and the group was over.

Rather less diplomatic than the interview on Arjan's site!

Mark · Post by **Mark** » 20 May 2005 23:33

...and how better to follow that up than with a rare modern-day photo of Walter Powers!

(He's on the left by the way.)

Homme Fatale · Post by **Homme Fatale** » 21 May 2005 14:34

Walter Powers wrote:I couldn't wait for this thing to end, as the Velvet was Lou Reed's band and we had no legitimacy to use this name.

He's right about the legitimacy of course but he's making it sound like he was forced into doing it... I'm not sure if I believe the "couldn't wait for it to end" bit... Why didn't he just go home and leave the others to it if he hated it so much! I don't think Dougie and Sesnick held any guns to his head to make him play. I mean they even performed some of his songs.

Mark · Post by **Mark** » 21 May 2005 15:08

The quote came from Willie not Walter. I guess he could have been doing the shows as a favour to Doug, or perhaps the band just turned out different to how he expected it to be.

Homme Fatale · Post by **Homme Fatale** » 21 May 2005 15:10

Oops, it seems the eyes read and the fingers type faster than the brain thinks...

arjan · Post by **arjan** » 25 May 2005 13:32

Mark wrote:...and how better to follow that up than with a rare modern-day photo of Walter Powers!

Wow, sure looks like him. I'm thinking of contacting him for a short interview, sort of a sequel to the Willie one. Did you contact him for your Hello/Goodbye piece? (When will that be published, by the way?)

Mark · Post by **Mark** » 25 May 2005 13:35

No, I didn't contact him for the Mojo piece, but I think you should!

I *think* the piece will appear in the August issue.

arjan · Post by **arjan** » 25 May 2005 15:55

Mark wrote:No, I didn't contact him for the Mojo piece, but I think you should!

Right, sent him an e-mail. Keep your fingers crossed...

Mark · Post by **Mark** » 26 May 2005 02:29

Great - good luck.

Changeling · Post by **Changeling** » 07 Jun 2005 21:43

FYI for those in New England Willie Alexander is playing Johnny D's in Somerville Wednesday 6/8

http://www.johnnyds.com

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Willie Alexander quote on the Velvets

Willie Alexander quote on the Velvets

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