The Velvet Forum

Candy's got a point... It's hard to argue with his choices.

tarbaby2 wrote:Candy's got a point... It's hard to argue with his choices.

yeah, but I like listening to other stuff, too.

Don't we all. But, most of it comes out a distant second place - or else we wouldn't be on this forum.

I mean chocolate ice cream is good, but rocky road is SOOOO much better! Because of that I usually eat rocky road.

In these 'holy trinity' and 'who are the true offspring of the VU' blah blah contests why the hell doesn't anyone ever mention Pere Ubu?

My points:

1. Ubu were there. In Cleveland. At that time. Members saw VU play live in Cleveland and Thomas has said that VU were an influence.

2. They covered VU. As Rocket From The Tombs (Foggy Notion) and as Pere Ubu (Heroin).

3. Then there is the music. Singles like 30 Seconds Over Tokyo, Heart of Darkness, Heaven, Heart of Darkness. The first two LPs - Modern Dance and Dub Housing. Their first two Lps must be comparable with the VU's first two LPs as great Rock Statements of their time.

4. Noise. Just say yes.

Its hard to think of another American rock band since the VU that explored aspects of Song-writing, making Rock Music and Sonic experimentation with anything like the breadth, the skill, the conviction and the inspiration Ubu did. Like VU they both defied musical conventions and were more interested in music than image.

Sorry. I just had to get that off my chest.

Mr.Datsun

Can you post some of their stuff? I'm curious.

iaredatsun wrote:In these 'holy trinity' and 'who are the true offspring of the VU' blah blah contests why the hell doesn't anyone ever mention Pere Ubu?

Well, this isn't a contest. It's just asking what people feel are their top-three bands. In America, as far as mainstream rock writers were concerned, the "Holy Trinity" of Rock Music has ALWAYS meant Stones/Who/Zep. I was just askin' what ours was.

iaredatsun wrote:Its hard to think of another American rock band since the VU that explored aspects of Song-writing, making Rock Music and Sonic experimentation with anything like the breadth, the skill, the conviction and the inspiration Ubu did. Like VU they both defied musical conventions and were more interested in music than image.

Hmmm...Stooges, MC5, Sonic Youth, James Chance...

Although I do feel that EVERY band cares about their image as much as the music. Whether they express that image lyrically or with the clothes they wear differs from band to band (or band-member to band-member). Why did the VU never wear tuxedos? Why did the Dolls wear women's clothes? Why did Neil Young always wear jeans and a flannel shirt? Every group has an image - and it's deliberate.

But that was the point of my asking the question. What are the bands at the top of OUR family trees.

Don't have a "trinity," mine's a duo: Beatles and Velvets. Everyone else, no matter how great, are the "other guys." I never really got into the Dolls or Stooges (as yet). Huge on the Pistols and Clash, though.

Chance wrote:Don't have a "trinity," mine's a duo: Beatles and Velvets.

I am surprised at how little the Beatles are brought up on this site and others. Personally, I only have one Beatles album, Revolver, and I have listened to it once since I burned a copy off my cousin. I recognize their importance, but I just never really grooved to 'em.

[quote="Chance"]Don't have a "trinity," mine's a duo: Beatles and Velvets.[/quote]

Funny you should say that. Both bands are my all time favorites as well.

Having said that, I think of a VU "Holy Trinity" in terms of bands that would perhaps be spiritual cousins. So, in that case I would have to go as follows: VU/Can/Eno-era Roxy Music.

What about some later bands - no one EVER talks about Magazine as a VU influenced band and DEFINITELY one of my trinity. Devoto's lyrics are as sharp and provocative as Lou's at his finest.