The Velvet Forum

I've been listening with great interest to the 2-CD set of Reed/Nico rehearsals from April 29, 1971, at the apartment of Richard and Lisa Robinson. It's a remarkable document, with the two musicians, and occasionally the hosts as well, engaged in relaxed, often charming conversation between takes of a set of songs selected from the Banana album and Chelsea Girl repertoire.

By the end they agree on five songs that will constitute their … what? I can't find a clue anywhere of what the aim of this session is. It's clearly for a live performance, as there'd be no point in recording songs that already exist on relatively recent albums, but I know of no such concert having taken place, nor of one planned but cancelled. Nor does it seem to be for the Bataclan show, as if the given date is even close to correct that show is months away, and had apparently been put together more-or-less spontaneously toward the beginning of '72.

Anyone know what the point of this workout was?

There was that nasty incident in 1971 when Nico stabbed a woman in the eye with a wine glass in New York. Supposedly she fled to Paris to avoid arrest. Maybe they were rehearsing for a gig that was planned before that happened?

Nico was due to play the Gaslight, NY with Lou on guitar, mid May 1971. Reports are that the gigs didn't happen because Nico glassed a woman in a bar and she left the country.

Unterberger speculates that what he says is an undated tape might be connected to rehearsal for the Bataclan performance. Is the date now fixed at April 29, 1971?

With regards the incident, Nico smashed a glass into the woman's face which required 19 stitches. The woman was called Emmeretta. Probably Emmeretta Marks from the Hair cast. One story I read said Nico was jealous of all the attention the young black woman was getting. Another says that Emmeretta was talking about racial equality in the bar. Nico claimed that the Black Panthers had a contract out on her and that is why she fled the country. Another statement from her claims she was high on Angel Dust and that her action was 'madness'.

Thanks for the replies. I'm curious to know where the info behind this one comes from:

Nico was due to play the Gaslight, NY with Lou on guitar, mid May 1971.

Sheila Klein wrote: ↑12 Jan 2023 03:11 Thanks for the replies. I'm curious to know where the info behind this one comes from:

Nico was due to play the Gaslight, NY with Lou on guitar, mid May 1971.

See Unterberger p306