The Velvet Forum

Funny how these semi-underground half-punk often-poetic bands are secretly tied together. It seems like somehow most fans of either VU, Joy Division or The Stooges, are fans of all three. I certainly didn't believe they had anything to do with each other when I got into them at different stages of my life. I know other people who are the same way: they like one, they naturally like all three. It's as if this kind of music is free from eras & genres...

Oh, and most people who hate one hate all three. Like my family.

Maybe this is overgeneralized, but is there something to it?

I love The VU and The Stooges but never got Joy Division. Maybe I'm the exception to the rule.

Stephen Says wrote:It seems like somehow most fans of either VU, Joy Division or The Stooges, are fans of all three.

Well, I think JD and the Stooges embody certain aspects that we also find and like in the Velvets, but to be honest only so in a one-dimensional way.

In my (humble) opinion, The Stooges were fun on their first LP but after that, no way. JD I listened to excessively in my student days but not anymore, too dour/bleak/etc.

arjan wrote:In my (humble) opinion, The Stooges were fun on their first LP but after that, no way.

And in mine the 2nd and 3rd albums piss all over the debut!

I love all 3 bands, Raw Power is a masterpiece and Joy Division were a great great band, my pals in Edinburgh still claim Joy Divison was the greatest concert they ever saw.

I dont think there is any "SECRET" about it. Most of us like many of the artists within a single music "family." I am sure that most people who like the Sex Pistols also like The Ramones and The Clash. Or someone who likes Bad Company will also like Boston and Foreigner!

mg196 wrote:I dont think there is any "SECRET" about it. Most of us like many of the artists within a single music "family." I am sure that most people who like the Sex Pistols also like The Ramones and The Clash. Or someone who likes Bad Company will also like Boston and Foreigner!

Alright, I might have said it in a stupid way. But I don't think the three bands are as much alike as the '77 punk scene. Joy Division came out long after VU, sounded nothing like them, and focused on Nazis and technology... nothing like VU, really. That's why it seemed interesting to me. I was half joking by calling it secret.

Ah, but there's a huge VU influence on Joy Division, not so much soundalike-wise, but sometimes in the feel and the colors. Both bands at times have a longing, droney quality. Ian Curtis had said that he wasn't really interested in anything musically until he happened upon the Velvets, and realized you could put a song across with honesty and realism. He also praised a Lou appearance on The Old Grey Whistle Test as a touchstone. And, of course, JD covered "Sister Ray" calling it, "our Louie, Louie."

As for the Stooges, Cale of course produced the first album not long after splitting from the Velvets, so there's an obvious connection there. (Not that anyone needed to be told...)

I'm huge on the Velvets and JD, but not as much the Stooges. Do have the first and "Raw Power." Kinda regret not grabbing the Rhino "Funhouse Sessions" while it was available, it sounded like something that would be pretty cool. Also thinking I should grab Iggy's mix of "Raw Power" before it's gone as well.

Chance wrote:Also thinking I should grab Iggy's mix of "Raw Power" before it's gone as well.

That CD absolutely is the definitive version of the album. You can REALLY hear the difference. It's so much better than the original it's unreal.

well, as we're in the connections between bands or whatsoever ,nobody even talk about the original Modern Lovers?