John Cale - The British Masters Season 2 - Chapter 5

In the fifth episode of this second series of the British Masters, our host John Doran speaks to pioneering musician John Cale, founding member of The Velvet Underground. John discusses Lou Reed, David Bowie, and his latest release M:FANS.
In John Doran's own words:
"Born in South Wales in 1942, after studying music at Goldsmiths, Cale moved to New York, in 1963. The following year he went on to found one of the greatest rock bands of all time with Lou Reed: The Velvet Underground. After leaving the group, Cale went on to record a large and challenging body of solo work, and now, a few weeks from his 74th birthday he has returned with one of his most radical and most enjoyable albums to date: M:FANS.'
Previous episodes include:
Roots Manuva: www.youtube.co....
Noel Gallagher: www.youtube.co....
Jimmy Page: www.youtube.co....
Dizzee Rascal: www.youtube.co....
Thanks to The Social London.
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[@elihyland4781]

I just watched him play today in Brooklyn before I went to work. I do not understand how one man can live on the literal cutting edge for 60 years… he has (imho) the single most enviable career…. and he’s just so cool and speaks in chill poetry. What an absolute champion. Hail

[@jonesy2111]

John Cale is on a tier of greatness all by himself. His career includes some of the best music ever recorded

[@j.c7719]

Absolutely. A real genius, I’d be truly starstruck if I ever met him. I mean from the electric viola on ‘Venus in Furs’, ‘Heroin’ and ‘The Black Angel’s Death Song’, to the sounds on ‘Lady Godiva’s Operation’ to those beautiful albums he did with Nico to ‘The Stooges’, ‘Paris 1919’, ‘Fear’ and ‘Horses’ and his soundtrack work. In the words of Lou Reed “his is a greatness to behold”.

[@pena.3302]

YEAH MAN..BUT HE'S NEVER LOST IT..THNKFULLY..The V.U.s.ill fea'ted.93' was a Total Ca$h grabber..But who amongst us..Best Gtr player ever @'L8r wth Joolz Louder.'Playing along w/-J.C.A Must see if you like mi.Knows to trust yr EARS..EYES.❤ ET..See it VinF..🎉🎉🎉

[@atree88]

What an amazing person... Got really emotional at the end.

[@cosmicdrifter287]

john cale records are the most treasured in my collection.

[@MegaSnippezz]

Easily one of the biggest idols in my life. Such an amazing, influential and interesting person. From his life stories to his music, he holds a special place in my heart.

[@privateaccount5400]

Grow up.

[@millennialanimal]

I could be wrong but people don't seem to ask him about when he worked with nick drake, it would be really interesting to hear what he would have to say, from what i've heard it sounded like an interesting meeting.

[@boosh90]

I'd have been straight in

[@BushyHairedStranger]

Bryter Later was one album Joe Boyd and John both worked on for Nick. Theres a niche amount of information on that collaboration as you obviously know. Perhaps you might be the one to do a interview specifically about Johns work with Nicky?? Cheers

[@saturnsabyss]

Really?? Did not know Cale had anything to do with Drake. Also blew my mind when I found out he produced the original mixes for the first Stooges album. Lot of surprising connections in the music industry back then.

[@luvdabluez6233]

Fantastic interview... John C seems such a humble human being and genuine. You can tell he has lived life. Full off it's ups and downs... Sitting around a camp fire i bet he would have some wonderful story's to tell....

[@dimitriosmarlas746]

The world is better with John Cale.

[@naarvmaan]

I like to listen to john cale, something about his tone and demeanor, the way he carries a conversation is mesmerizing to me personally

[@thetriumphofthethrill2457]

One of the best interviews. Compelling from start to finish. Cale is simply one of the most talented and interesting musicians in music history. Much credit to John Doran for consistenly coming up with good questions and being one of the best interviewers.

[@Ozzyt123]

The best yet, joh you are a masterful interviewer and Mr Cale is a talent rarely championed , many thanks

[@Tamar-sz8ox]

At the end , John spoke true words of strength and wisdom , wow ❤️

[@dogjohnny559]

"I started off in avant-garde so I like tearing things up". Love that

[@fredkitchen8940]

And then I saw john cale. He's been looking really great

[@akwalek]

Intelligent conversation with John. Respect.

[@geraldrooney5677]

I spent a whole year with John's back catalogue, listened to nothing else. Nothing. Couldn't get enough of it! Helen of Troy's Leaving it up to you.....enough said ;)

[@ratonmagico]

My favorite artist. I had the honor to met him when he played in Santiago, Chile.

[@faeembrugh]

My god, an intelligent and informative interview. I thought such a thing was redundant. Thanks.

[@stevenbaker7696]

"I started out in the avant garde, so I kind of like tearing it up" ... bless.

[@blackascoal]

brilliant interview mr doran!

[@tonycostanzo4276]

John Cale is one of the very best musicians in eccentric contemporary rock music , and very interesting

[@apolloc.vermouth5672]

Work is more fun than fun

[@TimeTraveller010]

Sir John Cale, please live forever!

[@ontheroadid]

Love this series. The rest of Noisey/Vice is forgettable, but this is great. I've watched every episode, whether or not I have any interest in the subject of the interview.

[@Xxxxxrrr6464]

Great interview I find the last moments very helpful

[@andrewbell8679]

Really good interview with a remarkable man - thanks.

[@davidbennett2339]

An interview is basically a list of topics that could be talked about if we were really talking, but we're not.

[@MissPerriwinkle]

the new todd haynes doc bout the velvet underground is gooood

[@BenLubin]

That was a wonderful interview. Great interviewer, wonderful interviewee.

[@thehowlingterror]

John Cale you wonderful human.

[@MyGreyHorse]

So brilliant.

[@startervisions]

John loves Dre, Lou loved Yeezus. If I see another self-righteous middle aged person talk down on hip hop......

[@58ripple]

perhaps because too much hip hop glamorizes guns and derides women. Those misogynist rappers need to be taken to a wall by a black bitch ho with an AK 47

[@startervisions]

if the music is great, I don't care

[@BlemishesNow]

@@58ripple hair metal/80s "heavy metal" was extremely misogynistic and idolized drug abuse too lmao

[@donlebo6824]

@@BlemishesNow and all the chicks wanted to do them, so.........

[@mayflower2370]

He actually said that he liked the production, not the lyrical content... He is a producer after all. If nobody is looking out for new ways of making music then music cannot progress.

[@TheNeverposts]

Do William Reid. Please

[@andrewhyde4708]

What a brilliant interview.

[@wasteyelo1]

Fantastic interview.

[@MisAnnThorpe]

I've long heard the story about the decapitated chicken but it's the one thing about Cale I have really difficulty getting my head around (no pun intended). I love much of his music regardless.

[@cavewaller]

"well they were all vegetarians... they didn't like it at all" lol

[@SusanDoran]

I don't get it either - and imagine "thinking" like this would not have been appealing to Lou Reed.

[@BarryH90dz]

this was brilliant

[@DjangoHerbertson]

Best one by far

[@justinmaike792]

Great interview.

[@Youcantleavethisempty01]

Fantastic interviewer.

[@Christiandonaghey]

Best one yet

[@alanhopkins3727]

what a legend

[@adamberry1829]

Best show on Vice...Lookin' trim Doran!

[@kirby711]

Thanks for this

[@Xxxxxrrr6464]

Wasn’t expecting John Cale to say that he, “ I always try to put a good, thumping 808, in any arrangement I do”

[@JohnDegen_aka_Jeehannes]

What a guy.

[@timmcPherrin]

awesome

[@paulgardner-uy6fh]

Legend

[@erikchavarin6085]

too bad Doran never asked Cale about The Dream Syndicate. Such an interesting history and La Monte Young is so secretive it'd be interesting to hear what he had to say about it.

[@br00talKidHxC]

the OG MFANS LP is bliss

[@adanacman666]

whats funny is i remember quite a few people back in the day, had no clue, who VU were ,and when their music was played, they hated it, or payed very little attention, or had no clue, who it even was,but the more rolling stone magazine,and these so called music critics,told people how great they were,as time went on, well, now most of those people act like they were there rite from the start

[@kevinguziec2497]

Most folks who listen to Vu weren't born yet when the band was active. Of course people are gonna pick up on it and fall in love hard with it. And who cares where they hear about a band from. Rolling Stone mag introduced me to quite a few bands that I'm rather fond of. I don't know though, my opinion and my thoughts just matter to myself

[@benibbotson2014]

@@kevinguziec2497 well said.

[@II-xl7lj]

It's just that over time, many people have filled in the education gap, what's the problem?

[@SusanDoran]

Does anyone understand what this means? ("Speaking about the time he spent with Bowie in New York, Cal said: “There was a lot of drinking and a lot of ladies. We would see which ones could stand on our heads first”).

[@levoldunom]

I only found out John Cale was Welsh this year after reading James Young's book about Nico. I always assumed he was American for some reason.

[@thisnameisalreadytaken9026]

He does live in America 😊

[@levoldunom]

Well, I know he lives in America but I didn't he came from Wales/

[@EclecticoIconoclasta]

+levoldunom I guess you have not listened to the VU song "The Gift" where he recites a poem and clearly there you can notice he is not american

[@levoldunom]

And clearly you can a take any song from a band's catalogue where someone is singing with an accent at face value to deduct their nationality, right? Of course I have listened to "The Gift". But John was not one of VU's more prominent singers therefore one was never really reading such facts throughtout the years in written form about the band. And if you get something out of this interview is that he had a difficult past there, these aren't details you normally read about.

[@Barry101er]

Super!

[@nignogjenkins2615]

Cool guy

[@mistaroksta]

nice

[@o.binwheelie9733]

Wow

[@MorrisseyPhil]

I didnt realise Shane McGowan was interviewing other musicians these days.....

[@crypttonite]

none are out layers

[@rosemarymills1671]

How long had Lou Reed been sober before he started drinking again?

[@Avasive]

please mix him up with Andree3000!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Avasive]

All my Cail'ssssss

[@george98loveday]

are you still in england

[@dogjohnny559]

What's the album called "emphans "?

[@Hygienist-]

M:FANS. Reworked version of his album Music For A New Society

[@tompaulcampbell]

That's odd! Apart from Grandmaster Flash et al, Hip-Hop generally sounds to me like"music" for people who aren't musical!

[@janbures5203]

Please can u do Howard Devoto? Another music genius.

[@natures_neighbor]

John Cale is a musical wizard and a total class act. And he cut a chicken's head off one time..

[@SusanDoran]

Killing a chicken and throwing it into an audience is evidence of being "a total class act"?

[@natures_neighbor]

Lol, you have me there. He had his more.. shall we say, unhinged years.. But I don't see him doing anything like that these days. And that's the John Cale I was referring to.@@SusanDoran

[@JohnnyTubeNYC]

Lou started drinking again?

[@george98loveday]

+Johnny Stox yer

[@michaelm6948]

I hope someone cooked and ate, had the full benefit of the chicken.

[@danielprice9046]

My name is John Doran and my incrediebly broring voice is about to send you to sleep...

[@gart9680]

Spock.

[@TheMachineBR]

first

[@ViniciusNunes-m8q]

This interviewer should be more respectful to his guests and audience and do something about his teeths. It's disgusting to look at.

[@sidplimmer9536]

fuck off

[@jonesy2111]

The only thing that is important is what comes out of his mouth...

[@kirby711]

Don't look just listen and learn