The Vels - Face 2 Face

[Jalexd]

Alice Cohen's ("Desoto") voice was weak. Chris Larkin had so much more charisma. I think the Vels were nothing without him, even if it was a decision that was unavoidable... sad.

[keela76200]

@Jalexd This comment about Alice's voice being "weak" is completely idiotic and without any ground in reality whatsoever. There would be no "Vels" without Alice and her excellent voice/composing skills. Her solo work pretty much proves lyrically and rhythmically that she was the master engine behind The Vels. That she's not a household name is likely due to her inability to properly manage her career, in a business sense (something a lot of artists have a hard time with, actually).

[wolfie1ful]

Funny - I was looking back on music from the 80's - found The Vels - but Chris Larkin is missing from all these videos - The Vels wouldn't have gotten as far as they did without Chris - but he seems to be missing from all their videos - REST IN PEACE CHRIS - I love you and will never forget!

[astrochuck11]

Sadly, Chris Larkin, Joey Wilson and Alan Mann, all music geniuses in their own right, allowed extracurricular activities to intercede on their life path. Brian Jones and Chris's hero Jim Morrison had friends that tried to help but eventually the living must move on. Chris chose a path outside the Vels and was thus not in the band during these videos. Chris had magic, believed in magic but just not enough to save himself from this world. "...My name is Peter Pan...I fly across the land..."

[CaptainVasily]

Hey Charlie. This is great. I always keep an eye out for stuff from you guys. Until now it was only the "Look My Way" video, which I do enjoy watching. It was great being your bassist for a while in Shag Motor Pony. You and Alice are the most brilliant musicians I've ever played with. BR

[astrochuck11]

thank you bro...if your in the nieghborhood, i bought the 169 Bar last year, come on by...i dont play anymore but alice is still doing it...

[bbandolon]

hi astrochuck. im a huge fan of the vels. do you have any idea where i can get a cd copy of "velocity"? thanks!!!

[astrochuck11]

no...i dont...i have an album...just got to get around to putting up on line for down load...

[pakkala888]

Brilliant stuff! Tremendously missed. I was spinning my 12" of Look My Way and Tell Me Something and found this. OUTSTANDING!

[astrochuck11]

thanks...it was a fun time...

[Boblezai]

Just figured out why this live version is so much better than the other version on this site. The drummer. This drummer has it dialed down. He's got way more interesting stuff going on with his foot, his cymbal accents add power and energy, his tom work is more creative. This is a great beat, very organic. The other version on this site is like the drummer's asleep. However, they might be the same guy. Not everybody can be at peak performance 24/7.

[astrochuck11]

it is the same guy, but touring with the pychedelic furs playing in front of 10-80,000 people every night plus simple time with the material does wonders for working it out. thank you

[astrochuck11]

also you may notice that the song is in general more rocked-out... theres a guitar part that was added during the furs tour and we played it a little more bombastic, the drummer was doing more of a tony thonmpson (robert palmer, power station-isk thing)

[Boblezai]

This is better than the studio track! You need to release this stuff as a live album. Love it!

[astrochuck11]

thank you, we were cut off from completeing our original "house of miracles" album and it was released pretty much without our agreement.

[jsbx5]

Where did you get this?

[astrochuck11]

i bought a desent portable camera (for the time) and recorded the shows on tour over a period of time...as it says i was an original member, i did all the sound arrangements, most of the audio was recorded at one little club but i super-imposed the images from different concerts, some of the audio & video was recorded live opening for the pych-furs...