Yep, JC wasn't too healthy that year. Who was? It was vodka and, um, coke, in the main, I think, and his hair went grey. Und so weiter. He's been better since. And it is a sublime version of a song about the past. Even now, though, that look is scary. It's the old irony of art and illness, soul to poison soul. In its way this song is Loyalty's last anthem. Bloody Welsh wizard.
He looks pretty healthy to me (a bit bonkers perhaps but thats what is so great about him I think.)..Check out Heartbreak Hotel with Andy Summers on guitar elsewhere on here.now thats a bit disconcerting. It must be from the days when he would do stuff in his shows like scream at a plant till it withered and died and slaughtered a chicken...inspiring or what?
Ok - in this he looks ill (actually only compared to early photos). but the voice. the voice. I think its all he would want to know was still there. and the poet. and it so is.
I knew that Cale had struggled with alcoholism for part of the Eighties, but I was shocked when I saw this program and witnessed what a toll it had taken on him. Seriously. Here, and in a separate interview on this program (particularly when he shared thoughts about the Velvet Underground with Nico, who was herself pretty strung out on the poppy), you could see how badly the man needed to dry out. Happily, he did, and continues performing/recording to this day. Respect!
Yes, I know he's wonderful SadLisa; he's my favourite artist but - I think he should have give up on Lou Reed years ago, don't you? He's tortured himself for what was a really bad relationship, even if they did make great songs together... I've experienced the same in my life...
I can´t hardly say this, that´s just between them. Who the hell knows what happened. They were both just very strong contollers, and both very ambicious, jealous and angry to each other, they were big, real big friends in the first years, but Lou fell in love with him and John told him he is not interested, Lou was pretty angry. It was hard for John so it´s just little bit hard to forget all this.
I shouldn't have really commented specifically on Cale's relationship with Reed - you're right, who knows? But it seems to me that Cale has constantly hung on to destructive relationships which have done him no good and is what this song seems to advocate. I can't see Lou Reed spending years agonising over what might have been, can you? If anything, he's more than prepared to rewrite history when it suits him. I wouldn't advocate that either but, surely there's a happy medium?
That´s true!!! I don´t know why the end of their relationship was so much painful for John than for Lou. But John was the kicked, maybe he was angry and sad because of it. But does Lou feel something besides poetry? He seems like a box of ice to me. And John taking it very personally - but who really know where the real problem is and what happened between them...?! And John was very unhappy in his marriages, he is just pretty unlucky:-) Just read What´s Welch for Zen - autobiography of JC!
Yes, I couldn't agree more. I think the point is, you have to know when to let go. Some people, like Reed, kick too soon when reconciliation is possible while others, like Cale, spend years regretting what might have been. Cale is primarily a musician and I think what hurt him more than anything was if they had made up their differences they could have continued to do good work together. He never once went to the press to castigate Reed in the way Reed constantly did to him.
That´s a perfetly true... I think Reed is little unfair anyway. I think Lou hate the competition he felt in John, both of them want always be "The First one" (but it´s very hard when they are just very, very different) and Lou can´t stand it. And as I wrote, he want John to be his lover, but John wasn´t interested. Hmmm, and I think they takes themselves little too seriously... They can´t just let it go and still have to hate each other. But who knows where the problem is...?
I think we're broadly in agreement, insofar as we can glean anything about the problem between. I was interested you just read What's Welsh for Zen - I came to that late too; I think he wrote it in the 90s. My original comment was an argument with the sentiments expressed in this song and you probably know another one, Dying on the Vine? (If not, it's on Youtube) "I've been chasing ghosts and I don't like it, I wish someone would show me where to draw the line" Knows himself pretty well...
Hahaha, aksing me if I know Dying on the Vine!?!?! I just listen to this song for three hours a-day! And then all night... I just love this song. I think the lyric is just prefect, he know exactly what he sing about.
That silly look at 1:05 was used in someone's collage video here on Youtube, but now I can't find it! I'm glad Cale cleaned up; he's the best he's ever been now.
I don´t know, but I don´t think it´s 1986, more likely sometimes between 1982-1985, cause in 1986 Cale stopped drugs and alcohol and here Cale doesn´t look soberly.
@bollockowithalob It was aired in 85 . My last year in school , I watched this programme and it blew me away , completely changed my outlook on music .
He was on drugs, and well aware of the need to act honest and insane looking to the viewers, What do you think this song is about, its about being thoughtless and what he is doing is a performance. A smart guy this one.
Yeah... such lovely sentiments being expressed so petulantly. Makes one's skin crawl a bit, doesn't it? At the same time, I wish there were some 70's clips when he was really getting out of control. Plus, Chris Spedding was in his band then.
Hey.. The title is indeed from his album "Music for a new society". But the lyrics and the music as well are different... He also looks quite different comparing to his other videos...
This is a great performance of the song, but slightly uncomfortable viewing just due to Cale's state. Damn gifted, even if he must have thought he was performing for Jesus while being beaten by angry dwarves...
He sure looks different to any other time I've seen him. God I love this and about 50 (conservatively) other songs of his. What prescribed meds was he on and what for? Does he have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder or was just all the shit he took?
As a psychiatrist also, and a Nobel Prize winning Critical Theorist,and an ex-president of a great country, and a bloke gone off his meds, I can easily see that this man is older than when he was younger and--how do we say it?--interesting as opposed to dull and dumb as a door hinge.
Jesus, what a heavy video (and certainly one of Cale's most beautiful and haunting songs, and there are plenty). This reminds of me of a performance in Germany of his I saw from the late 70s/early 80s where he starts ripping apart the mats on the stage in the middle of a song.
my dear god, poor john cale, as a psychiatrist myself, i certainly can tell immediately what makes him look like the way he is in there; passive-aggressive, trying to pull himsel together, true. but never lose talent
Neither The South Bank Show (annual (?) event in London), nor 86 as far as I can see. The video must have been recorded in Cale's or someone else's home, and by the bloated look of his face, I'd think this was around 82 when he recorded the song on "Music For a New Society", a very dark and haunting lp - perhaps my favourite but I can't bear to listen to it very often! Thanks for sharing this interesting video.
Thanks for posting.
Great funeral song
DJkevvykev 7 months ago
My favourite song by him is Perfect Day.
bau06145 1 year ago
Yep, JC wasn't too healthy that year. Who was? It was vodka and, um, coke, in the main, I think, and his hair went grey. Und so weiter. He's been better since. And it is a sublime version of a song about the past. Even now, though, that look is scary. It's the old irony of art and illness, soul to poison soul. In its way this song is Loyalty's last anthem. Bloody Welsh wizard.
entropanto 1 year ago
Great!! It's an awesome performance for the song...whether he's blown or whatever. It's his song and it's delivery is his own!!
EMILIOMARENGO 2 years ago
He looks pretty healthy to me (a bit bonkers perhaps but thats what is so great about him I think.)..Check out Heartbreak Hotel with Andy Summers on guitar elsewhere on here.now thats a bit disconcerting. It must be from the days when he would do stuff in his shows like scream at a plant till it withered and died and slaughtered a chicken...inspiring or what?
sbilts 2 years ago
Ok - in this he looks ill (actually only compared to early photos). but the voice. the voice. I think its all he would want to know was still there. and the poet. and it so is.
harrisroyal 2 years ago 2
I knew that Cale had struggled with alcoholism for part of the Eighties, but I was shocked when I saw this program and witnessed what a toll it had taken on him. Seriously. Here, and in a separate interview on this program (particularly when he shared thoughts about the Velvet Underground with Nico, who was herself pretty strung out on the poppy), you could see how badly the man needed to dry out. Happily, he did, and continues performing/recording to this day. Respect!
Helke23 2 years ago 5
A sad, fat and probably drugged up John Cale...Very shocking.
Music For A New Society is psychic disease and loss set on music.
A masterpiece of sadness.
RuudLang 2 years ago
Yes, I know he's wonderful SadLisa; he's my favourite artist but - I think he should have give up on Lou Reed years ago, don't you? He's tortured himself for what was a really bad relationship, even if they did make great songs together... I've experienced the same in my life...
GemandJoe 2 years ago
I can´t hardly say this, that´s just between them. Who the hell knows what happened. They were both just very strong contollers, and both very ambicious, jealous and angry to each other, they were big, real big friends in the first years, but Lou fell in love with him and John told him he is not interested, Lou was pretty angry. It was hard for John so it´s just little bit hard to forget all this.
SadLisa777 2 years ago 2
I shouldn't have really commented specifically on Cale's relationship with Reed - you're right, who knows? But it seems to me that Cale has constantly hung on to destructive relationships which have done him no good and is what this song seems to advocate. I can't see Lou Reed spending years agonising over what might have been, can you? If anything, he's more than prepared to rewrite history when it suits him. I wouldn't advocate that either but, surely there's a happy medium?
GemandJoe 2 years ago
Comment removed
SadLisa777 2 years ago
That´s true!!! I don´t know why the end of their relationship was so much painful for John than for Lou. But John was the kicked, maybe he was angry and sad because of it. But does Lou feel something besides poetry? He seems like a box of ice to me. And John taking it very personally - but who really know where the real problem is and what happened between them...?! And John was very unhappy in his marriages, he is just pretty unlucky:-) Just read What´s Welch for Zen - autobiography of JC!
SadLisa777 2 years ago 2
Yes, I couldn't agree more. I think the point is, you have to know when to let go. Some people, like Reed, kick too soon when reconciliation is possible while others, like Cale, spend years regretting what might have been. Cale is primarily a musician and I think what hurt him more than anything was if they had made up their differences they could have continued to do good work together. He never once went to the press to castigate Reed in the way Reed constantly did to him.
GemandJoe 2 years ago
That´s a perfetly true... I think Reed is little unfair anyway. I think Lou hate the competition he felt in John, both of them want always be "The First one" (but it´s very hard when they are just very, very different) and Lou can´t stand it. And as I wrote, he want John to be his lover, but John wasn´t interested. Hmmm, and I think they takes themselves little too seriously... They can´t just let it go and still have to hate each other. But who knows where the problem is...?
SadLisa777 2 years ago
I think we're broadly in agreement, insofar as we can glean anything about the problem between. I was interested you just read What's Welsh for Zen - I came to that late too; I think he wrote it in the 90s. My original comment was an argument with the sentiments expressed in this song and you probably know another one, Dying on the Vine? (If not, it's on Youtube) "I've been chasing ghosts and I don't like it, I wish someone would show me where to draw the line" Knows himself pretty well...
GemandJoe 2 years ago
Hahaha, aksing me if I know Dying on the Vine!?!?! I just listen to this song for three hours a-day! And then all night... I just love this song. I think the lyric is just prefect, he know exactly what he sing about.
SadLisa777 2 years ago 2
You and I are two of a kind lol
GemandJoe 2 years ago
Yes, thoughtless kind - lol...
SadLisa777 2 years ago
Sometimes you have to John...
GemandJoe 2 years ago
He is still wonderful.
SadLisa777 2 years ago
my wife gets a kick out of 1:05 to 1:10 lol i dont find it really funny though
cannibaljuice 3 years ago
That silly look at 1:05 was used in someone's collage video here on Youtube, but now I can't find it! I'm glad Cale cleaned up; he's the best he's ever been now.
epistrophy68 3 years ago
Yeah he is a real gentlemen now
cannibaljuice 3 years ago
i like this better than the recorded version, makes more sense this way
mushy85 3 years ago
I don´t know, but I don´t think it´s 1986, more likely sometimes between 1982-1985, cause in 1986 Cale stopped drugs and alcohol and here Cale doesn´t look soberly.
cipacipa 3 years ago
Is there any more Cale on that show?
ForARide 3 years ago
he's interviewed but no more songs
connected365 3 years ago
john cale has always been a bit eccentric and complex.
glitchesandglitter 3 years ago
A great upload - thanks.
What year was it made - early/mid 1980s?
bollockowithalob 4 years ago
1986
connected365 4 years ago
@bollockowithalob It was aired in 85 . My last year in school , I watched this programme and it blew me away , completely changed my outlook on music .
blagzoney 1 year ago
He was on drugs, and well aware of the need to act honest and insane looking to the viewers, What do you think this song is about, its about being thoughtless and what he is doing is a performance. A smart guy this one.
Darknads 4 years ago 2
aMAZING but it's uncomfortable to see Cale fat and looking insane...
BaudeLaire78 4 years ago
Yeah... such lovely sentiments being expressed so petulantly. Makes one's skin crawl a bit, doesn't it? At the same time, I wish there were some 70's clips when he was really getting out of control. Plus, Chris Spedding was in his band then.
mysterysurf 4 years ago
Hey.. The title is indeed from his album "Music for a new society". But the lyrics and the music as well are different... He also looks quite different comparing to his other videos...
konig82 4 years ago
This is a great performance of the song, but slightly uncomfortable viewing just due to Cale's state. Damn gifted, even if he must have thought he was performing for Jesus while being beaten by angry dwarves...
Runicen 4 years ago
He sure looks different to any other time I've seen him. God I love this and about 50 (conservatively) other songs of his. What prescribed meds was he on and what for? Does he have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder or was just all the shit he took?
vicphine 4 years ago
As a psychiatrist also, and a Nobel Prize winning Critical Theorist,and an ex-president of a great country, and a bloke gone off his meds, I can easily see that this man is older than when he was younger and--how do we say it?--interesting as opposed to dull and dumb as a door hinge.
jblacktree 5 years ago 2
Brilliant song and performance. Glad he sorted himself out.
ARRRGGGGHHHH 5 years ago
lol, yeah, he's not angry any more, right?
moribundlust 5 years ago
Jesus, what a heavy video (and certainly one of Cale's most beautiful and haunting songs, and there are plenty). This reminds of me of a performance in Germany of his I saw from the late 70s/early 80s where he starts ripping apart the mats on the stage in the middle of a song.
RoQnRollMartian 5 years ago
my dear god, poor john cale, as a psychiatrist myself, i certainly can tell immediately what makes him look like the way he is in there; passive-aggressive, trying to pull himsel together, true. but never lose talent
lpyyxw 5 years ago
Thank you connected365.
Was this really in '86? What was the South Bank Show and is there any more to see?
An intimate and mesmerising look at Mr. Cale as he seethes out this beautiful song.
Gurvo 5 years ago
Neither The South Bank Show (annual (?) event in London), nor 86 as far as I can see. The video must have been recorded in Cale's or someone else's home, and by the bloated look of his face, I'd think this was around 82 when he recorded the song on "Music For a New Society", a very dark and haunting lp - perhaps my favourite but I can't bear to listen to it very often! Thanks for sharing this interesting video.
hardtimesincountry 5 years ago
This IS from 'The South Bank Show' from 1986. I have the whole 51 minutes on DVD.
mlucifersam 3 years ago
Hmmm.... This was around the time John Cale was heavily into cocaine. I've never seen him look like that before.
RStrathfield 5 years ago
He certainly looks 'chunky'; maybe he was working out or maybe the effects of some prescribed medication...
connected365 5 years ago
It's sort of disturbing because he seems a bit eratic and even a little passive-aggressive.
RStrathfield 5 years ago
a really personal song can do that
mushy85 5 years ago
Wow. Thanks a lot.
DogOnWheels1 5 years ago