John Cale
Fear Is A Man's Best Friend - John Cale

John Cale in Concert: DVD

Cale playing Rockpalast 1984

DVD's

Cale live appearances on tv are floating around on DVD. On the upside: pro-shot quality. On the downside: many generations of VHS in the lineage. Look for rebroadcasts if you want the Rockpalast stuff. And yes, they turn up at eBay every now and then at the usual hefty prices. You know what to do.

Live At Rockpalast

Official release of Rockpalast

Both Rockpalast shows were released as a set in Germany in 2010. Available on 2CD, 2LP (the full 1984 show and four filler tracks from 1983) and 2DVD.

The 1983 show is missing Risé, Sam And Rimsky-Korsakov, which was sung by his then wife Risé.

Unreleased pro-shot Cale

Most notably the 2003 promo JC-03 documentary for HoboSapiens. The complete show in Manchester (June 26, 2003) was filmed for JC-03.

The first edition of the Cale organized Life Along the Borderline: a Tribute to Nico in London (October 11, 2008) was also filmed.

Live shows

Date Place Venue Program Country
2011-11-21 Malmö Opera Malmö Opera Swedish TV Sweden
2003-10-26 London St. Luke's In Session UK
1999-09-07 London Songwriters Circle In Session UK
1987-11-15 Amsterdam VPRO Televsion Paradiso The Netherlands
1985-02-26 Madrid Prado del Rey La Edad de Oro Spain
1984-10-14 Essen Grugahalle Rockpalast Germany
1983-03-06 Bochum Zeche Rockpalast Germany
1975-06-07 London Crystal Palace Bowl Tele 5 Germany
1972-01-29 Paris Le Batacalan France
Performing Heartbreak Hotel

TV talk shows featuring Cale

Cale appeared on numerous tv talk shows and music programs like Later Wtih Jools Holland, The Tonight Show and The Old Grey Whistle Test, discussing music or playing live (or both).

Recordings of these performances are not widely circulated, except these:

Date Program Venue Series Country
1981-12-02 Kevin Ayers & Friends tv studio Musical Express Spain
1989-03-12 "Put The Blood In The Music" NY recording studio The South Bank Show UK
1992-11-26 "Later With Jools Holland" BBC tv studio "Later With Jools Holland" UK
Louisville 2004

Audience recordings

Smuggling in a camera and taping the (whole) thing. So far, only five recordings have been circulated among traders.

These recordings for the hardcore Caleists only. Considering the strict "no cameras" policy that was inforced until recently, it is a small miracle that they exist.

Date Place Venue Program Country
2010-05-14 Norwich Theatre Royal Paris 1919 UK
2004-05-15 Louisville The Brown Theatre WFPK show USA
2003-12-12 Edinburgh The Liquid Room 2003 tour UK
1991-04-17 Madison Elvehjem Museum special performance USA
1991-03-13 Mannheim Capitol 1991 tour Germany

© 1999- Hans Werksman