Timeline: 1999
Sabotage/Live reissue with bonus tracks
In January Sabotage/Live is reissued on CD with four bonus tracks: the three songs from the Animal Jusitice EP: Memphis, Chickenshit and Hedda Gabler plus Rosegarden Funeral of Sores which was released as the B-side of the Mercenaries single in 1980.
The master of the studio version of Mercenaries is lost and therefore not included.
There's Something About Jonathan - Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers
Tim Mitchell publishes his biography about Jonathan Richman. Features the aborted Modern Lovers demo sessions in 1973 and the subsequent producing of their debut album.
Cale instructed the engineers on how to set up the microphones and treated Jonathan's vocals with reverb and high treble, reducing his natural nasality. Clarity was maintained throughout, even during the guitar/organ battles of the instrumental breaks - if Cale had produced the Velvet Underground's White Light/White Heat it might have sounded like this.
What's Welsh for Zen
Publishes his autobiography What's Welsh for Zen, co-written with Victor Bockris. The book is designed and illustrated by Dave McKean. The book is dedicated to Sterling Morrison:
"I thought it was the right thing to do, dedicating my book What's Welsh for Zen to Sterling. I think everyone discovers things after a person is gone. In my case, it happened while I was working on Some Friends. That realization caught me by surprise. I was writing Walking On Locusts. There was a string piece I'd written for Julian Schnabel's movie, the flattest piece of music I've ever made, no structure or profile. And I kept working it over and over again, and all ofa sudden these lyrics started coming out. It was involuntary, but I realized quickly what they were about. It had this solitary effect, suddenly there was something in the back of your mind you weren't talking about but really felt. That was how Sterling's personality affected me. Much later."
He sends two copies - the standard edition and the special autographed edition with loose pages in a box - to Lou Reed, adding a note that was discovered when Reed's archive was transferred to the New York Public Library in 2017:
"Dear Lou,
Out of respect for our past (both glorious and inglorious) I have sent you under separate cover both the special edition and the book version of my autobiography. Please accept them in the spirit in which they were offered . . . I also hope it brings you, at the very least, a distant smile of amusement. After all, it really was the most outrageous fun, wasn't it?"
To promote the book he tours Europe with the John Cale trio (with Mark Deffenbaugh & Lance Doss), starting at St Davids Hall, Cardiff - January 16.
He does a series of readings from the book, presented in conjunction with US DJ Adam Dorn culminating in a series of four multimedia events London's Institute of Contemporary Arts called Dead Agents.
The Jack Docherty Show
He is interviewed by Scottish writer, actor, presenter and producer Jack Docherty about the What's Welsh for Zen autobiography. Broadcasted on Channel 5 in the UK on January 12.
Dead Agents
Dead Agents is a four day mixed-media presentation at London's ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts) - (April 24/26/27/28). It includes live footage of the John Cale Trio in Prague, an exhibition of b&w photos taken by Eve Vermandel, readings by Cale from his autobiography What's Welsh For Zen, a collaboration with American DJ Adam Dorn, and readings of selected lyrics from his back catalogue.
The new piece Dead Agents is based on the book Between Silk and Cyanide by former Special Operations Executive (SOE) Leo Marks. Astrid Williamson handled the backing vocals for Dead Agents. Each night ended with the screening of a film
Wisconsin Death Trip
Writes piano music for Wisconsin Death Trip by James Marsh, who also made the John Cale documentary for BBC Wales in 1998. The movie is based upon 1973 historical nonfiction book written by Michael Lesy about "grim and bizarre occurrences that took place in and around Jackson County, Wisconsin-in particular, the city of Black River Falls-between 1885 and 1910". The music is used for the end titles.
Dylan Thomas' Poetry in Edinburgh
In April Cale's settings for three poems by Dylan Thomas are performed at the Flux Festival in Edinburgh: If I Were Tickled by the Rub of Love, In My Craft or Sullen Art and Lament.
Die Jungfrau soundtrack
Composes the soundtrack for Die Jungfrau (a.k.a "The Virgin") by Austrian director Diego Donnhofer.
Close Watch
Island releases another compilation album: Close Watch - An Introduction To John Cale. All the tracks are remastered.
Roddy Frame covers "Thoughtless Kind"
Scottish singer-songwriter Roddy Frame covers Thoughtless Kind on his CDEP Sister Shadow.
Cable Hogue on Later With Jools Holland
Plays Cable Hogue on the May 14 broadcast of Later With Jools Holland.
Alejandro Escovedo covers "Amsterdam"
American rock musician Alejandro Escovedo covers Amsterdam on his Bourbonitis Blues album.
Songwriters Circle with Nick Cave & Chrissie Hynde
Takes part in the BBC program Songwriters Circle with Nick Cave and Chrissie Hynde. He plays Thoughtless Kind, Fear Is A Man's Best Friend, Dying On The Vine and Ship Of Fools. Cave and Hynder join him for I'm Waiting For The Man. It is filmed at the Subterania Club in London. It is broadcasted on September 7. The actual recording took place on May 12, 1999.
The concept of this programme was having 3 singer-songwriters meeting up only 1 hour before and to come up with a 1 hour acoustic set for filming. This was also broadcast by the digital/satellite arts channel UK Arena (now defunct) as "Later In The Round".
The Raymen cover "Buffalo Ballet"
Swiss psychobilly group The Raymen cover Buffalo Ballet on their Lucifer's Right Hand Men album.
The Unknown
Release of The Unknown soundtrack. Originally commissioned by The Giornate del cinema muto de Pordenone in 1994. The tracks were recorded live at Théatre de La Colline in Paris on December 5, 1994. Liner notes by Paolo Cherchi-Usai.
Dream City Film Club covers "Close Watch"
English rock band Dream City Film Club cover (I Keep A) Close Watch on their Stranger Blues album.
Producing Ventilator
Produces two tracks - I Swear and No King - on the desert station frequency album by the American band Ventilator. Evan Blackstone on how he got in touch with Cale:
"Unbeknown to me, a mutual friend in the UK had sent John a CD of various sketches and raw tracks Ventilator had been workin on. I got home one afternoon to find a message on my recorder. 'Evan, this is John Cale. I really like what you guys do and I think we shoud chat.' I waited a day or so trying to compose myself, then made the call. We spent about an hour on the phone discusssing my abstract way of recording with unconventional instruments."
No King is included on the Conflict & Catalysis: Productions & Arrangements 1966-2006 compilation album (2012).
So Long, Marianne with Suzanne Vega
Cover of Leonard Cohen's So Long, Marianne on the folk tribute album Bleecker Street-Greenwich Village in a duet with Suzanne Vega.
Le Vent de la Nuit
Release of Le Vent de la Nuit soundtrack. Mark Deffenbaugh plays slide guitar.
Directed by Phillipe Garrel. They had previously worked together on the 23 Solo Pieces For La Naissance De L'Amour movie in 1993. They would team up again in 2011 for Un été brűlant.