Timeline: 2015
The Velvet Underground Trust
In January Cale's lawyer Christopher Whent becomer the trustee for The Velvet Underground Trust. he starts to sort out the mess of the Velvets' financial records in 1983 - it took three years for the first royalty checks to arrive back then, mainly due to the mess created by Steve Sesnick, who started managing the band in 1967.
Interview in Air France Magazine
An extensive interview in the March issue of Air France Magazine. He is using a brand new piece of software for his new album:
"It’s seduction. Yeah, it’s definitely seduction. I was seduced by this software and how it might help me achieve something greater than expected if I take the time to use it. It’s at my fingertips, promising to give me something extra. Technology has long been one of the most alluring elements in my daily routine. I’m a tech-junkie for certain. It’s embarrassing sometimes because I can’t stand the idea of not having every iteration of advanced technological devices. I’m always baffled when people claim to be afraid of new technology—I LIVE for it!"
"The Velvet Underground & Nico" in Paris
On April 11 John Cale announces that he will re-imagine The Velvet Underground & Nico in its entirety at the Philharmonie de Paris on April 3, 2016.
He will be joined by special guests to help him out: Carl Barât and Pete Doherty (The Libertines) on guitar and vocals; Avey Tqare, Geologist and Panda Bear (Animal Collective) on vocals and keyboards; Nick Franglen (Lemon Jelly) on keyboards and samples; Étienne Daho, Mark Lanegan, Saul Williams, Lou Doillon on vocals.
Courtney Barnett covers "(I Keep A) Close Watch"
Australian singer Courtney Barnett covers (I Keep A) Close Watch. It's on the B-side of her Kim's Garden 12" (vinyl only release for Record Store Day on April 18).
Whitney Museum of American Art
He performs at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York on April 24, providing a live soundtrack during a screening of Andy Warhol's Empire.
Tony Conrad, a former collaborator in the days of the Theatre of Eternal Music / The Dream Syndicate (1964-5) was also on the program, with the String Orchestra of Brooklyn.
Eyelids cover "Only Time Will Tell"
Eyelids, a band featuring f ormer and current members of Guided By Voices, Stephen Malkmus/The Jicks, The Decemberists, Camper Van Beethoven, Boston Spaceships, cover Only Time Will Tell on their self-titled EP.
"Signal To Noise" in Melbourne
Billed as Signal To Noise he performs at the Supersense: Festival of the Ecstatic at the Arts Centre Melbourne, Australia, on August 9. He is joined on stage by Lisa Gerrard (Dead Can Dance) and electronic wizard Laurel Halo, plus a horns and strings ensemble.
"An artist whose biography incorporates some of the most adventurous, ecstatic and explorative output achieved by a single performer today, do not miss the iconic John Cale's Signal to Noise, a major new work commissioned for Supersense that traces the line of experimentation through his career spanning over five decades.
One of the towering figures of modern music unleashes a new cross-media extravaganza set to spark the fires of the imagination, featuring a stunning line-up of performers including Dead Can Dance's Lisa Gerrard and Michigan electronic innovator Laurel Halo.
This genre-bending audio-visual trip furthers his quest to find new ways to startle and seduce the senses. Bespoke arrangements of both classics and rarely heard songs will be matched by intriguing glimpses into what the future holds for this fearless pioneer.
From co-founding The Velvet Underground to collaborating with the likes of Brian Eno, Patti Smith, The Stooges, Happy Mondays and LCD Soundsystem, John Cale seems to have had a hand in every major moment of musical innovation for half a century."
Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell cover "You Know Me More Than I Know"
Iron & Wine (Sam Beam) and Ben Bridwell (singer and lead guitarist of Band of Horses) cover You Know Me More Than I Know on their Sing Into My Mouth album.
Close Watch video
Releases a promo video for the new version of Close Watch. The clip was directed by Abigail Portner. This version can be found on the Music For A New Society + M:FANS album.