Interviews
Bloodied but Unbowed
Interview by Scott Isler. Published in Musician no. 126 - April 1989
Violence, Viola and Enigma Variations
"Lou comes to terms with himself in songs. I wouldn't be surprised if he's most satisfied when he's written a song 'cause it's worked out all these tensions that are in his head. It happens with me too. It's like somebody discovering their identity. I've written 'pop' songs, for want of a better word. Those things don't move me anymore. I don't like the idea that I'm writing pop songs. 'Sanities' in Music for a New Society is not just a song, it's a dramatic movement, like a monologue. 'Black Angel's Death Song' was a slap in the face, confrontational: 'We don't care where you are, we're over here' – very defensive. It's trying to have as many levels as you want in a song, not just those that pop songs seem to fall into."
Cale has another reason to be thinking about the Velvet Underground era. A month earlier Nico had fallen off a bicycle, hit her head and died of a cerebral hemorrhage.
"She was such a great lady," Cale says, his voice dropping in pitch. "I miss her. She's the one who was carrying the torch for the Velvet Underground. Everybody else went their own way. Nobody ever told her what to sing; she was a law unto herself."
Her willfulness apparently contributed to her death. "She dressed swaddling style, layered in black," Cale recalls. "And one thing you don't do in Majorica In summer is go cycling in these clothes!"
Cale's own willfulness hasn't hurt him – at least not fatally – though he's aware he can't be accused of going for the gold. "I can't put two and two together." He admits cheerfully, if only he sounded cheerful. "Some people say, 'Let's write this kind of song' and go off and do it. If I wrote that kind of song, I'd always end up seeing I'm doing it gritting my teeth with an ulterior motive in mind."
He's never recorded anything commercial then?
"There's too much egotism involved in it. I figure, well, it'll still work as a piece of my personality. I never have to be an apologist."
Cale then abruptly announces he has to leave. "I'm playing at four."
Playing?
"Squash"
He leaves.