The Velvet Underground founder member John Cale has announced Liverpool as his only European show to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the band's legendary debut LP.
Following the recent live concert at the Philharmonie de Paris to celebrate 1967's The Velvet Underground & Nico LP, Cale has decided to perform the album in its entirety only twice more – in New York and Liverpool.
This "reimagined" show will be staged on Friday, May 26 at a bespoke open-air stage in the heart of Liverpool’s historic docklands, the city that Wales-born Cale sailed from where he left the UK.
Cale said: “I'm often reluctant to spend too much time on things past - then, a time marker shows up - The Velvet Underground & Nico turns 50. As so many bands can attest to, it is the fulfillment of the ultimate dream to record your first album.
“We were an unfriendly brand, dabbling in a world of challenging lyrics and weird sonics that didn't fit into anyone's playlist at the time. Remaining ferociously true to our viewpoints, Lou and I never doubted for a moment we could create something to give a voice to things not regularly explored in rock music at the time. That bizarre combination of four distinctly disparate musicians and a reluctant beauty queen perfectly summed up what it meant to be The Velvet Underground.”
Closer to the Liverpool show, Cale will be announcing a series of high-profile collaborators to join him live on stage. This year’s Paris concert featured The Libertines, Animal Collective and Mark Lanegan.
Tickets for the Liverpool date go on sale at 9am on Friday, October 28.
