I reviewed The Velvet Underground: 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition for new issue of Uncut. It's a comprehensive, six-disc set compiling the band's third album in an assortment of mixes, plus 1969 demos and a live recording from The Matrix in San Francisco. Of course, it marks the first album the band recorded after John Cale had left, with Doug Yule assuming bass and (some) vocal duties. I was fortunate enough to speak to both Yule and Mo Tucker for a Q&A to accompany my review.
Tuesday night, I went to see the War On Drugs guy again. I mention this, in relation to Mark Kozelek and Sun Kil Moon's Hackney show, because Kozelek doesn't stop mentioning it himself for much of the two and a half hour show; a show which, by the by, is one of the very best and certainly most surprising I've ever seen him play.
Rod Stewart has paid tribute to Ian McLagan, who died yesterday [December 3].
In a statement sent to Uncut, Stewart said, "I'm absolutely devastated. Ian McLagan embodied the true spirit of the Faces. Last night I was at a charity do, Mick Hucknall was singing 'I'd Rather Go Blind', and Ron Wood texted to say Ian had passed. It was as if his spirit was in the room. I'll miss you, mate."
Stewart is the latest musician to mourn the passing of McLagan.
