Quotes by John Cale

About John Cale:

John Davies Cale is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the NYC-based American experimental rock band the Velvet Underground, of which he is now the last surviving founding member.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Time plays a role in almost every decision. And some decisions define your attitude about time.

John Cale

Growing up in Wales was a pretty Draconian experience with religion.

John Cale

What I enjoy most about being on stage is that the natural instruments give you a greater freedom with texture. When you use natural instruments they have their own resonance.

John Cale

We gave up on the idea of trying to make the record a good representation of the live performance.

John Cale

I like what the future holds. I don't like thinking about the past.

John Cale

I learn from thinking about the future, what hasn't been done yet. That's kind of my constant obsession.

John Cale

Even if you're improvising, the fact that beforehand you know certain things will work helps you make those improvisations successful. It really helps to have a certain amount of knowledge about musical structure.

John Cale

That's what my life is, writing songs.

John Cale

I missed out on my teenage years. I led a sheltered life. I was practicing scales instead of playing football.

John Cale

I never use the word, it's loaded. What love means to me is need.

John Cale

If you're all loaded up on love, you haven't got anywhere else to go.

John Cale

The only reason we wore sunglasses onstage was because we couldn't stand the sight of the audience.

John Cale

I'm writing a movie about Mozart going to New York in the '60s. I've been reading so many novels.

John Cale

I want to get lean and mean, keep it minimalist.

John Cale

All of the sudden the audiences started getting younger and the spread of the attendance was really wide. I think it's as a result of the records selling more that they started following our careers.

John Cale

The value of having a computer, to me, is that it'll remember everything you do. It's a databank.

John Cale

The avant-garde makes more sense to me.

John Cale

We'd hold a chord for three hours if we could.

John Cale

If I'm interested in what I'm doing, other people will be interested in it.

John Cale

I'm impatient. I get twitchy. When I get that feeling I just go out and make something happen.

John Cale

Author Bio

  • NameJohn Cale
  • DescriptionWelsh composer, singer-songwriter and record producer
  • AliasesJohn Davies Cale
  • BornMarch 9, 1942
  • CountryWales
  • ProfessionSinger-songwriter; Record Producer; Composer; Singer; Violist; Actor; Pianist; Guitarist; Keyboardist; Lyricist; Musician; Bassist; Songwriter; Autobiographer; Model; Film Actor; Television Actor; Music Arranger; Experimental Musician
  • WorksParis 1919
  • AwardsOfficer Of The Order Of The British Empire; Honorary Degree; Honorary Degree; Cz?owiek Ze Z?otym Uchem; Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame