John Cale in an interview: "The US president will be gone by Christmas."

LauterKlassiker: The songs of Velvet Underground

You are known as a chameleon and a wonder bag, a musician who is constantly reinventing himself. What will you surprise us with at your concert in Switzerland? Or will you mainly be playing your classics?
John Cale: I have something completely different in mind. It has more to do with hip-hop. I like it when my songs are not what they seem to be. Some will be political, some will be cultural.

Political? Maybe with reference to the current US president?
Oh no! It's only temporary. He'll be gone before Christmas.

In 1967, exactly 50 years ago, the legendary album "Velvet Underground & Nico" was released. What does it mean to you today?
It reminds me of a dirty and dark New York. Of poor people who worked very long and hard to develop new ideas and create new music. People who had a hard time making it. Because back then you had to play at least two or three songs from the hit parade to be successful as a band. And because we refused, nobody wanted us. Until Andy Warhol came along and helped us. Ironically, we then quickly became so famous that we couldn't handle it at all.

You've been doing new things ever since - but you still play the old songs too. For example, do you think your new version of "Venus in Furs" is better than the "original" on the "Banana Album"?
That's a good question. It always depends on who is playing and what ideas they come up with.

Do you like to change the songs?
Oh yes, otherwise it would just be routine. But it also has its limits. The audience doesn't appreciate it if they no longer recognize the songs.

I hear you're working on a new album.
For three years now. But now we're putting the finishing touches to it.

Are you looking forward to the concert in Zurich?
Yes, the audience in Switzerland is different, socioculturally well mixed. If you don't sing in a local language, it has a higher status in countries like Switzerland. It's like when nobody understood me in New York because of my strong Welsh accent. But maybe that's why it went down well back then.