The Velvet Forum

In 1973, I compiled, wrote and published the first book on Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground. I‘ve just set up a new Facebook page chronicling - in a blog-like series of posts - the following:

~ My experience of becoming a Sixties music fan during the transition of pop to rock

~ My involvement in the London music scene, 1967-73, during which time I saw 47 major acts - nearly all of them rock groups - including many which have since become iconic

~ My steadily increasing obsession with The Velvet Underground, culminating in the publication of my book

~ The first significant contacts between VU fans in Britain and the USA; their research into, and support of, the band; and credit those involved

~ The mythic, almost completely undocumented, status of the band in its first incarnation, when it was little more than an addictive mystery known only to a handful of devoted followers

You are very welcome to follow me, Nigel Trevena, on this journey, at:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587336031777

Oh, man - thanks for posting this!

You should also do an Instagram page, for people younger than 50.

Ah wow. I read that book a long time ago (albeit it was already 20+ years old at that point). Obviously a pioneering piece of work that a lot of subsequent VU writers owe a huge debt to. Looking forward to hearing more!

Thanks, looking forward to having you aboard.

Looking at sample pages from Nigel's book (which I knew about from back then, but unfortunately do not have). On the discography section there's an unrecorded/unreleased compositions sections. See below.

There's one called Nobody Loves You When You're Old and Gay. This made me think of simonm's idea that I'm Not A Young Man Any More might be about that very subject. I wonder whether it could be the very same song.

I wonder whether Nigel recalls where he got the list of songs from, and that particular one?

Hi, no sadly as it’s over 50 years ago I can’t recall. Best guess is an American guy called Connie Radoulovitch. He ran the VU fan club in the US around 1970-72 and brought a ton of stuff to London for me in 1972. Connie was a key player in early Velvets research and I intend to write about that on my page.

Hmmm... Nobody Loves You When You're Old and Gay is a song on Dead Fingers Talk's 1978 LP, produced by Mick Ronson. The song is credited to DFT singer Bobo Phoenix.

Can a title like that be a coincidence?

Bobo Phoenix probably had Nigel's book and lifted the title?

I've put some of my best guys on the case....

Could this be the original source:

05-73
CIVIC AUDITORIUM, SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA
NO
(review in Rolling Stone 13-8-73)
(Note.- Supossedely Lou sung in this show an unrecorded song called "Nobody Loves You When You're Old And Gay". Maybe could be in other early 73 show)

https://loureed.es/live1972.htm

Now we just need somebody who was there to confirm. Shouldn't be hard. Come on, speak up!