Foundation Velvet: The Drumming Of Maureen 'Moe' Tucker - A Documentary By Cam Forrester
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- Опубліковано 19 тра 2024
- Independent artist Cam Forrester explores the career of legendary drummer Maureen 'Moe' Tucker; focusing on the origins of her unique style of playing, it’s development over the course of her time with The Velvet Underground, and the influence her sound has had on music over the years since the groundbreaking band were in their prime.
Included are several demonstration scenes performed on Forrester's own vintage drum kit, which is set up in the same fashion as Moe's kits were back in the 60's, plus rare footage, and photos of her and the band through the years.
Quotes/Introduction - 0:00
Background & musical beginnings - 3:50
“Tucker’s sister plays drums?” - 6:14
Andy Warhol, 'The Factory', and Nico - 9:07
The ‘Exploding Plastic Inevitable’ Shows - 12:46
A female drummer? - 15:09
‘The Velvet Underground & Nico’ Sessions - 17:38
DRUM DEMONSTRATIONS - 21:22
Goodbye to Nico & Andy…hello to VOLUME! - 25:02
‘White Light/White Heat’ & DRUMMING DEMONSTRATIONS - 28:18
John Cale leaves, and Doug Yule joins - 34:35
The third album & DRUMMING DEMONSTRATIONS - 37:07
'Loaded', band breakup, and solo career - 43:09
Moe's heroic return to the drums - 45:58
Retirement from the music business - 53:48
Influence & legacy - 54:28
“A natural drummer...” - 57:03
Cam Forrester's debut album 'What's Going On Upstairs?' is a unique fusion of ethereal soul, gritty indie rock and dreamy shoegaze.
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Researched, written, compiled & edited by Cam Forrester.
Special thanks to Dan Bass for the filming of all drumming demonstration scenes, and to Alfredo Garcia, Phill Milstein, and The Velvet Underground Appreciation Society for their contributions of rare photographs.
DISCLAIMER:
This documentary film is a non-profit production; made for viewers’ enjoyment and informative/historical purposes only - no copyright infringement intended.
All rights reserved to the owners of any copyrighted audio/visual material included.
Unauthorised copying, hiring, lending, public broadcasting of this film is prohibited.
© 2021 CAM FORRESTER
Hi, Mr. Forrester. A friend sent me a link to this documentary today. I was hesitant to watch an hour long documentary about my mom but I really enjoyed it. You did a great job with focusing on her playing style and talking about her actual drum kit itself, the iterations of her kit and providing video of what it looked like to see her play on studio recordings with your performances. Well done!
Hi Mr. Mikulka,
Thank you so much for your praise; I can’t believe that my little project has managed to work it’s way over to your family!
Your Mom has been an inspiration to me for so many years, and I’ve always wanted to see something that really spotlighted her vital role and gave her the credit she deserves…so finally I decided to make something myself!
The response so far has been wonderful, and I’m so happy it seems to have accomplished what I set out to do.
I did make attempts to reach out to Moe through the official VU forum a few months ago, to invite her to be the first to see it, and ask for her blessing to release it online, but was unable to - a member of the forum who used to be in regular contact with her (Alfredo Garcia; rare VU photo book producer), advised me that she is hesitant to have direct contact with fans these days…which at her time of life is completely understandable, so I decided to let it sail unmanned and just hope for the best!
Please do send her my warmest and most sincere regards, and let her know that she has been one of my most idolised heroes in music since I was just twelve years old.
I hope she and the rest of your family are all in good health and happiness, and are reminded all the time, just how damn cool and inspirational their Mom/Grandma is 😎 x
Great documentary, that I came across on my reccomended list. Superb detail,and the breakdown of Moe's drumming parts, techniques and influneces was exremely illuminating!
Perhaps in the future you could look into the tunings that some of the Vlevet Underground used etc.
Thanks for your hard work that went into this!!!!
@@sunkingsuk Thanks for your support! I actually did a demonstration of alternate tunings The Velvets used just before the tutorial section of my 'How To Play Venus In Furs' video, which can be viewed here: ua-cam.com/video/P8tb8elvKY8/v-deo.html
It’s funny; I was watching a video of Elvin Jones the other day, and his son commented as well.
as time goes by I realize more and more how important each member of this band have been for music. everything is apparently simple. then you realize that you can use virtuosism or minimalism but the most important thing is there is a concept. and here there is a great meaning in every detail...
This film made my day! Years ago I put a piece of tape on my drums-"what would Maureen do?" reminding me to simplify,keep the pulse and aim steady.She is a heroine.
That's a great idea! Thanks for watching ;)
Lou has a song called Heroin
@@stephenfiore9960 ...if you don't know the song you can't really consider yourself a fan of the VU or Lou Reed..lol..🤷♀️maybe you were joking???...
As a bass player, I used to staple a picture of John Entwhistle on the side of my amp.
@@stephenfiore9960 what does that have to do with calling Moe Tucker a heroine?
This is amongst the best analytical documentaries I’ve ever seen. You brought Mo out of the shadows and showed with you illustrious examples the WHAT, HOW, and WHY Mo should be recognized as an innovative-groundbreaking drummer.
Sincerest thanks for your feedback! I’m very happy to hear that; you are right-on about Moe being somewhat in the shadows previously…spotlighting her was exactly what I set out to achieve!
@@CAMFORRESTER you did an exceptional job!!
She's never been in the shadows for those who have listened to the VU, but her revolutionary, inspiring drumming style has never been recognized or emphasised enough.
True. I did not know the VU's drummer was a woman. She needs to write a book . She's an inspiration to all who just want to play music the way we want. A book that needs to be part of every member of a rock bands library.
She was jawdropping
An hour long documentary on Moe Tucker = subscribed!
Me Too👍
same!!
What a great film, obviously filled with love. I'm not an overly emotional person, but parts of this made me tear up a bit. Beautiful selections of vintage pictures and film, and the narrative was on point. I especially liked the inclusion of her early exposure to African drumming. This film goes way beyond the usual UA-cam production values and you've done her and yourself proud.
Thank you so much! I tried my best to find the right balance between giving it that personal touch that traditional documentaries don’t have, whilst still remaining objective and factual. So far it seems that come across really well!
yeah have to admit my eyes got a bit watery at times there dedication song to sterling, the live reunion version of heroin etc...
That last photo of Lou in black and white. His eyes...rips me apart just thinking about them.
This is actually more insightful than the Apple TV documentary. I never realized how much Mimi Parker from the band Low was influenced by Mo Tucker, and how many other bands I love also use her sound.
I was a bit disappointed with how little Haynes' documentary looked into the actual musicianship of not just Moe, but all of the members (with the exception of John) in more depth too, but I did immensely enjoy it overall, especially considering the previously unseen footage that was included.
I'm glad to hear you found my documentary informative!
@@CAMFORRESTER I agree that there was too much focus on John and Lou to the detriment of Sterling and Moe's contribution to the bands unique sound.
@@balletbabe52 Absolutely! I enjoyed it, but it quickly dawned on me that this is going to be the "Lou and John show". I wish it had showcased both Sterling and Moe much more.
i wish there was such an accurate doc about every music hero. thanks!!!!!
Sometimes the UA-cam algorithm recommends some total gems, and this is one of them. I'm not even much of a VU fan, although I'm aware of how much they influence the bands I love, but this was a fascinating insight into the life and technique of a unique musician.
I'm glad it reached you! Thanks for watching!
Everybody knows that the VU would not have sounded as they did without Maureen Tucker's drumming. But in spite of the emotional power of their music, there lingers the widespread opinion that they 'couldn't play' and that she, in particular, wasn't a 'proper drummer'. A serious critical study of her work as a practising musician is therefore overdue and really valuable. Thank you.
In the book 'up-tight' by Malanga and Bockris, she comes across as a really nice person. Laughably, her androgynous appearance seemed, at the time, quite threatening to a lot of people. In fact she used to go to church every Sunday, one of at least two people from the Factory who did. The other? Andy Warhol.
You’re absolutely right my friend; I remember reading a quote of Ray Manzarek from The Doors saying exactly that in an interview once…who personally I don’t rate particularly highly as a rock keyboardist of that era, with people like Steve Winwood, Vincent Crane and Keith Emerson around.
He slammed the VU members’ technical abilities, feeling his own band were superior simply because they were influenced by jazz musicians, when all the while both John Cale and Lou Reed were classically trained in Viola/Piano respectively, and Sterling Morrison’s guitar playing was in a league of its own. Lou Reeds dissonant guitar solos were often influenced by free-jazz players too.
Maureen was the only member of the band who was untrained, but she was not a novice - she practiced regularly for three years before joining the Velvets.
The fact that she had no training meant that she wasn’t bound or limited by traditional rules - that’s why I compared her playing against that of Keith Moon, since both drummers had the freedom and ability to naturally flirt with time, and often played notes and/or fills in places that trained drummers simply would not - they were doing what sounded good to the ear, rather than what made sense on paper.
Every member of the Velvet Underground knew exactly what they were doing, and the multitude of unusual sounds they created were totally deliberate. Some people perceived it as unpleasant noise created by incompetent musicians, while others appreciated it for what it really was - totally original, avant-garde rock, played by very intelligent, innovative musicians.
They sound pretty good with Billy Yule on Live at Max’s, but Moe is on another level entirely.
This documentary is just fantastic. It perfectly balances the history of the band with analysis of Moe's playing and clearly demonstrates why she is so important to the sound of the Velvet Underground. She can never get enough praise as far as I am concerned. I mean to be the backbone of one of the most influential bands ever is an accomplishment in itself but to create a style all her own in a band that redefined what rock music was is just extraordinary. Thanks for putting this together. I think it is important for her legacy as well as being tremendously entertaining. Cheers!
Thanks so much for your feedback! And I completely agree...she was and is one of a kind! I only wish I could have been in the audience being hypnotised by the sound of them all together!
“A humble yet powerful grace..” Succinctly put.. It’s about time Maureen Tucker gets some solid acknowledgement.
Thanks for your comment!
I completely agree and am so pleased with the response so far to the documentary, and all the love & respect being expressed for Moe!
Sir, I am scraping myself off the floor where I've been stationary for the last hour or so. This was such a godsend for VU fans world wide. Your love,soul, and attention to detail make this one of the best music docs I've seen. I am subscribing for sure!
Thanks so much for your support, and for staying the whole hour! I'm really glad you liked the documentary!
It absolutely warms my heart to see Moe finally getting her due. She completely revolutionized popular drumming in the 60s, & in true Velvets-style, continues to make music accessible and individual to all players looking for their own voice. She is a legend, and the Velvet Underground is the most important band in history.
Thank You for this, Cam.
Nice words...couldn't agree more! You're very welcome, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Warms the heart indeed. I think I’ve got something stuck in my eye.
The best part for me. 21:22. I never realized how important the drumming was for this possibly my favorite album.
I'm glad you liked the demonstrations!
I drummed for 25 years and after a 4 years hiatus I am trying to find my light and start again.Thank you, you helped me find myself again!
Wow, this documentary was incredibly well put together. One of the best VU documentaries I've ever seen! Excellent, Cam 👏
Thank you very much! Please give it a share if you’re able! ;)
I still have not seen the new VU documentary, but this could be called one of the best sources on the VU history in existence! Very nice!
Wow thank you so much my friend, I’m so glad you found it interesting/informative. A lot of love went into this so it’s great to get such wonderful feedback. I’m also looking forward to seeing the new one, and hoping it will contain some new information and more importantly new/unseen footage of the band!
@@CAMFORRESTER very professional looking! If you could put on DVD, I guarantee it would sell many! Not dvr's, pressed DVD's! fans are always looking for something new, not just repackaging the same few bits. You have a new angle and it's edited and compiled so that even footage we have seen before has a whole new feel. I used my youTube app on my Dish and watched it on 65" screen with nice sound system. It is quality at a big size and audio not muddy or lacking. I love how the drummer helps us hear and understand her drumming in the less that audiophile quality. I just cannot tell you how much I enjoyed it! Usually I play VU videos while I answer emails; I stopped, went to the big screen and actually watched it twice! My son "likes" the VU (tired of hearing me rant, I guess) but I called him in for 2nd watch since he is a drummer. I always told him about Moe's style but me not being a musician, I never conveyed it fully. He watched the whole thing and told me, "Pop, NOW I get what you have been telling me over the years!" you should be proud. You are very talented.
That’s amazing, I’m thrilled to hear it looks and sounds good on a big screen/sound system…I wondered how it would stand up, since I currently I do not own a TV to reference it on - the first draft was produced entirely on a 2010 13” MacBook Pro 🤣 It’s so old I had to put the thing in the fridge while exporting the film as it would overheat and fail to export otherwise! It couldn’t handle adding the revisions I made, so I transferred everything and did the final export on my parents’ iMac!
I’m also thrilled to hear that it’s helped convey Moe’s importance over to your son! That’s exactly what I set out to achieve when I decided to make the film! She has influenced my own playing massively. 🙏🏼
@@velvetfan that’s lovely!
The best Velvet Underground documentary I have ever seen! I won't repeat what has already been said, but needed to thank you for making such a wonderful film. Cheers, from everyone at Rakka Rakka Records!
Thanks for you support!
Mo Tucker and Charlie Watts - rock steady and totally unique. As a drummer myself, they are my favorites hands down.
Both of them and Ringo were three of a kind!
Try Aynsley Dunbar.
Rest in peace Charlie Watts.
Jaki Liebezeit of the german band 'Can' did a really good job too !
R.I.P Charlie Watts.
As a mad Velvet Underground fan, l absolutely loved this documentary on my most favourite female drummer. Well put together & in such a professional fashion too, kudos to you, sir. Thanks, thoroughly enjoyed it.
This is absolutely brilliant! Probably the best VU related documentary I've seen and I have probably seen if not all but most of them. Thank you very much Cam for creating this documentary.
Thank you very much for saying so! 🙏🏼 Please give it a share if you’re able to! :)
As another stand up drummer influenced my Moe just wanna say this was an incredible documentary! Well done! Just goes to show that being yourself and finding your own style is the most important thing. An Icon! x
Thanks so much, I'm really glad you enjoyed it! And you're absolutely right...she's an icon indeed!
Mimi from Low is another inspired by Moe, now inspiring others.
Stand up drummers, particularly women, are a beautiful and unique part of music.
Nice idea to put the focus on Moe Tucker. A very attaching and genuine figure indeed.
Criminally underrated drummer! One of the greats. Well done sir!
Her ability to masterfully keep the Velvet songs from spiraling out on tangents of madness without putting them in a cage was incredible!
Well said!
One of the best music documentaries I've seen... and being that it's self produced makes it that much more incredible. The Velvets should/would be proud. Great to see you passing along the inspiration. (Almost thought that the JAMC would be left out at the end, but no!)
Bravo!
Thanks so much for your support!
Usually I'm not that impressed by home-made documentaries but this one was really good and informative, especially for a musician like me.
Thanks!
:-)
Thank you very much for saying so. I’m glad to hear you found it informative! :)
Exactly. We've heard every opinion on the Velvets, but very few people understand what they do and why they did it...
An excellent documentary and a well-deserved tribute to a unique musician, I especially loved the analysis of her drumming on White Light/White Heat, never realized it was that powerful
Thank you. And yes her playing on WL/WH was brilliant...just primitive power!
This is totally amazing. Love how you show how Moe played her drum parts.
Glad you found it insightful!
I think it’s fair to say there were plenty of female drummers in the sixties, but none were as enigmatic as Mo!
Now that my friend is a word that I should’ve used in the documentary conclusion! ;)
Amazing documentary! I'm amazed by how accurately you emulated Moe's drum parts, including the ones that often fall behind in the mix. Thanks very much for this!
You’re very welcome mate, thanks a lot for the feedback! 🙏🏼
This is a wonderful film. Only someone with a great appreciation for Mo's unique skills could have created this. You did a great job balancing explaining Mo's technical skills and set up with simply being an entertaining film about some incredible rock n' roll heroes. GREAT JOB!
Thanks very much for your feedback, I really appreciate it, and am very happy to hear you liked the film!
Magnificent effort, can see from the other comments how this resonated with the core audience of VU lovers. You really did a great job and the pacing is smooth, so many unseen pictures, and at the top a supportive comment from her son! High praise indeed.
Absolutely! I couldn’t be more thrilled with how well it has been received. Thanks for your feedback and support! I hope to bring you more similar content soon!
@@CAMFORRESTER Really great!
Moe's drumming and persona is beyond influential. I can't imagine a regular drummer on a riser playing with them.
Moe never overthought it! She instinctively served the song. What a legend. Thanks Cam for this documentary dude!
This is fantastic! I'm a longtime VU fan, but not a drummer (keyboards). I learned so much from this. Thank you!
Thank you for watching! I'm glad you found it insightful!
I'm wondering if any of the "greats" of drumming have acknowledged Mos' influence?
Moe singing 'I'm Sticking With You'... I suddenly started crying with great joy. Up to now I can't understand why. I was just struck. 😭😭 It's so unpretentious and so different? All Hail Moe Tucker!!! 🤩🤩🤩❤🙏🏼
Those 1993 performances really were magical! The crowd were with her all the way! What an amazing feeling that must have been...
Great work excellent documentary thank you for making it.
I had the privilege of meeting Moe Tucker three times the first time I was 19 years old it was quite a long time ago but I’ll tell you she’s the sweetest most loveable lady you’ll ever meet.
One of the first thing she said to me was don’t you ever do drugs you’ll wast a beautiful life. It always brings a tear to Mayeye when I think about Moe I really love her a lot she’s sweet
Thanks very much!
How wonderful that you were able to meet her…thank you for sharing. She always comes across as the most loveable and down to earth person in interviews.
The way you laid out Mo’s approach, growth, and type of gear she was using on the drums makes this very easy to watch for someone with no clue who Mo was before this. Besides just tremendously enjoyable to watch.
Thank you, I'm very glad to hear that!
Fascinating for Velvet fans. This is a great find and hope more people see it. Love it.
Thanks for the support! Glad you enjoyed it! :)
Wow! Outstanding! Moe is my favorite one of the VU. She is probably my favorite drummer of all time. Simplicity is always better! She was a beacon of light amidst such a dark band. Thank you for putting in the effort and hard work to create this video for us!
You are most welcome my friend! Thanks for the watching! :)
I just paused the beginning. After reading the comments this seems worthy of a fresh coffee and a joint. Hope to learn some new stuff about my 3rd favourite band.
Haha, indulge yourself ;) Peel slowly and see!
that was amazing.
@@CAMFORRESTER that was a really good run down. I have told everyone about it
Thanks mate I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed it! :) And thanks for sharing it also; much appreciated! 🙏🏼
Love your comment.
As a drummer, this was a real gem. Thank you.
I was just listening to live What Goes On today and absolutely am thrilled to see a film dedicated to the finer points of the Velvets. What made them unique was how Reed took rhythm playing to such intense levels. Moe’s anchor playing allowed for long jams to hover while the solos floated on top. The effect was hypnotic jamming but with complex guitar rhythms dancing on a rock solid beat. No bands at that time from the Dead to the 13th Floor Elevators brought such fundamental power to their sound. With the Velvets you could say Less is Moe but it’s more satisfying because the drumming is supporting rather than trying to stand out over everything else. The ensemble was about energy over egotistical chops.
Less is Moe...you could give my title a run for it's money! Mine was a spin on Warhol 'superstar' Susan Bottomly's alias; 'International Velvet'.
I've been obsessed with Moe's drum style since the first time I heard the first album. This is a very in depth doc, I'm glad UA-cam recommended it.
I'm glad it reached you! Thanks so much for your comment
This is an excellent documentary. When you care about your subject, this is what you get. BRILLIANT.
Never really picked up on the Velvet Underground but after this very engaging documentary I think its time I did.
This video is truly a gift for all the velvet fans and music fans in general. Thank you very much. It was so insightful and the demonstrations were very interesting to see. I also appreciate that you know when to allow the music to speak for itself by showing us the most important parts of the recordings or shows and not cutting them out. I can imagine this might cause some copyright problems, so I'm extremely grateful to you for doing that, despite those issues. Your video truly made me appreciate Moe on a deeper and more understanding level.
I appreciate your comments - thank you. And yes you are correct, there were several copyright claims (I cannot monetise the video whatsoever) but it was worth the sacrifice to include said music/video, to ensure the film was as comprehensive as it could be, and thankfully it is still able to remain on here despite all the claims.
I'm glad it was insightful and you enjoyed watching!
Absolutley fantastic. i have been a VU fan since 1972 and in those days the only information available were the LP covers and liner notes. In the eighties a number of decent books appeared and when the internet grew a lot of bootlegs and footage emerged with recently a few seconds here and there colour film of the VU live courtesy of A. Warhol (i wish he had filmed it straight). There is quite a lot of photographs and a few clips i havent seen before. i can honestly say i have enjoyed this more and this includes offical TV documentaries etc well done. U2 have based their entire career on I'm set free (slight exaggeration). You must have ears of a bat to hear Moes drumming from the original recordings. hope you do a full breakdown of There she goes again at some point.Thanks again for doing this and i hope it is seen by Moe and reaches wide aclaim.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review Russell; it means so much, and especially so, coming from someone who has been a fan of the band's music for as long as you have. A lot of love went into making this, and it's great to receive it back in turn from fellow fans! I too hope it reaches Moe ♥.
It's difficult to imagine how different my life would be now, if I'd never picked up that drumming book in my school library with the little Moe segment in it...I still can't explain exactly why I was so intrigued by it either, but she and the band really did change my life after that.
Like yourself, I too was frustrated at the lack of available documentaries etc., since all there was at the time was Live MCMXCIII, which though visually fantastic, was at times actually quite frustrating (Lou did have a tendency to take the "never play [or sing] the same thing twice" phrase a bit too literally sometimes lol). The 1986 Southbank Show documentary didn't surface on UA-cam until sometime in the last decade, and other than the unofficial 'Under Review' documentary, it's literally just scraps here and there otherwise - and regardless, in anything I ever read or saw, I always felt that Moe's role was somewhat passed over, so for me it was time to put that right!
It will be interesting to see what the new Todd Haynes documentary brings to light... =)
Her son made a comment above and loved the docu, so he probably already send it to her!
You are the #1 Velvet authority, the scholar who gets it absolutely right. Thanks.
This answers so many baffling questions I have had, started listening in 1990, age 12. Makes so much sense, the sound and feel, so unique. Very nice. I believe I am more stoked on the drums in these recordings than ever. Cheers
I'm glad you found it informative! Indeed I'm sure I had many of the same questions as you over the years of listening since I was 12...thankfully all the obscure answers I was able to learn finally formed themselves into this documentary!
I love this. Every minute is riveting. Listening to this, I realized I knew every lick by heart. Country come to town in 1969 in New York, petrified and mesmerized by the East Village. How many other bumpkins had this experience?
Thank you for showing me one more big reason why it drilled into my soul.
Thanks for watching!
really wonderful stuff. have always thought Moe's drumming was perfect for the Velvets but this thoughtful, affection film really showed how adaptable and nuanced she was.
It was indeed a match made in heaven! Thanks so much for your support 🙏🏼
@@CAMFORRESTER all good my g, excited to see where you take this channel
Moe is great. With my nearly 70 years of lifetime, greetings from Germany. Have all their vinyls, thumbs up, thumbs up, thumbs up
10/10!! I’ve watched a few velvet documentaries, but this one easily is the best one I’ve ever seen. Mainly because it focuses on Moe, who is usually overlooked in favour of Lou and Cale in most discussions of the band. I remember when I first heard them back in college I could not wrap my head around the drums. It was only years later, I realized she was playing in a completely unconventional manner. The 1993 performance is absolutely incredible. The versions of heroin and rock ‘n’ roll and sweet Jane are just chart topping. And of course it’s here where I finally got to actually see what the heck she’s been doing all this time!
Seeing your passion for The Velvet…have you ever listened to The Feelies? When I was getting into the Velvet Underground it was alongside The Feelies and Yo La Tengo. I so loved my youth and discovering music in the 80’s and early 90’s. There was some really great bands and they always name checked there roots so finding connections was easy, even before the internet. It was such intimate discovery as I worked in a record store, alongside older clerks who schooled me in 86’. Still one of the best jobs I ever had even though it was the lowest pay. On top of that, I seems to lose a quarter of my wages every two weeks.
Enjoyed it immensely!
Keep it up!
I haven't so far...but I will add them to my check-out list! Thanks so much for your comment!
I was lucky enough to see The Feelies open for REM in 1987. Great gig!
Well Done Sir. Thank you for this work.
Thanks for support! 🙏🏼
Fantastic documentary! It’s it the first time I realize why listening to ‘I’m set free’ always makes me cry. It’s because Moe’s drum sound
It really is a beautiful recording. Thanks for watching!
Finally! Maureen Tucker, the drummer for the Velvet Underground gets the attention, respect and recognition she deserves after all these years.
I always enjoyed her drumming or percussion if you like. She had a unique approach and style that was all her own which fit in perfectly with the innovative and unique style of the Velvet Underground band. She made a huge contribution to the bands sound and therefore to rock music in general.
Thank you so much for this great documentary!
I am forever grateful.
Go Moe Go!
Thanks for your support! Glad you enjoyed the documentary!
This is long overdue. And I particularly enjoyed the brilliant drum recreations you performed so that we can really see and hear what Moe was doing. Well done!
Glad you liked the demonstrations! Thanks for watching!
Amazing detail. Perhaps this is the way music production docs should be done? Full of details that music production oriented people would like to know. Music production and show business in general although I guess we don't call show business show business any more; now I guess it's media. Well, these people were doing media before most people even heard of the thing.
I definitely concur! Thanks for the support 🙏🏼
Thank you, Cam Forrester. What a fabulous, fascinating and insightful film! I thoroughly enjoyed it. Best documentary I've seen yet on the Velvets and it's been so lovely to see and hear their journey through the eyes and drumming of the marvellous Moe Tucker! Thanks again.
Thanks Cam - I really enjoyed your video. Big fan of the Velvet Underground. I was 15 when I saw Lou in Brisbane, Australia. I can remember then being exposed to the back catalogue - especially Max's Live at Kansa City - I'm embarrassed to say that I assumed that 'Mo' Tucker was guy (sorry Mo). I was pleased to find out I was wrong. Mo rocks the drums mate so hard.
This is a wonderful piece of work. I’ve loved the Velvets since I was 16 but you’ve made me love them even more. I know nothing about drumming but this was fascinating. I’m glad that Moe’s son has contacted you. It is really quite moving in places. I was lucky to see the Velvets during their reunion, at Glastonbury of all places. Moe was awesome. All the best to you for all your time and effort in making this. Cheers, Steve.
Thanks for your comment, I'm glad the drumming aspect was of interest. And yes I've had quite a few people say that they found the film moving towards the end, which is wonderful as Moe's story moved me of course - which is why I wanted to make the film in the first place - so I'm so glad that's come across in the way I constructed and narrated the film.
Hearing from Moe's son (and Moe herself since then) has been one of my proudest moments...very humbling, and incredibly rewarding for a life-long fan!
Beautiful documentary. It deserves more views.
It's gonna get more views, the cult ones mostly take a bit of time, and when people realise how well done this one is, more people will take notice... Sharing will help too of course.
Superb. Thank you for spotlighting this monumental artist, who has been a musical hero of mine ever since I discovered VU in high school during the 80s. She was the rock that allowed all of the beautiful chaos around her to exist. I will only disagree with you on one small point: none of the 17+ minutes of "Sister Ray" is disposable!
*Only in exchange for a completed, and blistering version of GIFIL was my argument; most definitely not otherwise!
Great Video! Thanks! 'Heroin' was the second song I ever learnt on the drums. The first was 'Apache'. Still playing Velvet's songs 50 years later.
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Thank you for this, Cam! Cannot recommend this walkthrough of Moe's influence and style more highly. Just superb!!
Thanks very much for saying so my friend! Please do share it out in any way you're able to!
@@CAMFORRESTER Already done! My Twitter followers got a nice heads up! 👍
Thanks mate, gotta spread the word on Moe! She's too often overlooked as a figure in drumming history.
@@CAMFORRESTER Absolutely. There's no VU sound without Moe. And if there's no VU sound, then 40+ years of bands afterwards don't sound the same either.
This is an amazing documentary! I have always loved her drumming and she seemed like the coolest person in interviews. Thanks so much for this.
I adore VU since childhood many moons ago. This is not only great doc about Moe, but a detailed overview of VU starting gigs, Warhol days, presented with so much affection and love. Moe is really unique musician and she couldn't have found a better band to fit into. Great work.
Hey Cam! Have you thought about making one of these videos about Lou, John, Doug, and Sterling’s gear? As always, I love what you are doing here!
It's on the list! I shall get to it at some point 😉
@@CAMFORRESTERI'm quite curious what you have to say about the Reed/Cale relationship, most observers having a very superficial viewpoint of the band, and making it all about Lou Reed.
@@ForARide My research findings on all of that will be revealed in the coming months ;)
This is incredible! I love the way you analyzed the drum parts for the different songs, a whole new perspective to the music for me, and I’ve loved the music for decades now.
Thanks, I'm glad you found it informative!
thanks for this enjoyable documentary. moe's wild and driving "african-style" drumming was absolutely essential to the velvets's overall sound. love her sweet vocals on after hours.
Amazing! Thank you! Loved the whole story. Mo rocking a Jets sweatshirt while performing was fantastic!
Thank you very much to focus on the great Moe Tucker!!!
This documentary was a fantastic surprise, best thing I've watched in quite a while, brilliant work! I've recommended it to others and subscribed! Great job! 😎
Thank you so much for the support, and for sharing it out! Much appreciated!
Thanks for this there's something very moving about someone who seems quite genuine and unassuming ending up as this rock'n'roll legend. I have loved the Velvet Underground for most of my life and Moe was so important to their sound.
Wow. I can't believe I stumbled upon such a fabulous documentary. A perfect balance of concise and detailed, with lots of great photos and clips from interviews with Moe herself. I'm a huge Velvets fan, and have always lamented that her drumming skill and style has been sadly overlooked. With your track by track analysis, your documentary not only shows us what she did, but also how she did it. It really shows just how innovative she was. Well done.
Back in the late '80s, I had the great pleasure of meeting and spending a little time with Moe. While studying for my Master's degree at the University of Florida, I became good friends with Kate Messer. Her boyfriend at the time, Mike Kostek, ran the Velvet Underground Appreciation Society. A few years later, Kate joined Moe's band. They came to Gainesville to rehearse and Moe needed a place to stay for the night. I had a spare room in my mobile home and offered to let her stay, and she accepted. We hung out and chatted late into the evening. The next morning, we all went out for breakfast. She gave me an 8 x 10 photo, which she autographed for me, and she also autographed all of my Velvets albums.
Anyway, thanks again for this totally brilliant documentary.
Thanks so much for your comment, and what a wonderful story! I'm very glad you enjoyed the film, thanks for your support!
Dear sir, what's better : writing an average essay on Marcel Proust or producing the perfect, definitive documentary on a perhaps less-universal subject ? Certainly it is the second option. You've crafted a learned, precise, sensitive production with incredible images this lifelong fan had never seen before. Your extremely well-written commentary, which doesn't fall into any of the usual pitfalls of the documentary genre, is an an absolute gold standard. I personally usually deal with the written word moreso than with the Internet, being a Parisian bibliographer who specializes in rare books, and as such, I cannot stress enough how much I admire the precise and comprehensive quality of your work, for which you deserve the highest praise.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful words, it really means a lot. I'm so happy to hear of the impression this has made.
Please make sure you're subscribed for notifications and keep an eye out for what's next - I have more Moe/VU-related material in progress right now, and should be uploaded within the next few weeks!
My friend, if the likes of Sky Arts wanted to get people to take their saccharine efforts at showing meaningful, insightful documentaries seriously, they could do no better than showing this. Well done 👏
One can hope! Thanks so much ;)
Really enjoyed this - I like your no nonsense presentation too. It only struck me tonight how Motorik some of her playing was, not just the patterns but also the way it pushes the song along. Anyway, thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Beautifully Executed ! Thank you. Thank You Mo ! 🤍🤍🤍
Nice to recognise this I did not know she existed till this xx
I think I've seen everything there is to see on the VU and this was just brilliant, well done sir and thankyou
Thank you for such wonderful feedback! I’m so glad you liked it! :)
I absolutely loved every second of this! Top class video, great research, production and insights 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thanks for the comment! 🙏🏼
One of the best film I have watched on youtube. Always loved Mo Tuckers drumming
Thanks for the showcasing Mo.
I have looked to see more of her play to no avail, until today
Cam, this is a seriously WONDERFUL creation. Technical, Insightful, thoughtful, tender filmmaking with passion and integrity. Thank you so much x my partner and I are sharing it like mad with everyone we know who loves the Velvets like we do
Wow that’s such wonderful feedback, I couldn’t be happier that it has come across so well…thank you so much! And thank you for sharing also! 🥰
VU Live at the Matrix. Mo's drumming really stands out. And that's why I gave this doc a try. Glad I did. Good doc, good work. Thanks
It was a powerful performance indeed! Thank you for taking the time to watch!
Probably one of the best music documentary I've ever seen. Well done sir.
Thank you very much for saying so. Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for explaining/demoing the drum parts for the songs on the VE+Nico album. God, those were so friggin perfect.
Excellent lesson on Moe Tucker's unique style. Thank you for posting this Mr. Forrester.
You’re more than welcome, thanks for the support! 😉
Thank you very much for sharing this. Always been a big VU fan and they have been with me for most of my life influencing my own meanderings. So unique in many respects and Mo was an integral part of their sound. Thank you for breaking down her contribution and the insights. Wishing you luck with all you do. You are the man. :)
You’re entirely welcome! Glad you enjoyed the documentary and thanks so much for the support! 🙏🏼
This is awesome ! Very very good
God I just love that she and Lou Reed were in a band.
I loved I simply can’t get enough of
I can listen for hours on end about Moe’s contribution to VU and her solo career
One of the true originals in rock n roll history
Thanks so much Cam
Thank you for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed it! :)
This documentary is incredible! Moe is a genius in a genius band. Hope Moe herself gets to see this. Love you Moe!
Thank you for this.
Thanks for the kind words sir, and I hope so too! 🤞🏼
Edward; i have seen it - about two weeks ago - and I'm very, very flattered.
@@MoeTucker-jx4kw
Dear Ms Tucker,
I'm so thrilled that my little project has managed to work its way over to you.
I just wanted to let you know that you have been such a huge inspiration to me, and that I honestly couldn't imagine how different my life might be now; had I never discovered The Velvet Underground through that book which mentioned your unique playing style, all those years ago when I was only twelve.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the documentary, and I hope indeed to do something similar in the future, focusing on Sterling.
Thank you for the music 🙏🏻
Wishing you and your family much health & happiness, from here in Essex, England,
Yours Sincerely,
Cameron Forrester x
@@MoeTucker-jx4kw
Moe, I bought the first album when I was 14 years old and living in Belfast Northern Ireland and it changed my life. You lot are the best band ever.
@@Endlesssummer1 Thank you for your comment, I really appreciate that, and of course you are most welcome - I'm glad it has served the purpose I intended.
I will be looking to start embarking on the Sterling project later this year (I'm about to start a new job, so will have to focus on that for a few months before returning to creative projects after I'm settled), but in the meantime I am currently doing a marathon of production for several new VU song tutorial videos, which will be uploaded over the next couple of weeks - so make sure you're subscribed, and hit the notification bell so you don't miss them! ;)
I also wish to cast my vote as best music documentary I have seen on UA-cam. Your presentation of the information is superb. The background history of Mo Tucker is completely new to me. One cannot spend an hour more enjoyably than to watch this video.
That's so nice of you to say...thank you very much!
Awesome. Thank you for doing this. So well-deserved.