BOC: Patti Smith/Allen Lanier

[Ted Jackson jr. EL 84]

> Interesting item in the _Independent on Sunday_, an interview with John Cale
> and Patti Smith.  Here, Cale is talking about producing _Horses_ (Smith's
> first album):
>
> ---
> I didn't get on with Allen Lanier (a guitarist on _Horses_), her boyfriend at
> the time.  He was a member of the band the Blue Oyster Cult and came in for
> the project as this great guitarist.  He obviously felt that he was due a
> certain kind of treatment, and didn't feel that I was granting him the space.
> It escalated and escalated until it got a little frightening.  Confrontation
> with her was indirect, but with Allen it was sheer testosterone.
> ---
>
> How strange it seems now that a guitarist from the Blue Oyster Cult (a band
> with sadly little credibility left) might feel superior to John Cale!
>
> - Andy

I wouldn't presume to defend Allen [though I'd like to hear his side
of it] but we need to keep in mind that this incident occurred at the
height [!] of BOC's popularity.  Wouldn't this have been around the
laser/football stadium phase of BOC's career?  In that light [ouch]
we might understand how AL might have expceted a bit of deference as
being a member of one of the top acts of that time.  Again, no excuse
for rude behavior [esp. gven his rather mediocre abilities as a
gtrist-no questioning his keyboard talent] but perhaps a bit easier
to understand...
theo