Walter Powers
Encyclopedia
Walter Powers III is an American
bass guitarist best known for having been a member of The Velvet Underground
from late 1970 until late 1971.
Walter Powers was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Before joining the Velvet Underground he played with future co-Velvet Willie Alexander
in Boston-based band "The Lost" from 1964 until 1967, during which time they toured with the Beach Boys, and from 1967 with Alexander and another future fellow Velvet, Doug Yule
, in The Grass Menagerie.
When Lou Reed
left The Velvet Underground in late August 1970, Doug Yule assumed leadership of that band and moved from bass guitar
to vocals and guitar
. Yule asked Powers to join to fill in the bass spot; Powers played his first (known) gig with the band on November 19, 1970 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
. Also in late 1970, the band, which at that time consisted of Yule, Powers, Sterling Morrison
and Maureen Tucker
, recorded two songs for Atlantic Records
, the Doug Yule compositions "Friends" and "She'll Make You Cry", which remain unreleased (both songs would later be re-recorded with different personnel for the 1973 Polydor album Squeeze).
During 1971, The Velvet Underground extensively toured the north and northeast of the United States
and subsequently embarked on a short autumn tour of Europe
in support of current album
Loaded, playing gigs in England
, Scotland
, and the Netherlands
. After completing the tour on November 21, 1971 in Groningen, the band planned to start recording a new album, but band manager Steve Sesnick
sent all of the band but Yule home, presumably to retain maximum control of the product (the album Squeeze) and effectively ending Powers' time with the band.
Powers and Alexander toured France
together in 1982 to support Alexander's then-current albums; Powers appears to have dropped out of music since, having returned to Boston to work in the MIT Libraries
, where he plays for the library staff band, Dewey and the Decimals, and slow-pitches softball for the MIT Libraries Bibliotechs.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bass guitarist best known for having been a member of The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
from late 1970 until late 1971.
Walter Powers was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Before joining the Velvet Underground he played with future co-Velvet Willie Alexander
Willie Alexander
For the football player of the same name see Willie Alexander .Willie "Loco" Alexander is an American singer and keyboard player based in Gloucester, Massachusetts....
in Boston-based band "The Lost" from 1964 until 1967, during which time they toured with the Beach Boys, and from 1967 with Alexander and another future fellow Velvet, Doug Yule
Doug Yule
Douglas Alan Yule is an American musician and singer, most notable for being a member of The Velvet Underground from 1968 to 1973.- Early career :Yule began playing with various bands in Boston in the 1960s...
, in The Grass Menagerie.
When Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
left The Velvet Underground in late August 1970, Doug Yule assumed leadership of that band and moved from bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
to vocals and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
. Yule asked Powers to join to fill in the bass spot; Powers played his first (known) gig with the band on November 19, 1970 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Bryn Mawr from Welsh for "big hill") is a census-designated place in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, just west of Philadelphia along Lancaster Avenue and the border with Delaware County...
. Also in late 1970, the band, which at that time consisted of Yule, Powers, Sterling Morrison
Sterling Morrison
Holmes Sterling Morrison, Jr. was one of the founding members of the rock group The Velvet Underground, usually playing electric guitar, occasionally bass guitar, and singing backing vocals.-Biography:...
and Maureen Tucker
Maureen Tucker
Maureen Ann "Moe" Tucker is a musician best known for having been the drummer for the rock group The Velvet Underground.- The Velvet Underground :...
, recorded two songs for Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, the Doug Yule compositions "Friends" and "She'll Make You Cry", which remain unreleased (both songs would later be re-recorded with different personnel for the 1973 Polydor album Squeeze).
During 1971, The Velvet Underground extensively toured the north and northeast of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and subsequently embarked on a short autumn tour of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in support of current album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Loaded, playing gigs in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. After completing the tour on November 21, 1971 in Groningen, the band planned to start recording a new album, but band manager Steve Sesnick
Steve Sesnick
Stephen Sesnick was a club owner who served as manager of The Velvet Underground after the band ended their association with Andy Warhol in 1967....
sent all of the band but Yule home, presumably to retain maximum control of the product (the album Squeeze) and effectively ending Powers' time with the band.
Powers and Alexander toured France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
together in 1982 to support Alexander's then-current albums; Powers appears to have dropped out of music since, having returned to Boston to work in the MIT Libraries
MIT Libraries
The library system of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology covers all five academic schools comprising the university...
, where he plays for the library staff band, Dewey and the Decimals, and slow-pitches softball for the MIT Libraries Bibliotechs.
With The Velvet Underground
- Final V.U. 1971-1973Final V.U. 1971-1973Final V.U. 1971–1973 is a box set by The Velvet Underground, comprising live recordings from after founder and primary songwriter Lou Reed had left the group...
(recorded 1971–1973, released 2001)