If the walls of The Hotel Chelsea had ears, they would be able to solve mysteries and unveil secrets. They would also whisper the echoes of music made there, inspired by a cast of characters with a seductive and bohemian history.
Hotel Chelsea bellman and music historian, William Benton talking records with Wrensilva team.
Patti Smith on a balcony at the Chelsea, Courtesy of The Chelsea Hotel website.
“People of all ages come here because they’ve read about the hotel in her book. It’s a testament to her spirit and the power of her writing. The hotel is practically a character in the book.” - William Benton
Janis Joplin at the reception deck, Courtesy of The Hotel Chelsea.
“I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel / You were famous, your heart was a legend / You told me again you preferred handsome men / But for me you would make an exception” Leonard Cohen
Alexandra Auder (far right) with her mother Viva and sister, Gaby Hoffmann, in the lobby of the Hotel Chelsea, 1984. Photo: Courtesy of Alexandra Auder.
Both Nico and John Cale of the Velvet Underground lived at the Chelsea. “If there was one quintessential Velvet Underground song,” William ponders, “I think it would be ‘Venus in Furs.’ With John Cale’s droney viola and Lou Reed’s signature poetry… it all comes together.”
