The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground & Nico
"(The) most prophetic rock album ever made" - Rolling Stone
While the debut album of The Velvet Underground sold no more than 30,000 in 5 years, it has proven to be one of the most influential rock albums ever recorded.
I'm Waiting For My Man
Generes
- art rock
- proto-punk
- experimental rock
- avant-punk
- art pop
Exploding Plastic Inevitable
Brief History
- Adopted the Velvet Underground as its name in 1965
- Andy Warhol became the band's manager
- German singer Nico joins the band
- Join Warhol's multimedia roadshow "Exploding Plastic Inevitable" from 1966-67
- Release The Velvet Underground & Nico in 1967
- Replaced Andy Warhol as manager
- Released White Light/White Heat in 1968
- Founding member John Cale leaves the band
- Loaded released in 1970
- Lou Reed leaves the Band
Early Photo with Warhol & Nico
Banana Album Cover
Brian Eno on VU
“... the first Velvet Underground record sold only 30,000 copies in its first five years. Yet, that was an enormously important record for so many people. I think everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band! So I console myself in thinking that some things generate their rewards in second-hand ways.”
Notable Bands Influenced by The Velvet Underground
- the Sex Pistols (and many other punk bands)
- R.E.M
- The Talking Heads
- The Smiths
- Joy Division
- U2
- The Flaming Lips
Venus in Furs
All Tomorrow's Parties
Legacy
The Velvet Underground's first 4 albums appear on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. The passing of Lou Reed in 2016 resulted in the rerelease of a number of their recordings, and the band will likely continue to influence future artists.
