"We're musical primitives."
-John Cale
Undoubtedly one of the most influential bands ever , second only to maybe the Beatles. The Velvet Underground eschewed conventional melodies and pop style lyrics in favor of dour, rigidly constructed songs about sadomasochism, sexual deviance, drugs, despair and the harsh reality of urban life on the fringes. Offbeat, daring, challenging, provocative, sometimes outrageous, always different, during wildly experimental and progressive second half of the 60’s The Velvet Underground was the avant-rock outfit of excellence. Although never commercially successful, there is that famous line from Brian Eno that only a few thousand people bought their first album and almost every single one of them would start a band. The Velvets influence on music can be traced everywhere from David Bowie to Sonic Youth.
The Velvet Underground:
Lou Reed- lead vocals/songwriter/guitarist
John Cale- Multiple instruments/vocals
Sterling Morrison- Guitar/bass
Maureen Tucker- Drums
Also:
Nico- Vocals on
The Velvet Underground & Nico
Doug Yule- Multiple instruments on
The Velvet Underground and
Loaded
Albums:
The Velvet Underground & Nico
White Light/White Heat
The Velvet Underground
Loaded
Recommended Songs:
Sister Ray
Heroin
Venus in Furs
Sunday Morning
Sweet Jane
I'm Waiting for the Man