The Velvet Underground: The avant-garde pioneers who became rock icons

The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1964 by singer-songwriter Lou Reed and multi-instrumentalist John Cale. The group is known for its groundbreaking blend of avant-garde music and rock, often touching on controversial topics such as drug use, sexuality, and urban life. Though commercially unsuccessful during its existence, The Velvet Underground is now widely regarded as one of the most influential bands in rock history.

Here was the band:
Lou Reed: Lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and primary songwriter.
John Cale: Multi-instrumentalist (known for his work on viola and keyboards) and co-founder, contributing a strong avant-garde influenc (in a recent interview, Cale discusses how he taught David Bowie to play viola).

Sterling Morrison: Guitarist who added a more traditional rock element to the band's groundbreaking sound.
Maureen Tucker: Drummer known for her minimalist, tribal-inspired drumming style.

The band is often associated with artist Andy Warhol, who became their manager and produced their debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967). The album featured the iconic banana cover designed by Warhol and introduced singer Nico, who contributed vocals to several tracks. While not initially successful, the album has since become a seminal work, with tracks like "Heroin," "I'm Waiting for the Man," "All Tomorrow's Parties," and "Venus in Furs" showcasing their experimental sound.

The Velvet Underground combined Reed’s gritty, narrative lyricism with Cale’s avant-garde instrumentation, mixing rock, noise, and minimalist compositions. Similar to The Doors (and slightly later, Black Sabbath and also Iggy & The Stooges), their music frequently touched on taboo subjects, which was groundbreaking in the 1960s.

The Velvet Underground has quite a legacy

Though the band never achieved widespread commercial success during its career, they have had a profound influence on countless artists and genres, including punk, alternative rock, and indie music. As Brian Eno said, "The first Velvet Underground album only sold 30,000 copies, but everyone who bought it started a band."

Notable albums:
The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
White Light/White Heat (1968)
The Velvet Underground (1969)
Loaded (1970)

Their influence has grown significantly over the decades, and today they are celebrated as one of the most innovative and important bands in rock history.