The Velvet Underground are considered to be one of the most
groundbreaking and influential art-rock bands of the century, paving the way
for an incredible amount of avant-garde groups and genres in the many years to
come. Their influence is felt throughout the music community – their songs are
covered every year by new bands and you can hardly hold a serious conversation
about rock without their name coming up multiple times. To this very day, no band
has been able to reproduce the Velvet Underground’s game-changing style and
musical feeling.
The primary members of the Velvet Underground were Lou Reed and John Cale, both of which are now famous names in the industry. John Cale, a prodigious pianist and violinist, was involved in several musical projects and ventures before meeting Lou Reed and forming the Velvet Underground. Born in Wales, Cale eventually moved to Manhattan to study music. Reed, a struggling guitarist and songwriter, was recruiting other musicians to play one of the new songs he had written. It was under these circumstances that Cale and Reed met for the first time. Intrigued by Reed’s songwriting, Cale performed with Reed’s band the Primitives for a short period with little success. After the demise of the Primitives, Reed and Cale, with the help of two additional musicians – Sterling Morrison and Angus Maclise (soon to be replaced by Maureen Tucker) – the Velvet Underground was born.
It was pop art icon Andy Warhol, who, upon discovering the Velvet Underground, helped them become who they are known as today. By suggesting the German model Nico join Velvet as a vocalist, the most well known lineup of the band was complete. Warhol helped the group combine art and music in his Exploding Plastic Inevitable show, featuring art and projections alongside the band’s music.
In 1967, the band’s debut album, produced by Warhol, The Velvet Underground and Nico, was released. Groundbreaking and inventive, the album featured haunting, deadpan vocals, “ostrich guitars” (guitars tuned to the same note), and droning, ethereal melodies. The record did not succeed commercially, but is now considered one of the most important albums of all time.
I have always been a fan of the Velvet Underground, and they have influenced me in countless ways. The strange vocals, the oddly comforting repetitiveness, and the weird and often morbid nature of the lyrics are all incredibly intriguing. Certainly the most personally influential album and band I have discussed so far in this blog.
The primary members of the Velvet Underground were Lou Reed and John Cale, both of which are now famous names in the industry. John Cale, a prodigious pianist and violinist, was involved in several musical projects and ventures before meeting Lou Reed and forming the Velvet Underground. Born in Wales, Cale eventually moved to Manhattan to study music. Reed, a struggling guitarist and songwriter, was recruiting other musicians to play one of the new songs he had written. It was under these circumstances that Cale and Reed met for the first time. Intrigued by Reed’s songwriting, Cale performed with Reed’s band the Primitives for a short period with little success. After the demise of the Primitives, Reed and Cale, with the help of two additional musicians – Sterling Morrison and Angus Maclise (soon to be replaced by Maureen Tucker) – the Velvet Underground was born.
It was pop art icon Andy Warhol, who, upon discovering the Velvet Underground, helped them become who they are known as today. By suggesting the German model Nico join Velvet as a vocalist, the most well known lineup of the band was complete. Warhol helped the group combine art and music in his Exploding Plastic Inevitable show, featuring art and projections alongside the band’s music.
In 1967, the band’s debut album, produced by Warhol, The Velvet Underground and Nico, was released. Groundbreaking and inventive, the album featured haunting, deadpan vocals, “ostrich guitars” (guitars tuned to the same note), and droning, ethereal melodies. The record did not succeed commercially, but is now considered one of the most important albums of all time.
I have always been a fan of the Velvet Underground, and they have influenced me in countless ways. The strange vocals, the oddly comforting repetitiveness, and the weird and often morbid nature of the lyrics are all incredibly intriguing. Certainly the most personally influential album and band I have discussed so far in this blog.
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