What happened to The Velvet Underground?
THE ORIGINAL lineup consisted of singer and guitarist Lou Reed, Welsh multi-instrumentalist John Cale, guitar player Sterling Morrison, and Angus MacLise on drums.
The Velvet Underground was a rock band formed in New York City in the sixties.
When did The Velvet Underground start?
Although the band came together in 1964, the group performed under a few different names until they unanimously decided to call themselves The Velvet Underground in 1965.
The name was derived from the title of a book on atypical sexual behaviors.
Although they would go through many changes in their lineup, the original members were singer and guitarist Lou Reed, Welsh multi-instrumentalist John Cale, guitar player Sterling Morrison, and Angus MacLise on drums.
In late 1965, the band collaborated with iconic artist Andy Warhol. Andy managed the group and included them in his show, 'Exploding Plastic Inevitable.'
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The multimedia roadshow combined his films with the band's music and greatly boosted their profile.
The 1967 debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico, fused rock music with avant-garde concepts, provocative lyrics, and the band's dynamic range.
The album was a collaborative effort with German singer Nico. The album is now considered one of the most important contributions to rock music.
Is The Velvet Underground in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Following John's departure in 1968, The Velvet Underground underwent several lineup changes and ultimately disbanded in 1973.
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In 1995, Sterling passed away from non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the 1996 class.
Lou, John, and drummer Maureen Tucker performed Last Night I Said Goodbye to My Friend in tribute to Sterling. This was the last time that The Velvet Underground reformed.
What happened to The Velvet Underground?
Lou passed away in 2013 after receiving a liver transplant earlier that year.
Despite the group's provocative subject matter and experimental sound, many music critics agree that The Velvet Underground's influence on rock music is undeniable.
In 1998, The New York Times called the band "arguably the most influential American rock band of our time."
Rolling Stone ranked their third album, The Velvet Underground, 143rd in their 2020 edition of 'The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.'