• The Velvet Underground
    28 replies, posted
[b][u]The Velvet Underground[/b][/u] [img]http://theclassiccool.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/velvet-underground.jpg?w=604[/img] From Left to right: John Cale, Nico(Christa Päffgen), Maureen Tucker, Sterling Morrison, Lou Reed [quote=Background information ClassicCool]The Velvet Underground might just be the most influential band you’ve never heard of. Unlike bands like the Beatles or the Rolling Stones, the Velvet Underground never achieved commercial or financial success during their time together, even with the help of the massively popular Andy Warhol as their producer. But time, not popularity, is what defines art – and it should come as no surprise that critics and musicians from all walks of life cite the Velvet Underground as one of the most important and influential bands to come out of the 1960’s. The seeds for the band were formed in 1964, when singer/guitarist Lou Reed met John Cale, a Welshman who had moved to the United States to study classical music. Both men had a meticulous curiosity in creating experimental sounds through pop music, a trait that would help define the low, droning guitar noise that became synonymous with the New York outfit. The Velvet Underground’s credibility within the avant-garde art world grew sharply when Andy Warhol expressed an interest in the band. Warhol was at the peak of his popularity, and helped the band gain a record deal with him as nominal ‘producer’. Perhaps more incredible is that Verve Records, who gave the Velvet Underground their deal, allowed the band to have free reign over the sound they created – an astonishing feat considering the nature of the Velvet Underground’s music at the time. During their time with Andy Warhol, the band became part of his multimedia roadshow, Exploding Plastic Inevitable, which travelled throughout the United States and Canada, further raising the band’s profile. In 1967, under Andy Warhol’s watchful eye, the Velvet Underground released their first album, The Velvet Underground and Nico. Although it was largely ignored at the time of it’s release, the record has since become one of the most influential and critically acclaimed albums in history, appearing at number thirteen on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. While the Velvet Underground produced two more albums after ‘The Velvet Underground and Nico’, they never achieved commercial success before tensions between Cale and Reed tore the original lineup apart. But, like all great art, it found its way into the collective unconscious, and today the Velvet Underground is revered and loved by millions of people worldwide. Perhaps the reason they are so popular now has something to do with the fact that they never reached the stratospheric heights of the contemporaries the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. To many music and art fans, the Velvet Underground are as mysterious as their name implies: straddling the line between the known and unknown, the band act almost like a secret handshake between people who know anything about music, about art, and about the New York scene. If you know about the Velvet Underground, or you’ve seen the classic banana sleeve cover, chances are you’re a pretty cool person. And if you didn’t before, you do now.[/quote] [quote=Media] I'll Be Your Mirror [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an9DoVBHHr8[/media] Beginning To See The Light [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MGu697BMss[/media] I'm set Free [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfzoyDOXfzY[/media] Venus in Furs [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nGsUbZpCKM[/media] Lou Reed Interview [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-0WMA3JOsQ&list=FLqxxqo-pY8d28BZ1_agJs5A&index=2&feature=plpp_video[/media][/quote]
I like their noisy,artsy stuff.
I'm only familiar with the banana album, great shit though. Gonna check the rest out.
Lou Reed is so cool when he made a visit to africa it started snowing. [editline]14th May 2011[/editline] it was one the the hotter parts of africa mind you that
the best band
I fucking love Lou Reed. imo, Walk on the Wild Side > anything from Velvet Underground
[QUOTE=Ca5bah;29837922]I fucking love Lou Reed. imo, Walk on the Wild Side > anything from Velvet Underground[/QUOTE] no way, walk on the wild side is definitely not better than heroin or black angel's death song
I had a dream last night where I recited the lyrics to Heroin to a friend. This is a relevant contribution to the thread, right?
Most definitely, sounds like a cool dream. What else happened?
[QUOTE=Veltar;29845952]Most definitely, sounds like a cool dream. What else happened?[/QUOTE] I don't remember much else. I know that it was snowing, and we were at an airport or something. I really don't know what happened that caused me to start singing.
people that like this band are the best people
[QUOTE=Vedicardi;29852042]people that like this band are the best people[/QUOTE] You sir, speak the truth.
Lou reed, awesome.... I'm seeing him live in July!
[QUOTE=Peppermint;29887897]Lou reed, awesome.... I'm seeing him live in July![/QUOTE] His wife is amazing. [editline]17th May 2011[/editline] In a musical sense I mean, not that she's hot or anything. [editline]17th May 2011[/editline] Actually let's think about that. :smug:
If she's the same age, i'm out :v:
[QUOTE=Veltar;29891220]If she's the same age, i'm out :v:[/QUOTE] Oh well... she was hot in her day. :smith:
not really my type [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/LA21uitsnede.jpg[/img]
[QUOTE=Veltar;29891429]not really my type [img_thumb]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/LA21uitsnede.jpg[/img_thumb][/QUOTE] Oh I was only looking at this perspective. :smith: [img]http://image.kazaa.com/images/98/603497980598/Laurie_Anderson/United_States_Live/Laurie_Anderson-United_States_Live_3.jpg[/img]
This on the other hand, oh boy. She's got that beautiful, kind of sad expression on her face. [img]http://quitmumbling.com/public_html/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/nico3.gif[/img] [editline]17th May 2011[/editline] Or the expression of a couple of joints or whatever :v:
I love both Lou's solo stuff, and Velvet Underground. I approve of this thread.
Love them, but still can't bring myself to like White Light. I don't understand the appeal of Sister Ray. Whatevs. Desertshore is my favourite VU related album though.
Recently been getting really into The Velvet Underground & Nico album :v: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffr0opfm6I4[/media] My favourite song in this album.
[video=youtube;mf2pF5oMdP4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf2pF5oMdP4[/video]
John Cale's Paris 1919 is probably one of my favourite albums of all time.
Something about this song is amazing, its Lou Reed & John Cale's colaboration[b]?[/b] album Songs for Drella. Tribute to their manager and most important, their friend. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSxRN0pNciA[/media] Believe it is taken from Warhol's diaries, but do not quote me on that.
[QUOTE=ejonkou;32060314]Recently been getting really into The Velvet Underground & Nico album :v: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffr0opfm6I4[/media] My favourite song in this album.[/QUOTE] that's my second-favourite after Sunday Morning
I've yet to have a proper listen to The Velvet Underground, but Transformer is one of my favourite albums.
-snip-
Im bumping this thread, I have re-made the OP. And I found a great video from the Andy Warhol documentary. Its about how Andy left painting and his collaboration with The Velvet Underground during Exploding Plastic Inevitable. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFd9h5IG5XQ&list=FLqxxqo-pY8d28BZ1_agJs5A&index=5&feature=plpp_video[/media]
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