![]() Yule attempted to continue the band, but it was over by 1973. Despite strong material and, indeed, some hits, the band dissolved during production when Reed left the band in August 1970. The Velvets left MGM in 1969 and signed with Cotillion Records, a sublabel of Atlantic, who requested less controversial material and an album "loaded with hits". They toured throughout 1969 and continued writing material, most of which was shelved after disputes with Verve/MGM but eventually released on VU and Another View. Despite favourable critical reception, it was their first album to not enter the Billboard 200 (the previous ones managed the meager showings of #171 and #199). Its style is most noticeable in the folky "Pale Blue Eyes" and "After Hours". In reaction to this and the theft of the band's amplifiers, The Velvet Underground from 1969 (which was released by MGM Records, Verve's corporate parent) was a more subdued, reflective affair. By this time, the band members were tired of having no recognition, and tensions were growing between Reed's traditionalism and Cale's experimental, abrasive tendencies.Ĭale eventually left, and was replaced by bassist Doug Yule. Their second album White Light/White Heat in 1968 continued in this direction, as evidenced by the title track and the 17-minute "Sister Ray". In this period their live shows started to contain more pronounced improvisation and harsh, loud material. The Velvets broke off the relationship with Warhol and Nico rather quickly. It had a muted commercial reception and few people paid attention initially despite rigorous touring, but is now highly regarded among critics and fans. Their debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico, was released in March 1967 it contained several now-classic songs such as "Heroin", "All Tomorrow's Parties", "Venus in Furs", "Sunday Morning", "Femme Fatale", "I'll Be Your Mirror", and "I'm Waiting for the Man". Thanks to his patronage, the band received a contract with Verve Records and entered the studio in 1966 to record. After a period with Angus MacLise, the line-up was rounded out by drummer Maureen Tucker, who played with no cymbals and used a very simplistic, tribal style.Īndy Warhol was hired as manager and producer at his insistence German singer/model Christa " Nico" Päffgen joined the band on several songs. Sterling Morrison joined at the same time, assuming guitar and bass duties. Reed was the main guitarist and songwriter, while Cale played keyboards and viola. The Velvet Underground were formed in 1964 by dissatisfied Long Island songwriter Lou Reed and Welshman John Cale, who was studying classical music in the USA. ![]() Overall, it's safe to say that a LOT of today's music would not have existed without them. Also infamous for their loudness, transgressive lyrics, and general too-cool-to-barely-give-a-shit attitude of their material. Groundbreaking independent rock band from The '60s famous for pioneering and influencing various subgenres such as noise rock, experimental rock, art rock, alternative rock, (hell, they were pretty much the first alt-rock band) and punk rock.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |