- Album list
- Singer Intro
The Velvet Underground was a rock band formed in 1964 in New York City by singer/guitarist Lou Reed, multi-instrumentalist John Cale, guitarist Sterling Morrison, and drummer Angus MacLise (replaced by Moe Tucker in 1965). The group's integration of rock and the avant-garde achieved little commercial success during their existence, but they are now recognized as one of the most influential bands in rock, underground, experimental, and alternative music. The provocative subject matter, musical experimentation, and often nihilistic attitudes explored in the band's work would prove influential in the development of punk rock and new wave music.
The band was initially active between 1965 and 1973, and was briefly managed by the pop artist Andy Warhol, serving as the house band at the Factory and Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable events from 1966 to 1967. Their debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico (with German born singer and model Nico), was released in 1967 to critical indifference and poor sales, but over time has been critically acclaimed; it was called the 'most prophetic rock album ever made' by Rolling Stone in 2003. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked the band No. 19 on its list of the '100 Greatest Artists of All Time'. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 by Patti Smith.
Past members
Lou Reed
John Cale
Sterling Morrison
Angus MacLise
Moe Tucker
Doug Yule
Walter Powers
Willie Alexander
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