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| Featured Artist |
| - Alice In Chains - Black Sabbath - Doors, The - Green River - Led Zeppelin - Mudhoney - Metallica - Nirvana - Pearl Jam - Screaming Trees - Smashing Pumpkins - Sonic Youth - Soundgarden - Temple Of The Dog - Tool - Velvet Underground |
| The Velvet Underground |
| On of the first underground bands ever and one of the best. The Velvets set out to do something "seriously different" in the world of rock n' roll, but they were very far ahead of their time and their music has only recently become appreciated. Most of the credit for this accomplishment falls on the sholders of founding member, songwriter, guitarist, and singer, Lou Reed. Lou's narrative vocals helped to influence many bands who got thier start in the underground like Sonic Youth and R.E.M. In a less recent timetable, the Velvet Undgerground helped contribute to the growing undercurrent that would spark a punk rock revolution years later. The band began writing in 1965; songs like the classic "Heroin" gave graphic and symbolic details of the effects. By 1966 they were ready to compile thier first album. |
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| Thier producer Andy Warhol recruited Nico into the band. Nico was a mysterious European model with a deep voice. The band reluctantly allowed Nico into the group, however she did sing some of the best work on the album (see Artist Direct). |
| The album was not pushed very hard after its release in 1967. In part, that was due? to the fact that the record contained very explicit content for the time often speaking of Heroin and Sadomasocism. Thier album was eventually released but without radio play the album did not achieve much success. There was little known existence of underground bands before them to pave the way for commercial acceptance so the Velvets were ignored as a result. |
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| Despite mainstream resistance the album achieved cult classic status. Those who listened to the album knew, that Lou Reed's songwriting talent was undeniable. |
| Nico left the band shortly after the albums release for a solo carear. The band didn't seem to mind too much since they never considered Nico to be an escential member anyway. Thier next album White Light/White Heat also failed to gain the attention of the public consiousness with acid rock bands taking the mainstage (yes, this was a very talented and unique period in american music history). |
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| The band continued to struggle with each other as well. Lou Reed fired guitarist and key member John Cale citing ego problems with the two, and one of them had to go. |
| Despite these setbacks the Velvets went on into a new decade releasing two more albums. 1969 (the VU's live record) and Loaded (which featured some of the more conventional tracks in the Velvets carears). Soon after internal conflicts and a lack of support from a mainstream public was taking its toll on the band. |
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| The public was more concerned about the success of the new "Hard Rock" bands like Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Hendrix, and Black Sabbath. Lou Reed finally quit in 1970 and began preparing for a solo carear. The Velvet Underground's place in history has been secured however. The VU has been entered into the rock n' roll hall of fame. In addition many bands have borrowed Lou Reed's style of narative vocals and view on the world ensuring that thier influence has not gone unnoticed. |