Interesting Things You May Not Know About The Velvet Underground
Loud static, fuzz, white noise, and nihilistic attitude: this is the sound of the Velvet Underground. While thought to be overly avant-garde or "out there" during their time, the Velvet Underground is now considered one of the most influential bands ever in underground, rock, and experimental music. Rolling Stone has ranked them No. 19 on its list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, with countless artists referencing them as one of their biggest influences. While there's no denying the band's impact on music, there are some interesting facts about the Velvet Underground that are less discussed than their music. Take a look at some of the lesser-known facts and stories about the group that make them all the more fascinating.
The Band Is Based In Classic Music
Although the Velvet Underground is widely considered to be an experimental rock and roll group, the band came together with the help of classical music. In 1964, founding members John Cale and Lou Reed were both studying classical music. Cale was a violinist and a musical theorist with Reed being a pianist. The two came together through experiments in New York's musical avant-garde scene, eventually forming a band along with guitarist Sterling Morrison and drummer Argus MacLise.
Originally, they would play at art galleries and poetry readings under the names The Warlocks, The Primitives, The Falling Spikes, and others before settling on The Velvet Underground
Their First Paid Gig Was at a High School for $75
The band's manager and music journalist Al Aronowitz arranged the band's first paid gig at Summit High School in New Jersey. The band was promised to be paid $75, roughly $580 today. When they decided to take the gig, drummer Angus MacLise quit on the spot, claiming that the group was "selling out."
But this wasn't the biggest surprise to the band, as MacLine was known to only come to band practice when he felt like it and was often late to shows. In order to make up his tardiness, he would keep performing solo long after the set had ended because he felt like it. MacLise went on to live in Asia in the following years until he passed away from hypoglycemia, pulmonary tuberculosis, and malnutrition in Nepal in 1979.
Andy Warhol Took the Band on as Their Manager
The group replaced MacLise with Maureen "Moe" Tucker, the younger sister of Sterling Morrison's friend from college and took up a residency at Café Bizarre in New York's Greenwich Village. It was here that the group first met and were hired by none other than Andy Warhol. It wasn't long before the group became the house band at the Silver Factory and eventually began playing at Warhol's screenings.
Eventually, they even went on to play for his traveling mixed media events, the Exploding Plastic Inevitable. Warhol helped them in many different areas — from designing their artwork to getting them gigs. There most likely wouldn't be a Velvet Underground without him.
They Were Named After a Paperback Adult Novel
Eventually, the group came up with a name that stuck — the Velvet Underground. However, they didn't just come up with this name out of nowhere; it was inspired by something rather unique. Tony Conrad, a friend of John Cale, showed the group a contemporary paperback novel about the secret sexual world of the 1960s.
The novel's concept and material intrigued the group, and they ended up naming their band after it. Written by Michael Leigh, the book is still in print, most likely because it's still in demand by fans of the band.
"The Black Angel Death Song" Got Them Fired From Their Residency at Café Bizarre
Contrary to its name, Café Bizarre was not as weird as they made it out to be. Neither the owners or the patrons particularly appreciated the experimental sound of the Velvet Underground or other innovative bands that came to play. Sterling Morrison recalled that "We got six nights a week at the Café Bizarre, some ungodly number of sets, 40 minutes on and 20 minutes off."
During their time, they would play covers and as many of their songs that they had. On one occasion, the group performed "The Black Angel Death Song," and the owner threatened to fire them if they ever played it again. They opened with it during their next set, and that was their career at Café Bizarre. Luckily, they had already met Andy Warhol.
Andy Warhol Introduced Them to Nico
Everybody can thank Andy Warhol for getting Nico involved with the Velvet Underground. It was his original idea to get her on a few of their tracks, figuring that the two would pair nicely. Plus, it would have behooved anyone to follow through with a recommendation from Andy Warhol.
Nico was already somewhat known by the public as she was both a model and acted in Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita. Having her on board, along with Warhol's reputation, the band began to rise in popularity, leading them to sign a contract with MGM's Verve Records. They then released their debut album The Velvet Underground and Nico, their most iconic album.
The Album Took Over a Year to Be Released
After signing to Verve Records and producing The Velvet Underground and Nico, the record company didn't know what to do with the record or the band. Paul Morrissey, an associate of Warhol once commented that "Verve/MGM didn't know what to do with The Velvet Underground and Nico because it was so peculiar, they didn't release it for almost a year. Tom Wilson at Verve/MGM only bought the album from me because of Nico. He saw no talent in Lou."
This was because the Velvet Underground was unlike anything anybody had seen or heard before. Their use of fuzz, white noise, and unusual guitar tuning separated them from everyone else. While this may have solidified their spot in music history, it didn't help them at the time.
The Co-Producer of The Velvet Underground and Nico Wanted a Warhol Painting Instead of Cash
Before recording The Velvet Underground and Nico, Warhol knew that he and the band were going to need a little guidance in the studio. So, Warhol hired Norman Dolph, an account manager at Columbia records that also worked as a nighttime DJ and soundman.
Dolph agreed, telling Sound on Sound, "Oh, I can take care of that, no problem. I'll do it in exchange for a picture. I could have said I'd do it in exchange for some kind of finder's fee, but I asked for some artwork, [and] he was agreeable to that." For his work, he was given one Warhol's silver "Death and Disaster Series" canvasses.
The Band Called Andy Warhol "Drella"
The nickname "Drella," was a combination of the names Dracula and Cinderella. It was first given to Andy Warhol by Ondine, an actor who was featured in a film series by Warhol. The band members took a liking to the name, and it became their preferred name to call him. The group said it captured both sides of his very large personality.
John Cale felt especially indebted to Warhol and thought they group owed their birth and growth as a band to him. So when Reed and Cale reunited for an album as a tribute to him in 1989, they titled the album Songs for Drella.
Nico Left the Band When They Parted Ways With Warhol
After their limited success with The Velvet Underground and Nico, the band split ties with Andy Warhol. At one point, Warhol asked if they wanted to just keep playing museums and art festivals from then on, or if they wanted to move into other areas. This didn't sit well with Lou Reed who then fired him.
On firing Warhol, Reed stated, "I never saw Andy mad, but I did that day. He was really mad, called me a rat. It was the worst thing he could think of." However, they didn't just lose Warhol as a result, Nico quit the band as well.
The Secret Behind The Cover Art of The Velvet Underground And Nico
While Warhol may not have had much influence in the studio, he did design the album artwork for The Velvet Underground and Nico, making it one of the most recognizable album covers of all time. He crafted the image of the banana in his own style and added a little something extra for the first few batches that were released.
The original album allowed fans to peel back the banana to reveal a flesh-colored banana underneath. This wasn't only incredibly sensual, but also was difficult to manufacture, which is only where there are so few out there today.
Creative Differences Drove the Band Apart
By the late 1960s, the energy and connection that John Cale and Lou Reed had begun to fade and their disagreements on the direction of the band and their band began to show. Reed then took it upon himself to call a band meeting and didn't invite Cale. There, he gave the group an ultimatum — either to kick Cale out of the band or he would dissolve the group altogether.
Cale ended up playing his last show with the group not long after, and was replaced by Doug Yule. With the addition of Yule, their sound took on a more folk-oriented and softer style until they group eventually disbanded in May 1973.
The Album Was Recorded in the Same Building That Would Later Become Studio 54
When preparing to record The Velvet Underground and Nico, co-producer Norman Dolph knew of one of his clients, Septer Records, had their own recording studio on 254 West and 54th Street in midtown Manhattan. However, the place turned out to be a complete dump with the floorboard torn out, walls falling apart, and only four functioning microphones.
It wasn't an ideal situation, but the group recorded their debut album there in four days. Little did anyone know, but Andy Warhol would later come back to that exact same building and establish his Studio 54 nightclub.
Lou Reed Dedicated "European Song" to One of His College Professors That Despised Rock Music
Delmore Schwartz was a poet, author, professor, as well as a friend and mentor of Lou Reed's while Reed attended Syracuse University. He taught Reed how to believe in his own writing with Reed describing him as "the unhappiest man I ever met in my life, and the smartest." On one occasion, while drinking with Reed, he threatened him never to sell out, which to him, meant making rock and roll music.
Apparently, he hated rock and roll with a passion, the lyrics in particular. So, Reed dedicated their track "European Son" to him because it is the track that sounds the most like rock and roll out of all of them.
Nico Died While Riding a Bike In Ibiza
Although Nico was only involved with the band's debut album, her name will forever be connected with the Velvet Underground. Nico lived an all-around wild lifestyle before and after her stint with the Velvet Underground, and was addicted to heroine for more than 15 years. She was able to kick the habit with therapy, healthy eating, and bicycling.
Ironically, she passed away while riding her bike. In 1988, while vacationing with her son in Ibiza, she was riding her bicycle to pick up marijuana when she had a heart attack. This caused her to fall and hit her head and she died from complications from her head injury. Her death came as a shock to everyone as she was just 49 years old.
Sterling Morrison Despised Frank Zappa
The delay of The Velvet Underground and Nico led to Sterling Morrison loathing Frank Zappa for a lifetime. Morrison believed that Zappa used his popularity and power over the record label to put their album on hold in order to release his own album Freak Out. Whether this is the truth or not, it hasn't stopped Morrison from bad-mouthing Zappa his whole life.
In an interview, Morrison made his feelings very clear when he said "Oh, I hate Frank Zappa. He's really horrible, but he's a good guitar player...If you told Frank Zappa to eat [explicit] in public, he'd do it if it sold records."
Moe Trucker Is a Member of the Tea Party
Maureen "Moe" Tucker, the drummer for the Velvet Underground, was known for her unorthodox drumming methods. Whether it was playing while standing up, not using symbols, replacing her sticks with mallets or her drums with trash cans, she did it all. She was also known for her androgynous appearance and for being pretty "out there," along with the rest of the band.
However, in recent years, she's been getting media coverage for something much different than playing with the Velvet Underground. She revealed that she was a member of the Tea Party, where she has been spotted at rallies and even interviewed on television. Quite the turnaround for an experimental musician.
Andy Warhol Wanted to Physically Alter the Record for the Song "I'll Be Your Mirror"
While Andy Warhol may not have had much creative control over the band's music, he did offer up some of his artistic suggestions. One of these suggestions regarded the track "I'll Be Your Mirror," Reed's song about his affections for Nico.
Warhol wanted to fix the record with a built-in crack that would make the end lyrics repeat "'I'll be your mirror, I'll be your mirror, I'll be your mirror" nonstop until you physically took the needle off of the record. While this definitely sounds like a Warholesque idea, it never came into fruition.
Lou Reed Was Subjected to Electroshock Therapy
A rumor that frequently follows discussion about Lou Reed is that he was subjected to electroshock therapy after his parents discovered he was having homosexual tendencies. However, his sister argues against this rumor, claiming that was not the reason he underwent the therapy.
But one thing is certain — Reed was treated for something using this incredibly dangerous and out-of-date method. He also didn't walk away unscathed and suffered from issues with his short term memory for the rest of his life.
Lou Reed Had a Liver Transplant In 2013
In April 2013, Lou Reed was on the verge of death until he received a liver transplant. His liver had essentially stopped working after years of heavy drug and alcohol use. He underwent an emergency medical procedure in Cleveland. A doctor noted that it was as serious as it gets and that Reed was going to die if he didn't have the procedure as soon as possible.
Two planes were sent out at the same time, one for Reed and the other of the donor. They brought the donor in and took Reed off of life support in order to have the procedure. After the surgery, Reed wrote on his website that he was feeling "bigger and stronger" than ever.
