The Velvet Underground: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1996

Rock Hall Bio:

http://rockhall.com/inductees/the-velvet-underground/bio/

Lou Reed played in a few garage bands. He met John Cale and they eventually formed the group. The band’s subject material covered drugs, transsexuals, and other taboo topics.

1965: Andy Warhol became their manager

Sunday Morning (1966):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cWzxJvgWc8

1967: The Velvet Undergound & Nico is released

Heroin (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJNMnBhf-Ds

I’m Waiting for the Man (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOmZimH00oo

1968: White Light/White Heat

Here She Comes Now (1968):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZY24VUpsG0

White Light/White Heat (1968):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62ckXALWn1M

1969: John Cale is "eased" out of the band.

Sweet Jane (1970):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiBvnbntiW8

1970: Reed quit. The band continued for awhile, but was never the same.

The band has reunited several times through the years.

910. I'm Waiting for the Man by the Velvet Underground (1967)

"I'm waiting for my man, $26 in my hand." During an age of peace, love, and politics, the Velvet Underground went in a different direction. Many of their songs involved the dirty side of drug use. In this piece, the main character is going downtown to score some heroin. There is even a minor confrontation with a black character denoting the schism between suburban whites and urban blacks. There is nothing glamorous or exciting about the drug culture here. Instead, this is an honest look at a junkie coming to get his fix for the day.


Lou Reed and John Cale live:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rhiqI6PlTo

Studio version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hugY9CwhfzE