#THE VELVET UNDERGROUND PLUS#

She seemed as though she was trying to resurrect the ennui and decadence of Weimar, pre-Hitler Germany. (.) Nico's delivery of her material was very flat, deadpan, and expressionless, and she played as though all of her songs were dirges. Chris Darrow of the magazine 'Kaleidoscope' recalled: 'The opening night was very crowded and Zappa and members of the Mothers of Invention showed up to show their support.

On October 23, 1967, in New York, singer Nico sang with The Velvet Underground. The thinking of the audiences was completely different than those from New York City. I especially thought that Moe was a very good drummer, because in those days I don't recall there being any other female drummers on the scene. I thought that they were very good, especially Nico (whom I secretly fell in love with or was it lust?). I know that I didn't feel that way and neither did the rest of the Mothers. For what reasons I really don't know, except that they were junkies and Frank just couldn't tolerate any kind of drugs. Jimmy Carl Black recollections of The Velvet Underground: 'I don't remember Zappa actually putting them down on stage, but he might have. On at the Trip, Los Angeles The Mothers opened for The Velvet Underground. They should not be confused with The Velvets. The group was produced by Tom Wilson and Andy Warhol, who also designed the cover of their first album, The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967). Active from 1965 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. From left to right: Nico, Andy Warhol, Maureen Tucker, Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison and John Cale.

#THE VELVET UNDERGROUND PLUS#

Now some 25 years plus later I have expanded my tastes, but still love VU (and the Beatles) plus things I have discovered recently like Miles Davis' electric period crazy Mingus, Gong, Stereolab/Broadcast/Vanishing Twin.but still the thrill of hearing VU & Nico is still there, and the only other album that gives me a similar feeling is Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's first album.The Velvet Underground. Venus in Furs bought otherworldly exotic depravity closer to my my straight suburban life (in my parents home) as I reveled in this new-found Bohemia of sex and other substances, for this reason the Velvet Underground holds a special place in my heart, (at the time I thought the Beatles were soft & mainstream & I was more into Led Zep). This all takes me back to when I first heard the VU & Nico, around the tender age of 20 at my new way-out girlfriend's flat, (she had about 20 piecrcings, shaved sides of her head, a glorious mullet), there were autumn leaves covering the floor of her bedroom and she wore form fitting bias cut vintage dresses from the 1950s & 60s, and this album played regularly on her flat stereo (which was a bunch of circuits hand wired across the floor). Of course you are right, whatever your opinion, so just enjoy or don't listen to it.

I've bought albums, sold them coz I didn't gel with them, heard them later & re-bought them, go figure. Does that show insecurity, in case you are in a majority of one? Doesn't matter it's all subjective. How weird that if you like (or don't) some music you have to convince others that your opinion is the correct one.

The velvet underground