"Heroin" (along with songs like "I'm Waiting for the Man" which dealt with similar subject matter) tied the Velvet Underground with drug use in the media. However, members of the band (Reed, in particular) frequently denied any claims that the song was advocating use of the drug.
What did Andy Warhol have to do with the Velvet Underground?
The Velvet Underground and Nico is an album even the band members never thought they would be allowed to record. Andy Warhol made the decision to record the album and then try to sell it to a record label, rather than the more convential route of securing a contract first.
Who is alive from the Velvet Underground?
Cale and Maureen Tucker, the drummer, the two original Velvet Underground members who are still alive, share their memories, as do some of Reed's old friends and surviving members of the Warhol circle.
Who was kicked out of Velvet Underground?
Lou Reed
How popular were the Velvet Underground?
In 2004, the Velvet Underground were ranked number 19 on Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". The New York Times wrote that the Velvet Underground was "arguably the most influential American rock band of our time".
Why is the Velvet Underground so popular?
They were that dark point during a time when everything was colorful. But, in 1976, punk exploded, and among it's influences was TVU (TVU and many other bands are included in the protopunk genre), so punk and post-punk fans started to listen to it and it got popular among other subcultures, gaining the fame it has now.
Is the Velvet Underground overrated?
The Velvet Underground are unquestionably the most overrated band in rock history, unless the Sex Pistols count. And they didn't have any hits or commercial success, which has a lot to do with why they're so overrated (hey, here's at least one '60s classic rock band that isn't overplayed on the radio).
What makes The Velvet Underground so good?
They had edgy, uncommon themes in their music, such as drug addiction, dealers, prostitutes, and transvestites. They also had excellent song writing by Lou Reed. Their songs are catchy, simple, but unique. Many musicians learned guitar playing velvet underground songs, because they are usually pretty easy to play.
How was The Velvet Underground created?
With guitarist Morrison (a Syracuse classmate of Reed's) and percussionist MacLise, Reed on guitar and vocals and Cale on piano, viola, and bass formed a more permanent band to play these songs, ultimately settling on the name the Velvet Underground, taken from the title of a paperback book about deviant sex.