Velvet Underground

Velvet Underground was an American rock band, active between 1964 and 1973, formed in New York City by Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited by many critics as one of the most important and influential groups of the 1960s. In 1967, the band released their debut album in collaboration with Nico who sang three songs from the album under the insistence of Andy Warhol, who managed the group. The provocative lyrics of some of the band's songs gave a nihilistic outlook to some of their music. The band reformed in the 90's, but after the deaths of guitarists Sterling Morrison in 1995 and Lou Reed in 2013, who was the vocalist, the group now exists as a New York–based partnership managing the financial and back catalog aspects for the band members.

Links To Peel
Peel was a big fan of the group after seeing them perform while he was in America and on his pirate radio show from July 1967 (Radio London), he talked to Pete Drummond about the group's debut album. On 11 June 1993, Peel mentioned that he failed to get the Velvet Underground to do a session for his show and it became the Sessions That Never Happened. In 1997, the Guardian asked John Peel to list his Top 20 Albums and one of them was their debut album, Velvet Underground and Nico.

Festive Fifty Entries

 * 2000 Festive Fifty: Heroin ATFF #42

Sessions

 * Peel tried to get the Velvet Underground to do a session in 1993, while they were touring Britain, but the band failed to respond.

Other Shows Played
(The following list was compiled only from the database of this site and Lorcan's Tracklistings Archive. Please add more information if known.)

1967 1972 1973 1978 1979 1980 1983 1985 1987 1998 1999 2000 2004
 * July 1967 (Radio London): 'I'll Be Your Mirror (LP-The Velvet Underground & Nico)' (Verve)
 * July 1967 (Radio London): 'European Son To Delmore Schwartz (LP-The Velvet Underground & Nico)' (Verve)
 * 12 July 1967: European Son to Delmore Schwartz (LP - Velvet Underground and Nico) Verve 5008 (US release)
 * 16 July 1967: Run Run Run (LP - Velvet Underground and Nico) Verve 5008 (US release)
 * 18 July 1967: Heroin (LP - The Velvet Underground and Nico) Verve 5008 (US release)
 * 22 July 1967: I'm Waiting For The Man (LP: Velvet Underground and Nico) Verve (US import) (JP: "...actually, this whole LP is superb....")
 * 06 August 1967: There She Goes Again (LP: The Velvet Underground and Nico) Verve 5008 (US release)
 * 07 August 1967: All Tomorrow's Parties (LP: The Velvet Underground & Nico) Verve 5008 (US Release)
 * 14 August 1967: Venus In Furs (LP - The Velvet Underground & Nico) Verve 5008 (US release) (JP: I went up during that record to have a look at the night, which incidentally is very beautiful. So if you’re anywhere near a window, go out and look at it and breathe and perhaps say “I love you” into the night again. It’ll make you feel great.)
 * 14 August 1967: Sunday Morning (LP - The Velvet Underground and Nico) Verve 5008 (US release)
 * 01 October 1967: Sunday Morning (LP - Velvet Undeground and Nico) Verve (JP: "Another Peel exclusive there, so to speak, and I hope they are going to come over here sometime before the end of the year.")
 * Radio Luxembourg Tracklistings 5: Venus In Furs (LP - The Velvet Underground & Nico) Verve
 * 19 May 1972: There She Goes Again (LP - The Velvet Underground & Nico) Verve
 * 19 May 1972: Rock And Roll (LP - Loaded) Atlantic
 * 30 June 1972: I’m Waiting For The Man (LP – Live At Max's Kansas City) Atlantic
 * 01 September 1972: Run, Run, Run (LP - The Velvet Underground & Nico) MGM
 * 24 April 1973: There She Goes Again (LP – The Velvet Underground & Nico, 1967) Polydor
 * 12 July 1973: Waiting For My Man (single) MGM
 * 20 October 1978: Here She Comes Now (LP - White Light, White Heat, 1968)
 * 13 February 1979: I'm Waiting For My Man (LP-1969: The Velvet Underground Live) Mercury
 * 13 February 1979: Lisa Says (LP-1969: The Velvet Underground Live) Mercury
 * 21 February 1979: Beginning To See The Light (LP – 1969 Velvet Underground Live With Lou Reed) Mercury
 * 21 February 1979: Pale Blue Eyes (LP – 1969 Velvet Underground Live With Lou Reed) Mercury
 * 26 May 1980: There She Goes Again (LP – The Velvet Underground & Nico) Verve
 * 21 November 1983: Venus In Furs
 * Peel Late Nov 1983: Venus In Furs
 * Karl's Tape - November 1983: All Tomorrow's Parties
 * 11 March 1985:  I Can't Stand It
 * Peel 049 (BFBS): 'We're Gonna Have A Real Good Time Together (2xLP-1969 Velvet Underground Live With Lou Reed)' (Mercury)
 * 30 December 1998: Sunday Morning (LP - Velvet Underground & Nico)
 * 14 September 1999: Pale Blue Eyes (LP - The Velvet Underground) MGM
 * 05 January 2000: Heroin (LP-The Velvet Underground & Nico)' (MGM) ATFF #42 (JP: 'Let me tell you, nothing was ever quite the same again after playing that, it really wasn't.')
 * 28 December 2004 (Rob Da Bank): 'Heroin (2xCD-The Velvet Underground & Nico)' (Polydor)