Velvet Underground

VELVET UNDERGROUND. Rock band formed in 1964 in New York City by Lou Reed / multi-instrumentalist John Cale / guitarist Sterling Morrison and drummer Angus MacLise. The group's integration of rock and the avant-garde achieved little commercial success during their existence, but they are now recognized as one of the most influential in rock music history. The provocative subject matter, musical experimentation and often nihilistic attitudes explored in the band's work would prove influential in the later development of punk and new wave music. They were initially active between 1965 and 1973 and were briefly managed by the pop artist Andy Warhol, serving as the house band at The Factory events from 1966 to 1967. Their debut album "The Velvet Underground & Nico" (with German born singer and model Nico) was released in 1967 to critical indifference and poor sales, but over time has been critically acclaimed. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked the band No19 on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 by Patti Smith.