The Velvet Underground Group Members

Lewis Allen Reed was born March 2, 1942 in Freeport, Long Island. Graduate of Syracuse University. Employed as a songwriter for Pickwick Records in the mid sixties. Sang and played guitar for the V.U. Achieved success as a solo artist. His song "Walk on the Wild Side" was a FM radio hit and is still sampled by many deejays. Did a commercial for Honda in the late eighties. So many of his songs have influenced people in one way or the other that his importance can not be measured.

The career of Lou Reed defies capsule summarization. Like David Bowie (whom Reed directly inspired in many ways), he has made over his image many times, mutating from theatrical glam-rocker to scary looking junkie to avant-garde noiseman to straight rock & roller to your average guy. A firmer grasp of rock's earthier qualities has ensured a more consistent career path than Bowie's, particularly in his latter years. Yet his catalog is extremely inconsistent, in both quality and stylistic orientation.

Awards for Lou Reed:

The Velvet Underground Lead Guitar, Vocals

Grammy 1999 for Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart (video, shared)

Suicide Attempt

Actor Filmography:

Prozac Nation (8-Sep-2001)

Lulu on the Bridge (14-Aug-1998)

Blue in the Face (15-Sep-1995)

Permanent Record (Apr-1988) Himself

Rock & Rule (5-Aug-1985) [Voice]

Get Crazy (Sep-1983)

One Trick Pony (3-Oct-1980)

Jimi Hendrix (10-Oct-1973) Himself

The Velvet Underground and Nico (8-Feb-1966) Himself

Quotes:

"We had vast objections to the whole San Francisco scene. It's just tedious, a lie and untalented. They can't play and they certainly can't write... You know, people like Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead are just the most untalented bores that ever came up. Just look at them physically, I mean, can you take Grace Slick seriously? It's a joke! It's a joke! The kids are being hyped."

"You can't beat 2 guitars, bass, drum."

Sterling Morrison:

Born August 29,1942 in East Meadow, Long Island. Went to several colleges before ending up at the University of Texas where he studied medieval literature for his phD. The tall, cool one, who provided the beautiful guitar accompaniment on the V.U. records and on stage, he also shone brightly on the Velvets reunion tour. Was a tugboat captain on the Gulf of Mexico when he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He died on August 30, 1995. He was only 53 years old. When he passed away, the band was truly no more.

John Cale:

Born: 9-Mar-1942

Birthplace: Garnant, West Glamorgan, Wales

Gender: Male

Occupation: Musician

Nationality: Wales

Education: University: Goldsmith's College, London (1960-63)

Best known as: Velvet cellist and influential producer, multi-instrumentalist 1965-68.

Wife: Betsy Johnson

Biography of John Cale:

John Cale was born on March 9,1942 in Crynant, South Wales. Studied music at London University's Goldsmiths College. The young protege was awarded a Leonard Bernstein scholarship for Modern Composition in the Eastman Conservatory at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts. He soon left the Conservatory and moved to New York where he was a founding member of an experimental musical project called the Dream Syndicate. Played bass, organ, and viola for the Velvets. Was cut off from the V.U. just after the "White Light, White Heat" album. Produced albums for Nico and the Stooges and released several well-received solo records. Was married to designer Betsey Johnson. Loved by millions.

Maureen Tucker (Moe Tucker):

Best known as: One of the first female rock musicians, drummer for the Velvet Underground.

Height: 5' 4" (1.63 m)

Born in 1945 in New Jersey. Her brother went to college with Reed and Morrison and the rest is history. She played standing up with the kick drum turned on it's side which she then beat with a mallet. In the band's early days she had an androgynous look and sometimes was referred to as "Moe" Tucker, which led many to believe she was a boy. Took a break from the band to have a baby and when she came back, there was no band. Is still forging ahead with an interesting and pure solo career. Maureen may have been the first riot grrrl. She broke many traditions and continues to influence new generations of female rockers.

Solo career:

After raising her family, Tucker started recording and touring again on a small scale in the 1980s. She released a number of albums on small, independent labels that feature her singing and playing guitar, fronting her own band. This band at times included former Velvets colleague Sterling Morrison. Tucker also participated in the 1992-1993 Velvet Underground reunion, touring Europe and releasing the double album Live MCMXCIII.

Notables:

Maureen's brother Jim was a college friend of Sterling Morrison and Lou Reed; when original Velvets drummer 'Angus MacLean' quit suddenly, they remembered "Mo" could play, and she also had an amplifier, which they needed. She fitted in instantly, turning her bass drum on its side and playing standing up, when the band asked her to "do something different".

Composer Filmography:

The School of Rock (2003) (song "Ride Into The Sun")

... aka School of Rock (Germany) (USA: promotional title)

Actress Filmography:

Kathy T Gives Good Hoover (2005) .... Mom

Homeslice (1998) .... Grumpy Lawyer

Nico:

Real Name / Birth Name / Full Name: Christa Päffgen

Born: 16-Oct-1938

Birthplace: Cologne, Germany

Height: 5' 10" (1.78 m)

Died: 18-Jul-1988

Location of death: Ibiza

Cause of death: Accident - Fall

Gender: Female

Occupation: Musician

Nationality: Germany

Best known as: The Velvet Underground and Nico

Biography of Christa Päffgen:

Christa Päffgen was born in Germany, she was actress, model and singer. Part of the Andy Warhol "scene" in the 1960s. Member of The Velvet Underground experimental rock band (with John Cale), circa 1967. Several solo albums, 1970s. Killed in bicycle accident in Spain.

Actor Filmography:

Chelsea Girls (1966)

The Velvet Underground and Nico (8-Feb-1966) Herself

La Dolce Vita (3-Feb-1960)

Notables:

She taught herself to play the harmonium, with the help of Ornette Coleman, and used it as the primary instrument on her later albums. She was inspired to start writing her own lyrics after Jim Morrison suggested she record her dreams. Her songwriting method was to lie for hours in a darkened bath, surrounded by candles. She credits poets Rainer Maria Rilke and Sylvia Plath as her main influences.

Mother of Christian Aaron Boulogne. The father of her son is Alain Delon. She had an affair with him in 1964.

Liked to wear black clothes and motor bike boots.

Ranked #87 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock N Roll.

Doug Yule:

Doug had been a friend of the band after seeing them several times in his hometown of Boston, Massachusetts. He played bass, keyboards and sang a few of the songs on "The Velvet Underground" and "Loaded". He brought his younger brother Billy in on the drums for "Loaded". After ReedÕs departure, Yule carried on with the name the Velvet Underground and released "Squeeze". Made records with Elliott Murphy and American Flyer. Doug resurfaced playing in Lou ReedÕs touring band in 1975.