I was right out of high school when I picked up The Velvet Underground Live Vol 1 1969 CD and followed up by buying Lou's solo albums New York; Coney Island Baby; and RocknRoll Animal (of course). My older bro then bought me VU Greatest hits for Xmas, 1993 and I soon realized anything Velvet Underground is a worthy purchase (Except Live at Cole Ave ... overall bad recordings). I watched the Todd Haynes Doc last year; and this 1986 South Bank video is definitely another good watch. Gotta luv John Cale pointing out: "We were trying to be revolutionary." Well, I believe him. VU my favorite rocknroll band. I tend to agree their influence is undeniable (rock, punk, alternative rock...). Love the 3rd album: Put jelly on your shoulder, baby ... Some Kinda' Love. The Previously Unreleased Recordings (released 1985) with the song Foggy Notion and the original version of Andy's Chest (Transformer) is the best 'album'' I have heard nobody ever talks about. Velvet's were so much more than free form noise (although Lou was inspired by Ornette Coleman ! ). Great variety. VU took pride in being a "live band."
I'm overcome with gratitude for this band and for this gem of a documentary. I can't help but think about Brian Eno's famous quote about how, "everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies [of The Velvet Underground and Nico] started a band." I just logged view number 5,355 of this video - a shockingly low number. The Velvets are still underground relative to their impact and importance. Good.
The south bank show was actually really good, and, kind of ahead of its time. I was a child of the punk era, and remember this documentary very fondly, thanks for the upload.
Exellent documentary and Sterl says it correctly: Venus In Furs is the defining Velvets song. And Cale wearing that Beethoven t-shirt is priceless and appropriate for the Welsh Wizard.
I remember quite vividly watching this as a 17 year old in my conservative village in Wales. It was like from outer-space, and was a gateway drug into much better stuff than my friends were into. Thanks for maybe saving me from Heavy Metal.
Probably because he wasn't very good, except as a Lou clone, which is what Steve Sesnick, the Velvets manager in 1969, seemed to want. Although, having said that, the 'Squeeze The Velvet Underground' album (1970) is an interesting curiosity, with Doug Yule channelling Lou Reed so perfectly in a couple of songs that it's almost creepy.
@@timleopardxolo how can you say that?!? Have you not heard The Matrix Tapes, Live 1969 and the Quine Tapes? He was absolutely vital to the post Cale VU, especially live, often doubling on bass and keys like Ray from The Doors. Doug Yule was white washed from VU history because Lou was an insufferable bastard. It would really impress me if John and Mo petitioned the RnR HOF to go ahead and induct Doug with the rest of the band. Lou forbid it at the time.
Doug Yule was a prof musician,very talented & part of the history of VU. A really nice soulful funny guy. All were liking him. But Lou was very jealous. Musically better trained and even able to save the ass of Lou and the Velvets! He joined later some live concerts of the former members and did a very good job. Ask Moe Tucker. She was angry, missing Yule a lot. He never was getting the deserved attention of his impacts. The albums with him were great. I love all VU albums. That they sound different is evolution. He was also a good songwriter! Lou was the dark side of the coin & Sterling & Doug were the bright one. That's all.❤😊🎉😂
As a fan of the 3rd & 4th Velvet Underground albums they could have at least mentioned Doug Yule. Loaded is just as much a Velvet Underground album as the self titled first album.
What this docu LEAVES OUT is that Warhol did not like or even rate Lou Reed and his massive ego. He went for Nico as the icon for the band. Reed, consumed with jealousy, made sure this did not happen and slowly but surely he squeezed Nico from the limelight..and then eventually from the band.
What's the song at about 11 minutes in? It sounds like the Crystals and Then He Kissed Me. The words 'Uptown Party' appear but I can't find a track anywhere with this title.
All this and not even ten seconds of the velvets performing, where audio matches video. We either get studio audio with live video lerformances or we get live performance video with audio from a previously released live album. And that is kt. Warhol was an asshole.
@@sarahwelty9223 If he wasnt he deserved to be.. He came across as a bit of a prick to be honest. Think he thought he was to cool to take his hands from behind his massively expansive head
The song is called 'The Osterrich' it was written by Lou Reed when he was in a band with John Cale called the Primitives. This was in the days before the VU around 1965.
Absolutely incredible music and lyrical TRAILBLAZER A MOZART OF BARRIER SMASHED AND DESTROYED BY THE SATIRICAL PSUEDO POLITUCAL MAJESTY THE BIRTHDAY FOR ALLINDIE FANS AND INSTRUMENTALGENIUS LOU REED AND MARRIANNE FAITHFUL (ALONG WITH MASTER CALE AND THE BLESSINGS OF OUR PSYCHEDELIC FAMILY WORLDWIDE EVOLUTION ...
