Archive

The Velvet Underground

In a rare public appearance, Lou Reed and other members of the iconic band gathered to talk about Warhol and why they never got respect. Taylor Antrim on their reunion. Plus, a gallery of rare photos of the band.

galleries/2009/12/09/the-velvet-underground/velvet-underground-6_n7b8rr
galleries/2009/12/09/the-velvet-underground/velvet-underground-6_s5v8ig

Photographs from a session done for the third Velvet Underground album, probably at the 47th Street Factory.

galleries/2009/12/09/the-velvet-underground/velvet-underground-11_pjqbui

The Velvet Underground with Andy Warhol, taken soon after they'd met in December, 1965.

Paul Morrissey
galleries/2009/12/09/the-velvet-underground/velvet-underground-3_m9gapt

Barbara Rubin was an underground filmmaker—and, according to John Cale, the person who introduced Andy Warhol to Edie Sedgwick—,who in 1963 made the notoriously progressive film Christmas on Earth. Originally titled Cocks and Cunts, the film was shot at 56 Ludlow Street and screened against silver walls at the 47th Street Factory. Rubin also projected reels from Christmas on Earth at Exploding Plastic Inevitable performances in 1966 at Rutgers University and The Dom, and attempted to stage a concert in London with Ed Sanders, ESP Records, Warhol, and the Velvet Underground, which unfortunately did not happen.

galleries/2009/12/09/the-velvet-underground/velvet-underground-12_ncjbsm

Barbara Rubin was an underground filmmaker - and, according to John Cale, the person who introduced Andy Warhol to Edie Sedgwick - who in 1963 made the notoriously progressive film "Christmas on Earth". Originally titled "Cocks and Cunts", the film was shot at 56 Ludlow Street and screened against silver walls at the 47th Street Factory. Rubin also projected reels from "Christmas on Earth" at Exploding Plastic Inevitable performances in 1966 at Rutgers University and The Dom, and attempted to stage a concert in London with Ed Sanders, ESP Records, Warhol, and the Velvet Underground, which unfortunately did not happen.

galleries/2009/12/09/the-velvet-underground/velvet-underground-13_yaym0a

Barbara Rubin was an underground filmmaker - and, according to John Cale, the person who introduced Andy Warhol to Edie Sedgwick - who in 1963 made the notoriously progressive film "Christmas on Earth". Originally titled "Cocks and Cunts", the film was shot at 56 Ludlow Street and screened against silver walls at the 47th Street Factory. Rubin also projected reels from "Christmas on Earth" at Exploding Plastic Inevitable performances in 1966 at Rutgers University and The Dom, and attempted to stage a concert in London with Ed Sanders, ESP Records, Warhol, and the Velvet Underground, which unfortunately did not happen.

galleries/2009/12/09/the-velvet-underground/velvet-underground-5_wvkshw

The Velvet Underground and Nico performing at the annual dinner for the New York Society for Clinical Psychiatry at the Delmonico Hotel on Park Avenue and 59th Street, January 1966. Two of Andy Warhol's movies were shown at the convention: "Harlot" and "Henry Geldzahler"

Adam Ritchie
galleries/2009/12/09/the-velvet-underground/velvet-underground-16_hlrmeu

The Velvet Underground and Nico performing at the annual dinner for the New York Society for Clinical Psychiatry at the Delmonico Hotel on Park Avenue and 59th Street, January 1966. Two of Andy Warhol's movies were shown at the convention: "Harlot" and "Henry Geldzahler"

Adam Ritchie
galleries/2009/12/09/the-velvet-underground/velvet-underground-1_x8zokw

The Velvet Underground performing at the Cafe Bizarre, December, 1965. Barbara Rubin filmed the band's performance on the night of December 14.

Adam Ritchie
galleries/2009/12/09/the-velvet-underground/velvet-underground-8_ytu4f4

The Velvet Underground performing at the Cafe Bizarre, December, 1965. Barbara Rubin filmed the band's performance on the night of December 14.

Adam Ritchie
galleries/2009/12/09/the-velvet-underground/velvet-underground-7_goikqn

The Velvet Underground performing at the Cafe Bizarre, December, 1965. Barbara Rubin filmed the band's performance on the night of December 14.

Adam Ritchie
galleries/2009/12/09/the-velvet-underground/velvet-underground-4_bo3gsf

The Velvet Underground and Nico in Connecticut, 1966

galleries/2009/12/09/the-velvet-underground/velvet-underground-9_n1flkz

Photographs of the Velvet Underground performing at the University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus, September, 1969. The band shared the bill with openers The Fallen Angels.

Connie Radulovitch
galleries/2009/12/09/the-velvet-underground/velvet-underground-10_hohfhh

Nico

galleries/2009/12/09/the-velvet-underground/velvet-underground-14_hovcss

The Velvet Underground performing during their weeklong residency at the Film-Makers' Cinematheque in the basement of the Wurlitzer Building on West 41st Street, February 8-13, 1966.

Adam Ritchie
galleries/2009/12/09/the-velvet-underground/velvet-underground-15_eazfn8

The Velvet Underground performing at the Cafe Bizarre, December, 1965. Barbara Rubin filmed the band's performance on the night of December 14.

Adam Ritchie
galleries/2009/12/09/the-velvet-underground/velvet-underground-2_lacdbt

Lou and Moe at airport

Doug Yule

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.