Despite having minimal economic success during their active years, they became a mainstay of alternative and punk music thanks to their combination of avant-garde talent, gritty poetry, and experimental sound. Under Andy Warhol's guidance, the group produced music that defied late 1960s norms and came to represent New York's counterculture movement. Despite the short time they spent together, generations of musicians and artists have been influenced by the Velvet Underground.

The Velvet Underground, which was founded in 1964 by multi-instrumentalist John Cale and singer-songwriter Lou Reed, immediately set itself apart from the then-dominant rock trends. The Velvet Underground investigated topics of drug use, urban ruin, and the darker side of human nature while the public embraced the euphoric optimism of the Summer of Love. They frequently used feedback, unusual song structures, and drone-like noises in their raw, harsh music.

When artist and cultural icon Andy Warhol became interested in them in 1965, their course was altered. Seeing their untapped potential, Warhol mentored them and made them the house band for The Factory, his multimedia art collective. As a result of this collaboration, German singer Nico was introduced, and her cold, aloof voice provided a dreamy counterpoint to Reed's brutal narrative. Warhol influenced their first album, The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967), which used Warhol's now-iconic banana cover art.

There was nothing like the band's first record at the time. Tracks like "I'm Waiting for the Man" depicted the harsh realities of addiction and city life, while songs like "Heroin" and "Venus in Furs" probed taboo issues with poetic honesty. Softer moments were provided by "Sunday Morning" and "Femme Fatale," which displayed an uncommon vulnerability in the middle of the mayhem. The album's contentious issues and lack of general appeal contributed significantly to its commercial failure despite its innovative sound.

After Nico left, the band doubled down on abrasive, distortion-heavy experimentation with their 1968 record, White Light/White Heat. The album had songs that stretched the boundaries of what rock music might be, such as the 17-minute noise-rock epic Sister Ray.Cale left before the release of The Velvet Underground (1969), which saw the band switch to a softer, more contemplative sound due to tensions, especially between Reed and Cale.

The Velvet Underground continued to develop after Doug Yule took John Cale's place, but their tenure as Warhol's apprentices was over. With songs like "Sweet Jane" and "Rock & Roll," Loaded (1970) sought to be more radio-friendly. Lou Reed left the band before the album's release because to ongoing conflicts within the group. The Velvet Underground struggled on with some lineup changes after Reed left, but by the early 1970s, the band had all but disbanded.

Despite their early lack of public success, The Velvet Underground had an incalculable influence on music. "The first Velvet Underground album only sold 10,000 copies, but everyone who bought one started a band," as Brian Eno famously said. The foundation for punk, post-punk, new wave, and indie rock was established by their unafraid experimentation with sound and subject matter.

They still have an impact on musicians today, from Sonic Youth and The Strokes to David Bowie and Patti Smith. Their formerly underappreciated albums are now regarded as some of the most significant in rock history, demonstrating that creative integrity frequently triumphs over financial success.

Despite their tumultuous life, the Velvet Underground's legacy is far from forgotten. Being the ultimate outsiders, they revolutionised rock music by transforming experimentation and resistance into a kind of art that still inspires people today.