When John Cale, a classically trained guitarist with an ear for experimentation, and Lou Reed, a lyricist with a talent for poetic realism, met in New York City in 1964, the Velvet Underground was born. Inspired by blues, doo-wop, and classical minimalism, the band, which was joined by guitarist Sterling Morrison and drummer Maureen "Moe" Tucker, created a sound that was both combative and introspective.

When John Cale, a classically trained guitarist with an ear for experimentation, and Lou Reed, a lyricist with a talent for poetic realism, met in New York City in 1964, the Velvet Underground was born. Inspired by blues, doo-wop, and classical minimalism, the band, which was joined by guitarist Sterling Morrison and drummer Maureen "Moe" Tucker, created a sound that was both combative and introspective.

Pop artist Andy Warhol became their supporter and unofficial manager after being drawn to their early work. Under Warhol's tutelage, the group became the house band for his multimedia art collective, The Factory, which confounded expectations by fusing music with performance art and cinema. In addition, Warhol included German singer and model Nico, who gave the band's look a cold, otherworldly feel.

The Velvet Underground & Nico, which would become one of the most influential albums in rock history, was released in 1967. But at the time, its unorthodox sound and unvarnished, contentious subject matter made sure that most people were unaware of it.

The album provided an unapologetic look at the gritty sides of city life, from the beautiful yet eerie "Sunday Morning" to the blazing noise experiment of "Heroin." Songs like "Venus in Furs" and "I'm Waiting for the Man" examined drug usage and sadomasochism with a literary depth never previously heard in rock music. Meanwhile, the record had an unsettling, hypnotic feel because to Reed's deadpan vocals and Cale's usage of droning viola.

The Velvet Underground kept pushing the envelope after their debut with records like White Light/White Heat (1968), which substituted chaotic, aggressive distortion for the dreamy subtlety of their debut album. Songs like "Sister Ray" successfully laid the foundation for punk and noise rock by extending beyond 17 minutes of unadulterated, wild improvisation.

The band had seen changes in sound and lineup by the time The Velvet Underground (1969) and Loaded (1970) came out, with Doug Yule replacing Cale. Classics like "Pale Blue Eyes" and "Sweet Jane" were produced by these latter albums, which tended towards a more melodic and approachable style. These attempts suggested Reed's impending shift to a solo career, even though they still had an experimental bent.

The Velvet Underground didn't have much commercial success at the time, but their legend has only gotten stronger. Punk pioneers like The Ramones, experimental rock bands like Aural Youth, and alternative legends like R.E.M. and Nirvana were all made possible by their embracing of artistic freedom, unfiltered narrative, and aural experimentation. “The first Velvet Underground album only sold 10,000 copies, but everyone who bought it started a band,” Brian Eno famously said.

Their influence went beyond music to include art, fashion, and film. Because of their association with Warhol and The Factory, the band helped define a countercultural age, and their unreserved acceptance of forbidden subjects allowed later artists to tackle more complex and gloomy subjects.

The Velvet Underground was a movement more than merely a band. Their music would endure beyond their brief period of fame because of their readiness to defy expectations and embrace the avant-garde. Their impact is incalculable, and their legacy as avant-garde pioneers and underground idols endures despite the fact that they were never popular superstars.