In 1965 the band met up with Andy Warhol, the pop artist, after a performance at Cafe Bizarre. It was Warhol who introduced the band to the german vocalist Nico, and who encouraged them to join his "Exploding Plastic Inevitable", a group who produced films, theatre and music at the time.
The band produced it's debut album, famous almost as much for the cover which Warhol designed (he is indeed credited as the album's producer), "Andy Warhol" (also known fondly as The Banana Album).
It took a year to get the album released, since most record companies were rejecting the album fearful of it's controversial content and it's lengthy tracks, with Verve records finally taking it up and releasing it in 1965.
This powerful collection introduced Reed's decidedly urban infatuations, a fascination for street culture and amorality bordering on voyeurism. His finely honed understanding of R&B enhanced a graphic lyricism whereby songs about drugs ('I'm Waiting For The Man', 'Heroin'), sado-masochism ('Venus In Furs') or sublimation ('I'll Be Your Mirror') were not only memorable for their subjects, but also as vibrant pop compositions.
Nico continued her solo career and had no more to do with the group (beyond the rumour surrounding her relationship with both Reed and Cale) and the Velvets disassociated themselves with Andy Warhol in 1967.
The second album, "White Light White Heat" was infused by the internal conflicts within the band, and thus contains a kind of raging intensity.
The third album, entitled simply "The Velvet Underground" was a far more subtle, gentler affair, showing a softer side to the band, and also showing to extent to which Lou Reed now retained the control of the band.
In 1970, the band released an album full of commercial promise, "Loaded". Containing one of Reed's most popular compositions "Sweet Jane" , and in celebrating pop's rich heritage, offered an optimism rarely heard in previous work.
Paradoxically, by the time Loaded was issued, Lou Reed had abandoned the group he had created and Doug Yule, who had encouraged the commercial aspect of the album, now took control, leading several variations on the Velvet Underground name.
A poorly received album, Squeeze, confirmed that the definitive unit ended with Reed's departure, so much so that the album is not generally perceived to be part of the Velvets' discography.
Despite their brief lifespan, the Velvets have since become one of rock's most influential groups, especially after a new generation of bands from Bowie to Joy Division and REM, declared their indebtedness.
A series of archive releases, including 1969 - The Velvet Underground Live, VU and Another View, add further fuel to the talent and insight that lay within the Velvet Underground and enhance their legendary status.
All four of their albums were included in Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Their 1967 debut album, titled was named the 13th Greatest Album of All Time, and the "most prophetic rock album ever made" . They were ranked the 19th best artist by the same magazine and the 24th greatest artist in a poll by VH1. In 1996 they were inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
"Femme Fatale" is a song from their 1967 debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico. At producer Andy Warhol's request, band frontman Lou Reed wrote the song about Warhol superstar Edie Sedgwick.
Edith Minturn "Edie" Sedgwick, was an actress, socialite, model, and heiress. Her fame extended well beyond the (Warholian) proverbial fifteen minutes - her great-great-great grandfather, William Ellery, was a signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence, and her family history blooms out from there touching almost every corner of United States history from the Massachusetts Bay Colony to the founding of New York's Central Park. In spite of this impressive family tree,
Sedgwick was to find only limited success outside of Andy Warhol's flock, struggle with substance abuse, and die from overdose of alcohol and barbiturate at the age of 28.
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