E62 - Origins of Alternative Music: The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground formed in New York City in 1964 and has been considered by many as one of the most influential American rock bands. 

The band's music contained experimentation with instrumentation and sounds while containing raw and provocative lyrics from lead singer and guitarist Lou Reed. These features, along with unconventional and minimalist arrangements, would lead to the development of punk rock, new wave, post-punk, indie rock and many other genres of the alternative music world. 

In 1966, the Velvet Underground became the house band at pop artist Andy Warhol's studio, The Factory. With Warhol as pr...